Dale Steyn to come home after fracture

Dale Steyn’s fractured shoulder will keep him out of the remainder of South Africa’s test series in Australia and he will return home after the match at the WACA‚ probably to undergo surgery.

His recovery and rehabilitation could keep him out of action for six months‚ which would rule him out of South Africa’s home series against Sri Lanka and their tour to New Zealand.

Theoretically he could be fit for the tour to England‚ which starts on May 19 next year, and will be for the Champions Trophy in June.

The test series against England starts on July 6‚ and Steyn will have his eyes on the prize of breaking Shaun Pollock’s record for the most wickets taken by a South African in the format. Steyn is five away from surpassing Pollock’s total of 421.

Having clutched his shoulder while bowling early in the second hour at the WACA yesterday‚ Steyn sank to his haunches and left the field after consulting the team physiotherapist‚ Brandon Jackson.

Minutes later, Steyn was seen in the dressing room with his shoulder – the same one he broke in December during the series against England – heavily strapped.

Before stumps, a Cricket South Africa release quoted team manager Mohammed Moosajee as saying: “[Steyn] was taken to the hospital for preliminary scans which confirmed a new fracture of the bone in the shoulder joint.

“He will take no further part in the match (he will bat if absolutely necessary) and the series‚ and will return to South Africa to see a shoulder specialist who will advise on an appropriate plan of action.

“An injury of this nature is rare and will in all likelihood require surgery, but that will only be confirmed once we receive an opinion from the specialist.”

After stumps Moosajee said Steyn’s fresh fracture was not a consequence of the non-surgical treatment he received the first time he hurt his shoulder.

“The estimated return date‚ we’ll have to just wait and see. The literature talks about six months, but we don’t know.”

Steyn’s sudden removal from the attack could have severely harmed South Africa’s hopes of dismissing an Australian team who resumed yesterday on 105 without loss.

But Vernon Philander and debutant left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj stepped into the breach to share seven wickets as the home side crashed to 244 all out with all 10 wickets falling for 86 runs.

“Dale’s been the leader of this attack for a very long time and it’s sad to see him go down like that‚” Philander‚ who took 4/56‚ said.

“We had a job and that was to get the Aussies out as cheaply as possible‚ and it was a job well done by the rest of the bowlers.”

With Steyn out, South Africa’s seam attack at the WACA has been reduced to Philander and Kagiso Rabada.

“I’m disappointed for Dale‚” hard-nosed Australian opening batsman David Warner said. I know how pumped he would have been to play a big role.”

No decision has been made on whether a replacement for Steyn will be summoned‚ but Morne Morkel and Kyle Abbott are in South Africa’s squad.