Dale Steyn admitted that Kagiso Rabada is now a better bowler than him, but believes his experience could add value to the 23-year-old’s white-ball game.
The Proteas veteran was left out of the ODI squad for the tour to Sri Lanka, despite making his return to the international set-up in the two-match Test series against the hosts.
The seam attack of Vernon Philander, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi and Steyn had great success in the Test format, but Steyn believes that bowling is an issue for them in ODIs and T20s.
Steyn has been out of action in the limited-overs format for over two years but hopes his experience can bring him back into the mix for the Proteas’ tour of Australia in November.
‘Our biggest problem in white-ball cricket now is our bowling,’ Steyn told Reuters.
‘I don’t think it’s a massive issue but I think in terms of experience, it’s our biggest problem.
‘If you look at our top six batters, those guys have all played 800-plus games. But if you look at our bowling, our bottom four, they have probably played 150 games.
‘That’s a massive difference. There’s a heavyweight that weighs up there.’
Steyn believes his experience will add value to the bowling unit and he is keen to help Rabada improve his limited-over game.
‘He’s way better than me. I have obviously got my records and everything but he’s way better than I am right now,’ Steyn said.
‘What he lacks is what I have, and that’s what I can share going forward. I will just carry on doing what I do and he can feed off that, he can learn from that and he can just become so much better.’
The paceman also revealed that after a chat with Proteas coach Ottis Gibson, he will play white-ball cricket in England and in South Africa to prepare himself as a mentor for the younger seamers.
‘They are all learning as they play but unfortunately you can’t go to a World Cup still learning. You need to know what you are doing,’ Steyn said.
‘Even at 35, I am still learning but I know what I am doing. These guys need that. I am hoping that’s what I can offer in the white-ball scene and obviously play and win games for the country.’
Photo: Punit Paranjpe/AFP/Getty Images
