Dale Steyn looms

30 September 2016 - 09:22 By TELFORD VICE

Dale Steyn has missed South Africa's last dozen one-day internationals and he joked last month that he "can't even make the one-day team at the moment". But, on the eve of the first ODI between the Proteas and Australia at Centurion today, the flamethrower hogged more than his fair share of the spotlight. "Dale's personality sometimes is a bit cranky," captain Faf du Plessis said yesterday. "You see that fire when he gets a wicket and that's why we love him"After months out with groin and shoulder injuries Steyn emerged triumphant in the Test series against New Zealand last month, taking 10 wickets at 10.20 - which included a match haul of 8/99 at Centurion.That silenced observers who had wondered if, at 33 and with his body apparently failing him, Steyn's career was over."I think he felt like that from the Test series when he came back, felt like he needed to prove a point," Du Plessis said."Now he is back in the one-day team and he will try show everyone that one-day cricket is still a big part of his future."Australia captain Steve Smith was wary of Steyn visiting the same kind violence on his men as he did on the Kiwis."I watched the Test series against New Zealand, where he was almost back to his best," Smith said. "I think he's been left out of their one-day side for a while, so he's probably out to prove a point. No doubt he'll be up and ready to go."The South Africans will however be mindful of the threat posed by Australian leg spinner Adam Zampa, who was more successful than any of South Africa's quicks in a triangular series in the West Indies in June. No bowler has claimed more wickets in ODIs this year than his total of 25."I can't speak highly enough about him," Smith said.Centurion's surface is about as far as cricket gets from the desperately slow. But, like Steyn, Zampa is a quality bowler. And bugger the state of the pitch...

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