Proteas veteran Dale Steyn confirmed that he won’t be available for the third Test against Australia at Newlands next week.

Steyn injured his heel against India during the New Year’s Test in Cape Town and was ruled out for that series.

Having missed the first two Tests, and with the Newlands Test fast approaching, Steyn was expected to return in a four-day domestic game this weekend. But that hasn’t happened.

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Now Steyn, who is three wickets away from becoming South Africa’s leading wicket-taker, is targeting the fourth and final Test at the Wanderers.

‘People are saying it is so disappointing that you can’t play the four-day game but what would be worse is playing the game and walking off with another injury,’ Steyn was quoted in the media.

‘That speaks for the Test matches too. I can’t imagine another Test where I need to walk off halfway because my foot is just a little bruised.

‘I can’t let my teammates down, or my country for that matter. It has happened a couple of times now. We are pushing for that fourth Test.

‘The problem as a fast bowler is I need to land on that front foot of mine. Putting eight or nine times my body weight on that front foot… it can only handle so much.’

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