Faf du Plessis and Dale Steyn Getty images (File Photo)
Faf du Plessis and Dale Steyn Getty images (File Photo)

South Africa captain Faf du Plessis has reposed faith in the premier fast bowler, Dale Steyn and has expressed hope that the latter would make a solid comeback against Pakistan in the three-Test series against them at home which starts in December. In the recent series against Sri Lanka, the Proteas lost badly and were whitewashed 0-2 by the hosts. Besides the failure of the batsmen, the South African bowlers, with the exception of Keshav Maharaj, also struggled hard to get returns on the dusty and slow tracks in Sri Lanka.

The fast bowler could only manage to add two wickets to his tally. “It was frustrating for Dale because he gives everything. You saw when he was running in, there was nothing happening for him, there was no reverse swing and no pace on the wicket. He kept trying,” Sports24 quoted du Plessis, as saying. “I think the next time he has the red ball in hand there will be a little more assistance when we play against Pakistan. I know he is motivated and I expect him to come back and put in the good performances,” he added.

South Africa is scheduled to play its next test against Pakistan at home in a three-Test series. The first Test of that series starts on the boxing day just after Christmas at SuperSport Park in Centurion. The Proteas are not playing any Test in the interim period; this means that Steyn would have to wait for the record for most wickets in Test cricket for his country till then. Steyn is just one wicket away from surpassing Shaun Pollock‘s record of 421 wickets to become the leading Test wicket-taker for South Africa.