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Steyn raring to go, Parnell sidelined

Cape Town - Proteas fast bowler Dale Steyn waltzed through his fitness test without discomfort, but Wayne Parnell’s comeback-trail and his quest for higher honours came to a halt due to a foot injury last week.

According to Shane Jabaar, the Cape Cobras physiotherapist, Steyn had little trouble in passing his fitness test at Newlands, but Parnell had to be pulled out of the South Africa ‘A’ match against England at Pietermaritzburg due to a hind foot injury.

Parnell was in splendid form in the 2015/2016-season, taking 10 wickets in four One Day Cup matches, batting superbly at the top of the order in the RAM SLAM T20 Challenge clashes and also nipping out four for 20 in a match against the Dolphins at SuperSport Park against a batting line-up which included Kevin Pietersen and David Miller.

Parnell will be out of action for at least 10 days, Jabaar told the Cobras’ official website. He suffered complications after the T20 Challenge semi-final knockout-match against the Dolphins, before being ruled out of the South Africa ‘A’ match and replaced by his Cape colleague Dane Paterson.

Steyn is South Africa’s most successful bowler ever at Newlands, where the second Test against England will take place from January 2. He has also nabbed out 38 batsmen in seven Test at Kingsmead in Durban where the series starts on Boxing Day.

According to Jabaar, Steyn looked in good spirits while doing his running drills, fielding and bowling in the nets at Newlands, and he is fired up to represent the Proteas again.

Dry conditions at Kingsmead could suit Steyn as his ability to take wickets with reverse swing contributed to his rich haul of nine for 147 in the Boxing Day Test against India in 2013. South Africa won by 10 wickets.

Steyn has taken 65 wickets in 13 Tests at Newlands and was one of the destroyers-in-chief when the Proteas restricted Australia to 49 in 2011 and New Zealand to 45 in the 2012/2013-series at the iconic ground.

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