Dale in doubt with 'stiffness in groin'

Not for the first time in the Champions Trophy, the Proteas are contemplating having to start their fire without the spark provided by the world's best fast bowler.

But the stakes are significantly higher today - when push comes to shove in the semifinal against England at the Oval - than when Dale Steyn missed the first two group matches because of a side strain.

South Africa have played competitive but not dominant cricket to make it this far, and the inclusion of a player of Steyn's calibre could be vital to SA's cause.

But he is doubtful with stiffness in the groin that prevented him from training on Sunday and restricted him to light duty on Monday. Steyn's involvement in yesterday's session was limited to working with Brandon Jackson, the physiotherapist.

"He's got a few niggles, which is very worrying," AB de Villiers said yesterday. "But we're going to do all we can to get him on the park.

"He's close to 100% and he's running around, but we didn't want to run him too much today because we know he's one of the best in the world and he's got the skill to just rock up and do the business.

"Not having him in the side will be big for us, but we're playing good cricket and we're confident we can beat England without Dale. I don't believe we're lost without him."

Steyn was not part of the six-wicket loss to India in Cardiff, nor the 67-run win over Pakistan at Edgbaston.

His first match of the tournament was the rain-hit tie with West Indies in Cardiff on Friday. He was fast and furious in six overs in which he took 2-33, and claimed the catch that removed Kieron Pollard to seal a result that put the Proteas in the semis on the basis of their superior net run rate.

SA have options if Steyn doesn't make the grade. They could replace him with Rory Kleinveldt, play an extra spinner in Aaron Phangiso - every team playing at the Oval in the tournament has selected at least two slow bowlers - or pick Alviro Petersen or Farhaan Behardien as an additional batsman.

England have also had an awkward build-up to the match, what with Graeme Swann battling a calf injury and Tim Bresnan not training yesterday to be with his heavily pregnant wife.

Not to mention the bad smell of ball-tampering that is hanging around their attack because of their ability to obtain reverse swing earlier in an innings than usual.

"If they are doing something funny with the ball then it's definitely a concern, but we've got no proof of that," De Villiers said.

That much is true, as is the fact that the ball was changed halfway through Sri Lanka's innings in the only match England have lost in the tournament - so far.