The Proteas are wrapping Dale Steyn in cottonwool as he battles against flu ahead of the big match against India on Sunday.

He missed training on Wednesday, and some observers believe he has been suffering for some time. He reported flu symptoms after the first match against Zimbabwe, in which he struggled to find rhythm and pace, going for more than seven an over. Apparently he had held back even in training for that match.

‘Lights off for about a hour now, it’s sore throat and blocked nose for me…’ he said in Twitter after the match.

He had also been rested for the second warm-up match, but management had played down any suggestion that he was ill or injured.

‘Everyone is fine. We rested Dale in the previous match to make sure he is 110% but everyone is fine,’ Allan Donald, South Africa’s bowling coach, said at the time.

The Proteas media manager, Lerato Malekutu, confirmed that he has a bout of sinusitis. But, she added, he  will be back at training on Thursday.

Should Steyn not be available, it is likely that Kyle Abbott would be drafted in as a like-for-like replacement, but that would further complicate the balance of the side and increase debate as to whether there should be a specialist fifth bowler, or put their faith in 10 overs from JP Duminy.

Duminy, meanwhile, had a dedicated session, along with Faf du Plessis, with Michael Hussey, the former Australian batsman signed up by the Proteas as a consultant for the World Cup.

Former coach Gary Kirsten has also arrived after attending the IPL auction recently.