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26 Jul 2018, 18:21 IST
Mumbai, Jul 26 (PTI) Veteran South Africa paceman Dale
Steyn, who has been hit by a spate of injuries over the last
two years, is not keen to continue playing limited over
cricket after next year's World Cup.
However, he is equally eager to carry on his stint in
Test cricket as long as he could.
"I will be trying to get to that World Cup (in
England). But after the World Cup I don't see myself playing
white ball cricket for South Africa. By the time the next
World Cup comes, I will be 40," said the 35-year-old Steyn at
a promotional event for 'GoPro' here today.
He expressed hope that his vast experience would earn
him a place in the World Cup squad.
"If you look at the batting lineup, our top six have
played 1,000 games, but lower half - from eight to eleven who
are currently playing - not even 150 games. You need to draw
on experience.
"I hope that will be my trump card when the selection
comes to the World Cup. I may not necessarily play all the
time. But I think my experience will help with me just being
there," he said.
"When it comes to Test cricket, I would like to play
as long as possible. I have finally come out of a cloud of
injuries. I broke my shoulder and in my first game on return
(against India) I landed in a foothole. It was rotten luck.
"It's quite difficult to come back from a broken
shoulder, especially with your bowling arm. I feel that's
(injury) gone and I am fit. I played two Test matches without
an injury (against Sri Lanka recently), bowled at good pace
and never went off the field because of niggles. It's a big
plus," he added.
Steyn struggled for wickets and got one each in the
two innings of the opening Test and none in the second.
"Wickets is something that's not guaranteed. I am
happy I came out 100 per cent (fitness wise). That's the
biggest cloud I have gotten over, especially after the last
two years," he explained.
About South Africa being hammered 2-0 by hosts Lanka,
Steyn complimented the islanders for playing to their
strength, relying on spin in helpful conditions.
"The wickets were tough to play on. Sri Lanka played
good cricket. They played their cards right. Preparation was
difficult (for SA). They came out trumps. Hats off to them;
they played better cricket," he said.
He also backed the English county authorities for
doing away with the toss and emphasised that cricket has
changed so much there's no point in sticking to age-old
traditions.
"There's been a bit of talk (of doing away with the
toss in international cricket). I think there will be some for
it and there will be some against it. It might not happen.
"(Cricket pioneer) W G Grace will be rolling in his
grave if he heard something called the free-hit; a batsman can
be out but he's not out and score four runs off the ball
because it's a no-ball. Traditional cricket has gone out the
window. T20 cricket has changed the game.
"If someone says it's (doing away with the toss) going
against the traditional thing, he's blind. The game has
changed so much; you have to keep up with the times. England
is doing something really well. In County Cricket the toss is
gone. You can look at the pitch as the visiting team and can
decide what to do.
"I think that's a good way they are doing it, it might
be the way to go forward - do away with the toss completely;
When a visiting team gets to choose (to bat or field). You get
to prepare the pitch, but we get to choose we want to do on
it.
He also had a dig at the flat pitches prepared for the
limited over games and the rule of one ball being used from
one end for 25 overs and not the same ball from both ends for
the entire 50 overs of an innings.
"The generally flat wickets in ODIs have taken bowlers
completely out of the equation. Two balls - is ridiculous. You
take the skill out of the game. I grew up watching Wasim
Akram and Waqar Younis (former Pakistan pacers) reversing the
ball. But now try naming one player reverse-swinging the
ball!
"Players are going to the extent of taking sand paper on
the field. It might sound funny, but it's a desperate plea for
cricket to change. Players are getting into more trouble
trying to make the ball do something
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