Mumbai: Dale Steyn to be robbed off at least six months of his career undergoing a shoulder blade surgery after his sustained injury during South Africa’s first Test win in Perth, Australia last week.
Fast bowler’s surgery of the broken bone took place on Thursday as advised by the Cricket South Africa (CSA) and is likely to be out of action for the current season.
Team doctor Mohammed Moosajee said: “Dale had a successful surgery on Thursday where the fracture in the right shoulder blade was fixated with the placement of a screw.”
“We expect a minimum six-month rehabilitation period before he can start any form of bowling. It is crucial to give the injury enough time to heal and to make sure that he is completely pain-free before he starts bowling again,” Moosajee added.
“He will begin with his rehabilitation programme once the satisfactory bone healing has taken place, which is excepted to be in a few weeks.”
“We are positive that he will make a successful return to international cricket,” Moosajee said amid widespread media speculation that Steyn‘s career was over because of the injury.”
He rounded off his conversation with “He will be provided with the best possible support and guidance led by our physiotherapist, Brandon Jackson, and Cricket South Africa’s medical committee, which will give him the best opportunity to make a successful return to full fitness.”
The pace spearhead, Dale Steyn, has taken 417 Test wickets for his country (four short of Shaun Pollock’s South Africa record).