World Cup 2019 | Kagiso Rabada and Dale Steyn will recover on time, says Ottis Gibson
South African coach Ottis Gibson has said that South African speedsters Dale Steyn and Ottis Gibson are recovering well and should be fit before the upcoming World Cup in England and Wales. Steyn and Rabada are two vital cogs in South Africa’s bowling and their injuries raised a few concern.
Rabada pulled out from the IPL in the business end due to a stiff back as a precautionary measure ahead of the World Cup while Dale Steyn suffered a shoulder injury to just after two games for RCB.
South Africa have other pace-related issues, with Lungi Ngidi recently returning from injury and Anrich Nortje being ruled out after having been picked for the World Cup. Steyn is South Africa’s most experienced campaigner while Rabada is expected to lead the pace attack and their injuries were not auguring well for the fans. However, coach Ottis Gibson cleared the air and has said that the duo are on track and should recover on time.
“There was an issue with KG (Rabada) and there was an issue with Dale, but we feel that those guys are on track. There is nothing that people should be alarmed about. We feel that they’re going to make full recoveries and be able to take their place at the World Cup,” Gibson said, reported Cricbuzz.
South Africa have been one of the consistent sides in the tournament, but never won a title in their ODI history. They made it to the semi-finals on four occasions but were knocked out for some reason or the other. Gibson is optimistic about this edition and has stated that the team won’t be too bothered with the history.
“What’s gone on in the past is gone. We’re not taking any of it into the World Cup with us. We’re going in with it being a new adventure for us. We’ve got a lot of guys who are playing their first World Cup and we want to make it special for them. We don’t want to put too much pressure on the fact that it’s a World Cup.
Gibson also added that the team will be playing the same brand of cricket and it’s a fresh start for them this is also his first time as the coach of South Africa in the World Cup.
“At the end of the day, we’re playing the same cricket that we did against Sri Lanka a couple of months ago and Pakistan before that. We’re not building it up to be anything other than what it is … it’s still cricket. It’s a fresh start for us. We’re going to the World Cup together and it’s my first time with the team."
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