Dale Steyn’s injury woes haven’t stopped him from being named in the International Cricket Council’s Test team of the year on Thursday.
Because of groin and shoulder injuries Steyn featured in just four of the 10 Tests South Africa played during the period under review - from September 14‚ 2015 to September 20 this year.
But in those games he took 14 wickets at an average of 15.14‚ which is significantly better than his career average of 22.13.
That‚ it seems‚ was good enough for a panel comprising former Test players Rahul Dravid‚ Gary Kirsten and Kumar Sangakkara to put Steyn in the side for the eighth time in nine years.
Steyn was the only South African thus honoured but the national team fared better in the one-day stakes.
Quinton de Kock‚ AB de Villiers and Kagiso Rabada were in the XI with Imran Tahir named 12th-man.
De Villiers cracked the nod for the sixth time since 2010.
ICC teams of the year:
Test: David Warner (Australia)‚ Alastair Cook (England‚ captain)‚ Kane Williamson (New Zealand)‚ Joe Root (England)‚ Adam Voges (Australia)‚ Jonny Bairstow (England)‚ Ben Stokes (England)‚ Ravichandran Ashwin (India)‚ Rangana Herath (Sri Lanka)‚ Mitchell Starc (Australia)‚ Dale Steyn (South Africa). 12th-man: Steve Smith (Australia).
ODI: David Warner (Australia)‚ Quinton de Kock (South Africa)‚ Rohit Sharma (India)‚ Virat Kohli (India‚ captain)‚ AB de Villiers (South Africa)‚ Jos Buttler (England)‚ Mitchell Marsh (Australia)‚ Ravindra Jadeja (India)‚ Mitchell Starc (Australia)‚ Kagiso Rabada (South Africa)‚ Sunil Narine (West Indies). 12th-man: Imran Tahir (South Africa).
– TMG Sport
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