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Dale Steyn

Dale Steyn YM
Dale Steyn YM Image: Wikimedia Commons. YellowMonkey/Blnguyen / CC BY-SA 4.0

Overview

Dale Willem Steyn (born 27 June 1983) is a South African former professional cricketer who represented the South African national cricket team across all three formats. A right-arm fast bowler known for generating late swing at high pace, Steyn is widely regarded as one of the foremost fast bowlers of the modern era. He held the number one position in the ICC Test bowling rankings for a record 263 weeks between 2008 and 2014.

Key facts

Full name Dale Willem Steyn
Date of birth 27 June 1983
Nationality South African
Role Right-arm fast bowler
National team South Africa
Test retirement 5 August 2019
Retirement from all cricket 31 August 2021
Major honours ICC Test Cricketer of the Year (2008); Wisden Cricketer of the Year (2013); Wisden Leading Cricketer in the World (2013)

Background

Steyn emerged as a fast bowler whose principal weapon was the ability to swing the ball late while bowling at high speeds. This combination, considered uncommon among fast bowlers, set him apart from many of his contemporaries, with several cricketers describing his length deliveries as particularly difficult to negotiate when the ball was swinging.

Career

Rise and peak years

During the 2007–08 season, Steyn took 78 wickets at a bowling average of 16.24. This performance led to him being awarded the ICC Test Cricketer of the Year Award in 2008. He went on to dominate the top of the ICC Test bowling rankings, occupying the number one spot for 263 weeks between 2008 and 2014, a tally that placed him ahead of Sri Lanka's Muttiah Muralitharan, who held the position for 214 weeks. By 6 October 2016, Steyn had spent 2,356 days at the top of the rankings.

South African pace attack

In October 2012, former South African Test fast bowler Allan Donald described the South African pace attack — comprising Steyn, Vernon Philander and Morne Morkel — as the best the country had ever produced.

Wisden recognition

Steyn was named one of the Wisden Cricketers of the Year in 2013, and was subsequently named the Wisden Leading Cricketer in the World for 2013 in the 2014 edition of the Wisden Cricketers' Almanack.

Injuries and later career

In December 2015, Steyn sustained a shoulder injury during the Durban Test against England. The injury was followed by a series of further setbacks, and his appearances after 2015 were significantly affected.

Record for South Africa

In December 2018, during the first Test against Pakistan, Steyn became the leading wicket-taker for South Africa in Test cricket, surpassing the previous holder of the record, all-rounder and former captain Shaun Pollock.

Retirement

On 5 August 2019, Steyn announced his retirement from Test cricket in order to focus on limited-overs formats. On 31 August 2021, he announced his retirement from all forms of cricket.

Timeline

  • 27 June 1983 — Born.
  • 2007–08 — Took 78 wickets at an average of 16.24.
  • 2008 — Awarded ICC Test Cricketer of the Year.
  • 2008–2014 — Held the number one ICC Test bowling ranking for a record 263 weeks.
  • 2013 — Named a Wisden Cricketer of the Year.
  • 2014 — Named Wisden Leading Cricketer in the World for 2013.
  • December 2015 — Sustained a shoulder injury in the Durban Test against England.
  • December 2018 — Became South Africa's leading Test wicket-taker, surpassing Shaun Pollock.
  • 2019 — Featured in Wisden Cricketers of the Decade.
  • 5 August 2019 — Retired from Test cricket.
  • 2020 — Included in the ICC Test Team of the Decade.
  • 31 August 2021 — Retired from all forms of cricket.

Significance

Steyn's career is notable for the longevity of his dominance at the highest level of Test bowling rankings, his role within a celebrated South African pace attack, and his standing as the leading Test wicket-taker for South Africa. His combination of pace and late swing has been frequently cited as a defining feature of his bowling.

References