Steyn desperate for World Cup medal

Dale Steyn has said he doesn't mind going wicketless in the World Cup as long as South Africa win the tournament.

"We are just trying to be a part of that puzzle, that when it's finished, it has a big W on it," Steyn said on Monday. "It's nice to have inspiring guys like AB de Villiers and Vernon Philander. Watching AB bat, watching Hashim Amla bat, watching Vern and Morne Morkel perform, it makes you want to be a better player yourself.

"I don't want to be better than them, I just want to be able to participate in a winning side. If I can win that World Cup without taking one wicket, I can still have a winner's medal around my neck."

Australia and New Zealand will co-host the World Cup, which begins in February, and South Africa will by then have made limited-overs tours of both countries. Looking ahead to both these tours, Steyn recalled South Africa's defeat to New Zealand in a low-scoring quarter-final at the 2011 World Cup.

"New Zealand are a dark horse team whenever there is a tournament around," he said. "We all know Australia is a good team - they're in your face all the time, it's pretty annoying really. New Zealand are one of those teams that can be nowhere for three years and get to a World Cup and they just suddenly turn it on.

"For us it's important that guys like Quinton de Kock go there and familiarise themselves with those conditions, and the players they're going to be playing against."

Steyn was enthused by the return of Vernon Philander to the ODI team after he had missed South Africa's tour to Zimbabwe with a hamstring injury.

"Vern has that attitude that he's better than everybody. It's great to have," Steyn said. "If you think you are better than someone else, you're that step ahead of them. He does that with the ball, he does that all the time with his ability and skill."

South Africa's bowling attack at the World Cup is unlikely to include more than one specialist spinner at a time, considering the pitches tend to favour the quicker bowlers, but Aaron Phangiso, the left-arm spinner, has backed himself and the legspinner Imran Tahir to perform even if chosen to bowl in tandem.

"We've both been doing well," Phangiso said. "If the coach decides to play both of us, that will be great. Those conditions are known for suiting the fast bowlers, but if both of us play I'd back us to do the job for the team.

"We've been working on trying to contain as much as possible. It gives the other guys like Dale Steyn a chance to get wickets."

Phangiso played four games in South Africa's last ODI assignment, a triangular tournament involving Australia and Zimbabwe, and was the team's most economical bowler, giving away just 3.84 runs an over while picking up five wickets. In the final, he helped South Africa restrict Australia to a total of 217, giving away just 36 runs in his ten overs.

"That tour was important for me," Phangiso said. "It was a real confidence-booster. I've been travelling with the side a lot and not getting a lot of opportunities to play. Playing sides like Australia and doing well, and playing a role in beating them in the final meant a lot to me."