Good news: Steyn out for up to two weeks

These days Dale Steyn being ruled out for two weeks amounts to good news.

That was the fast bowler’s fate after he did a groin playing for Hampshire against Nottinghamshire in Southampton on Monday.

South Africa team management said on Wednesday that scans had “revealed a grade one strain to the right groin”.

Steyn would be out for “an estimated 10 to 14-day recovery period starting from when the injury occurred”.

He is “hoping to be ready for Hampshire’s match versus Worcester on September 4”.

Two weeks is nothing for a player who has‚ in not quite two years‚ broken his bowling shoulder twice and violently removed a ligament from his heel.

The news means Steyn remains on track to be part of South Africa’s coming commitments‚ which start with three one-day internationals and three T20s against Zimbabwe in September and October.

A stellar performer at international level for the best part of 14 years‚ there is no need for Steyn to prove his abilities.

But‚ with the World Cup in England looming in May and June and having been omitted for the one-day series in Sri Lanka in July and August‚ Steyn will be keen to remind the selectors what he can do.

There is also the small matter of him having joined Shaun Pollock atop the list of South Africa’s Test wicket-takers.

All being well‚ scalp No. 422 should come against Pakistan in December and January.