Analysing the reasons why Dale Steyn is a better Test bowler than James Anderson

Overall record

Anderson is statistically England's best bowler in Tests

Anderson and Steyn made their Test debuts for their respective teams just 18 months apart. It took Anderson five long years to cement his place in the English Test team as they had the likes of Matthew Hoggard, Steve Harmison, Freddie Flintoff, Simon Jones etc in their ranks.

On the other hand, Steyn had a few nervous moments in his first few matches after making his debut in December 2004, as he was dropped from the side in 2005 before making a strong comeback the next year.

Since then, there was no turning back for the Proteas bowler as he established himself as a part of the South African pace attack that had the likes of Shaun Pollock and Makhaya Ntini. Under the guidance of Pollock, he had his breakthrough season in 2007, as he took 44 wickets in seven matches at an average of 17.47.

Just as Steyn hit a purple patch in 2008 with 74 wickets in 13 Tests at 20, Anderson became a regular in the English side, establishing himself as the focal point of England's bowling attack in the format. That year saw him take 46 wickets in 11 matches at an average of 29.

Fast forward by a decade or so and the Lancashire lad has become one of the most feared bowlers around the world while Steyn, after holding the world number 1 Test ranking for bowlers from 2008-2014, has fallen behind the Englishman in the overall wickets tally, thanks to the injuries that ruined his career.

Anderson became the third fast bowler to take 500 Test wickets, and with 506 scalps in 129 matches at an average of 27.39 till date. Steyn, who last played a Test in November 2016, has accounted for 417 wickets in 85 matches at an average of 22.30 in his career. Adding to this, Anderson takes a wicket every 56 balls compared to Steyn's 41.

Verdict: Anderson might have edged past Steyn in the overall wickets tally but the rate at which Steyn takes his wickets puts him far ahead of Anderson as a Test bowler.