DALE Steyn reminded Australia why he is the world's top bowler with a spell as fast as it was furious at the Sydney Cricket Ground yesterday.
Bowling in Australia A's second innings late on the third day of SA's drawn tour match, Steyn tore in to the wicket as if he was already bowling in the first test, which starts at the Gabba in Brisbane on Friday.
Steyn took one wicket for four runs from five overs, three of them maidens, in Australia A's second innings.
"If you saw how quickly Dale was bowling, you would understand," said Jacques Rudolph, who was a close but safe observer in the slip cordon.
"It was definitely one of the quickest spells from Dale I've seen in the past six or seven years; he must have been up to 150km/h."
One of Steyn's bouncers ripped past Phil Hughes's throat and smashed awkwardly into AB de Villiers's right glove.
The wicketkeeper, who has been battling back and ankle injuries, immediately flung the glove away and wrung his hand.
However, it seems De Villiers is not in danger of missing the first test. "AB stayed on the field - he's fine," Rudolph said.
Hughes's one not out off 27 balls was a sturdy effort and helped form a subplot to the late afternoon drama because his was one of the names swirling among those of players who could be called up to an Australian squad that has been rocked by injuries to Shane Watson and Ricky Ponting.
Predictably, Australia A captain Andrew McDonald saw Steyn's spell from a different perspective.
"Dale threw everything at Phil and Phil got through; that's always a confidence booster," McDonald said.
"I'll go on record and say it was one of the best one not outs I've ever seen. Dale clearly ramped it up compared to the first innings. It was quite evident he was only going to bowl five or six overs and he threw everything at our two batsmen out there. For them to come through that against the world's best fast bowler - or one of the world's best fast bowlers - is a fantastic effort."
Cricket - Steyn's pace a good omen
DALE Steyn reminded Australia why he is the world's top bowler with a spell as fast as it was furious at the Sydney Cricket Ground yesterday.
Bowling in Australia A's second innings late on the third day of SA's drawn tour match, Steyn tore in to the wicket as if he was already bowling in the first test, which starts at the Gabba in Brisbane on Friday.
Steyn took one wicket for four runs from five overs, three of them maidens, in Australia A's second innings.
"If you saw how quickly Dale was bowling, you would understand," said Jacques Rudolph, who was a close but safe observer in the slip cordon.
"It was definitely one of the quickest spells from Dale I've seen in the past six or seven years; he must have been up to 150km/h."
One of Steyn's bouncers ripped past Phil Hughes's throat and smashed awkwardly into AB de Villiers's right glove.
The wicketkeeper, who has been battling back and ankle injuries, immediately flung the glove away and wrung his hand.
However, it seems De Villiers is not in danger of missing the first test. "AB stayed on the field - he's fine," Rudolph said.
Hughes's one not out off 27 balls was a sturdy effort and helped form a subplot to the late afternoon drama because his was one of the names swirling among those of players who could be called up to an Australian squad that has been rocked by injuries to Shane Watson and Ricky Ponting.
Predictably, Australia A captain Andrew McDonald saw Steyn's spell from a different perspective.
"Dale threw everything at Phil and Phil got through; that's always a confidence booster," McDonald said.
"I'll go on record and say it was one of the best one not outs I've ever seen. Dale clearly ramped it up compared to the first innings. It was quite evident he was only going to bowl five or six overs and he threw everything at our two batsmen out there. For them to come through that against the world's best fast bowler - or one of the world's best fast bowlers - is a fantastic effort."
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