Steyn to be rested for tour opener

South Africa paceman Dale Steyn will not be playing the tour opening game against Western Australia at Perth due to a minor hamstring niggle.

Reports suggest that the injury is not very grave and hence Steyn will be playing in the first Test against Australia at WACA starting on December 17. However, he will be rested for the first warm-up game. Since the Proteas have never won a Test series in Australia they will not wish to take any chances with Steyn, who spearheads the pace attack.

Commenting on the injury, SA captain Graeme Smith said, “He just picked up a little hamstring niggle in the Bangladesh series, it's nothing serious, we're just building him up into the first Test," Smith said at the WACA Ground.
"I don't think he'll play the first game. I think we're looking to probably play him in the two-day game." he was quoted as saying to The Australian.

The first warm-up game will be followed by another two-day tie against Western Australian XI.
Steyn has never made a Test appearance in Australia before. He acquired the hamstring problem while playing against Bangladesh in November. Also, he played only two Tests against England out of four during South Africa’s tour to England this year.

The 25-year-old was voted the ICC Test Player of the Year and has so far taken 60 wickets at 19.41 in 2008 so far.