Dale Steyn’s bowling plans accidentally leaked
The detailed bowling plans of arguably the best bowler in world cricket have been accidentally leaked.
A sheet of paper that was meant only for the eyes of South African firebrand quick, Dale Steyn, was slipped under the wrong hotel room door and then posted on social media.
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South Africa are set to start a one-day series against New Zealand on Wednesday (Australia time) in Centurion, but it seems the Proteas might need to come up with some new tactics.
The hotel guest who mistakenly got the plan posted a photo of it to Facebook saying: “Something tells me I wasn’t supposed to get the South African cricket teams plan/strategy for New Zealand … under my hotel room door.”
“I wonder if this means Dale (Steyn) thinks he’s sleeping in my room tonight?”
The top of the page is marked with “Dale Steyn” and the plans are separated into three columns for each batsmen, including “areas to bowl, bouncers and death (late) overs”.
New Zealand’s highest-ranked batsman is Kane Williamson, who lines up at number three for the Black Caps.
The plans to the classy Kiwi seem simple enough.
“Areas to bowl: 4th stump good length – shaping away. Drives on the up through covers,” it said. “Bouncers: attack. Doesn’t pull well.”
“Death overs: Full and wide. Bouncers angling in.”
Of course it isn’t the first time a team’s secret tactics have ended up in the wrong hands.
In 2000, 2001 and 2012, Australia’s cricketing plans were all accidentally leaked to the media.
The first time was before a match against New Zealand with the next two occasions being before a clash against South Africa.