Life has not been to fair for Dale Steyn, from grappling with injuries to not picking up wickets, the comeback trail has been far from ideal for the veteran pace bowler. He could pick only two wickets against Sri Lanka in the just-concluded Test series and now finds himself out of the One Day International side. Yes, he is frustrated, pretty normal to be so, but the man is still hopeful of playing in the World Cup next year after which he could step away from this particular format.
"If I'm honest with you, I'm trying and would like to get to that World Cup. If you look at the batting line-up, our top six have all played 1000 games together, but our lower half -- eight to eleven, who are currently playing, have not even played 150. So, you need to draw experience, and I'm hoping that would be my trump card," Steyn said.
'Don't see much more reason in playing white ball cricket'
He is pretty honest with not only his body but also speaks about the composition of the team and adds that even if he is not playing all the time, his presence with the squad could render experience to the younger lot.
"After the World Cup, I don't see much more reason in playing white ball cricket for South Africa. The next World Cup is in four years' time, I'll be 40-41. There will be no reason for me to go to that WC," he further added.
However, he wants to go ahead and play as much red ball cricket as possible. Currently the joint highest wicket-taker for South Africa in Tests with 21 wickets in 88 Tests at an astounding average 22.64, he wishes he can continue in the near future.
"I would like to play as long as I can possibly play. And I feel that I have finally got over this heavy cloud of injury," he said.
Speaking about One Day Cricket and the run fest it has become, Steyn said that he backs the proposal rolled out by Sachin Tendulkar which advocated the use of two white balls as it would then bring back reverse swing into the game which would give the bowlers something to work with.
"I grew up watching Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis reverse swing the ball and you try naming one bowler today who can do that, because it's just not allowed," he quipped.
