CenturionSouth African speedster Dale Steyn is unlikely to play the fourth Test of the ongoing series as a precautionary measure keeping in mind the upcoming limited overs series against England.
Steyn injured his shoulder in the first Test in Durban and subsequently sat out of the Cape Town and Johannesburg Test matches as he underwent further scans on his injury.
The 32-year-old South African pace spearhead is undergoing a treatment in a hyperbaric chamber and is expected to complete the course before the start of the fourth Test as reported by ESPNcricinfo.
However, with the five-match One-Day International series against England set to begin after the conclusion of the Test matches the selectors have decided not to risk playing Steyn in the final game.
Another injury concern for South Africa is their wicket-keeper batsman Quinton de Kock who missed the third Test due to a freak incident while walking his dogs the day prior the Johannesburg game.
Dane Vilas was drafted in as a last-minute replacement but the South African team management are confident that de Kock will be fit as a scan ruled out any tears.
South Africa have also struggled to find a decent opening partnership and one player who can fill that role is the 33-year-old Stephen Cook.
Last week, convener of selectors for South Africa, Linda Zondi revealed that Cook is on their radar and that age will not be a matter of a concern.
“(Stephen) Cook is definitely in our plans. His age is not a concern. If a player is good enough his age doesn’t matter,” said Zondi.
Having lost the third Test match, South Africa have handed over the Basil D’Oliveira Trophy to England having retained it since 2008.
Since their readmission to international cricket in 1991, South Africa have never completed a Test series against England without winning at least one match in the campaign.
The Proteas will want to keep that record intact when they take the field against England at the SuperSport Park in Centurion on 22nd January.
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