Dale Steyn of South Africa delivers the ball during the opening day of a two-day practice match between the Sri Lanka Board XI and South African team in Colombo on July 7, 2018, ahead of South Africa's tour matches in Sri Lanka. - South Africa will play two Test matches, five 50-over One-Day Internationals (ODI) and one T20 matches in Sri Lanka between July 12 and August 14. The first Test between South African and Sri Lanka will be played on July 12 at the Galle International Cricket Stadium in Galle. (Photo by LAKRUWAN WANNIARACHCHI / AFP) (Photo credit should read LAKRUWAN WANNIARACHCHI/AFP/Getty Images)
Veteran South African fast bowler Dale Steyn is set to make his return to test match cricket for the Proteas against Sri Lanka in Galle.
The 35-year old was included in South Africa's two-day warm up match against the Sri Lanka Board XI, where he went wicketless with the figure of 0-52 off 12 overs, at an economy of 4.33.
On an pitch favoriting spinners, Steyn was put through his paces in humid conditions to prove his fitness for the first test starting on Thursday in Galle.
Steyn has been troubled by numerous groin, shoulder and heel injuries over the past couple of years, missing out on 27 Tests for South Africa in their recent 32 Test matches.
Proteas skipper Faf du Plessis says Steyn has impressed in net sessions and is in real contention for a return to test match cricket.
"He is back for the squad. He looks really good in the nets. It's about getting his fitness levels back up to where we need them to be for Test cricket," du Plessis said on Friday.
Steyn only requires three more wickets to break Shaun Pollock's record to become South Africa's highest ever test wicket taker.
South Africa's tour of Sri Lanka begins with a two-match series, starting in Galle on July 12 with the second commencing in Colombo on July 20.