Congratulations to Dale Steyn, who becomes the fastest EVER bowler to 400 Test wickets in terms of deliveries bowled. Dale Steyn is arguably the best fast bowler in world cricket.
With cricket becoming more batsmen-friendly in recent times, not many bowlers have been able to evoke the kind of fear, nervousness and excitement the way Dale Steyn has. A genuine quick in full flow is a sight to behold, and Steyn with his rhythmic run-up and the whippy release has an action that all young fast bowlers yearn for.
Fast bowlers from Australia, England and South Africa have always found the subcontinent to be their graveyard. The similarity ends with Steyn. Flat wickets do not affect his bowling performances by much. A case in point is Steyn’s humiliation of India at Ahmedabad in March 2008 on a dustbowl, when he took 5/23 to blow out the home team for 76 in the first innings. Steyn averages a staggering 20 in India. Which other fast bowler from outside the subcontinent can boast of this?
WATCH: This lovely tribute to Dale Steyn aka The Phalaborwa Express is the best thing you will see today
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6V5MSOgK5lA
Steyn’s greatness is made up of pace, pinpoint accuracy, guile and aggression coming together at once. Early on in career, he was regarded as a bowler with a lot of talent but not enough hunger. Now, after taking 400 Test wickets, no one can accuse him of a lack of motivation now.
In an era of mindless slog-hitting, huge bats, small grounds, flat wickets and an overdose of Twenty20 ‘cricket’, Dale Steyn is an incredible breath of fresh air. One can only enjoy his magic until it lasts, and he is well on his way to becoming one of the greatest fast bowlers ever. Perhaps he is already there. Dale Steyn is 32 now, but it seems there is a lot still left in him. A fast bowler’s productive career span is usually a decade. Steyn seems to be in no mood to adhere to that norm either.
