Dale Steyn: The Best Fast Bowler Of His Generation

Dale Steyn has proven himself to be the best fast bowler of his generation.

He became the 13th bowler to join the 400 wickets club when he had Tamim Iqbal caught behind during the second Test between South Africa and Bangladesh in Mirpur, Bangladesh. While there are a number of international fast bowlers around who are held in high regard, it is Steyn’s all round ability that makes him stand out from the crowd. He bowls with genuine pace and is not limited to a green, juicy pitch to bowl teams out. His pace, late swing and ability to bowl reverse swing means that he has the skills set that makes him the complete modern fast bowler and is a threat even on a flat pitch. He has also been able to apply these skills across all formats of the game, which many fast bowlers have not been able to do.

Both of the Test captains he has played under have been complimentary regarding Steyn’s ability to come back for multiple spells during the course of a Test match, with his final spell of the day being as fast and committed as his first spell. Steyn’s ability was evident right from the early days of his career, with legendary South African fast bowler Alan Donald giving him the stamp of being “the real deal” from the outset. Donald made a point of telling the South African brains trust that Steyn should not be rushed into the Test arena too fast, a mistake made across the world that often leads to young quicks being injured and having to remodel their bowling action. As an aside, I hope that the new kid on the block, Kagiso Rabada, is allowed to develop and mature at the same sensible pace.

The numbers that prove Steyn’s class are starting to mount. He has now taken 402 wickets, just 19 away from equaling the South African record currently held by Shaun Pollock. He took his 400th wicket with the 16 634th ball he bowled in Test cricket, significantly less than Richard Hadlee who bowled 20 400* balls, 20 526 balls bowled by Glenn McGrath and the 21 200 balls bowled by Wasim Akram. South African cricket fans will be hoping that this incredible strike rate would mean less wear and tear on Steyn’s body, allowing him to extend his Test career longer than his contemporaries.

Steyn’s bowling record in terms of overall numbers across all formats of the game is detailed below, with specifically his Test record underlining why he is regarded as the best fast bowler of his generation – a record which will surely stand among the best at the end of his career.

* Accurate numbers not available

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