Dale Steyn On Verge Of International Comeback, Eyes 2020 World T20 In Australia

Dale Steyn has not played international cricket ever since March 2019. During the IPL, he picked up a shoulder injury and that ruled him out of the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup. The constant flow of injuries in the last four years forced Steyn to announce his retirement from Test cricket but has made himself available for ODI and Twenty20 International selection. Steyn currently is playing franchise cricket with the Cape Town Blitz in the Mzansi Super League and also for the Melbourne Stars in the Big Bash League. Speaking to Cricket Australia's official website, Steyn said he targeted an international comeback as he looked to make an impact in the limited overs series against England and that he had one eye on the World T20 which will be played in Australia in 2020.

"I know I'll be part of (the T20 series against England), that was the last conversation I've had. I get a nice two-week break, then straight into it again. I'll be around for the ODIs to be honest, I don't know how much I'll play (the ODIs). I'll be there for that and then definitely the T20s. That (T20 World Cup) is very much on my agenda. I'm starting to enjoy my cricket a lot more now, I think four overs is a lot easier on the body than the Test matches are," Steyn remarked.

Steyn has 696 international wickets from 262 matches across formats and believes that South Africa will need experience in order to perform well in Australia. He cited the example of how the likes of AB de Villiers and Imran Tahir performed in the Mzansi Super League and said he was willing to put his arm up and lead the bowling attack in the World T20 beginning in October.

"KG (Kagiso Rabada) is very young to lead the attack at 24, and the next bowlers to come in are all younger than him, I think he needs somebody that's there that is experienced, to look around and he knows he's not only one there. So I'm putting my hand up for that and then I'll wait and see how selections goes. After the MSL (Mzansi Super League) that we played, there were a lot of players that come out some fantastic bowlers," Steyn said.

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Following the end of the four-Test series, England will play three ODIs and three Twenty20 Internationals starting from February 4 to February 16. The first ODI will take place on February 4 in Cape Town followed by matches in Durban and Johannesburg on February 7 and 9. After the end of the ODIs, the three Twenty20 Internationals will be played on February 12, February 14 and February 16. The first match will take place in East London while the second and third games will take place in Durban and Centurion.

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