A gemstone unearthed from South Africa’s endless quarry of fast bowlers, Dale Willem Steyn took the legacy of Allan Donald and Makhaya Ntini higher, way higher, to towering heights as he ruled fast bowling throughout the decade gone by.Steyn’s USP lies in is his ability to swing his deliveries prodigiously at a breathtaking pace, getting movement from both the red and white ball during his golden period from 2008-2014, where he remained the undisputed No.1 Test bowler in the world.Here’s recalling his career through pictures:
2004 – An indifferent start
Debuting in the same Test as AB de Villiers, Steyn’s first victim was Marcus Trescothick, slipping an inswinger through the gates to start a trend that unfolded over the next decade. However, he couldn’t feast on the flying start, turning erratic as the series progressed and was eventually dropped from the side.
His next break came only in 2006, against New Zealand, where he picked up a five-wicket haul in the second Test of the series to re-impose the management’s faith in him. He started to feature regularly thereon, at least in the Test side.
He made his ODI debut in the Afro-Asia Cup in 2005, and first donned the national team’s colours in January the subsequent year. His ODI appearances in the initial period weren’t too many, and he was looked at primarily as a red-ball specialist. To validate the fact, his first 10 ODIs were spread across two and a half years.
2006-2008 – The growth of a future champion
He injured himself during India’s visit in 2006, playing only a part of the first Test and missing out on the second, but quickly recovered to play the final one where he picked up four wickets, starting off a period of supreme form with the ball.
He wasn’t an automatic choice for Tests against Pakistan, with the selectors preferring the likes of Paul Harris and Andre Nel to him. He still needed one series to completely prove his mettle, one that could firmly establish him as South Africa’s bowling future.
Steyn had a scintillating series against New Zealand later that year, picking up 20 wickets in the two Tests to enhance his reputation as one of the brightest young pacers in the circuit. He also broke into the top five of the ICC Test rankings for bowlers.
His T20 debut came against New Zealand, where he picked up a solitary wicket, and followed it up with an impressive spell of 4-9 versus West Indies, taking all four wickets off yorkers.
The next chapter in the Steyn saga unfolded away from home, where the pacer played in Bangladesh and India to expand his art. He dismissed Junaid Siddique to become the fastest South African to pick up 100 Test wickets.
2008-2013 – The golden run
Against India, he continued his outstanding form of 2007-08, picking up 15 wickets despite the encounters being high scoring, to move up the ladder in the ICC rankings. 75 wickets in 11 Tests meant that he climbed atop the rankings in no time, sharing honours with Muttiah Muralitharan for the No. 1 spot.
He was a part of the Royal Challengers Bangalore outfit in the first edition of the IPL, having been roped in for $325,000 for the Bangalore-based franchise. He played with the likes of Rahul Dravid, Anil Kumble and a young Virat Kohli in RCB’s wretched campaign.
The icing on the cake came with him winning the ICC Test Cricketer of the Year award in 2008.He picked up his 200th Test wicket, and 14th five-for, in only his 38th Test, showing how he was one of the best in the business on his day.
In the 2011 World Cup, he turned up with his best ODI performance against India, picking up his first five-wicket haul as he spearheaded a remarkable collapse of the hosts. India lost nine wickets for a mere 29 runs and eventually lost the match.
Later that year, he breached the coveted one million barrier in the IPL, being contracted for $1.2m by the Deccan Chargers. He later went on to play for the Sunrisers Hyderabad as well, though his fortunes tapered off with each passing season.In his 49th Test, he went past the 250-wicket mark, becoming the second fastest bowler after Australia’s Dennis Lillee in December 2011.
2013: The wane starts
Steyn continued his form with the South African team, winning the Test Championship in England in 2012. He also took his 300th Test wicket in January 2013, in his 61st Test match, against New Zealand, becoming the fastest South African to do so.
Initially injury-free for the first part of his career, he suddenly broke down towards the latter half, though he was part of the SA team that toured Australia in Ricky Ponting’s farewell series.
He was a part of the South African squad for the 2013 Champions Trophy, but the injury was a major obstacle for him and his side’s quest for a major ICC title.
A major portion of 2014 was engulfed by injuries (as many as three pulled hamstrings), but he soldiered on and featured in South Africa's first Test win in Sri Lanka.
What’s next for the Steyn gun?
2015 witnessed Steyn gather all his forces one last time, in a bid to fulfil South Africa’s dreams of lifting the coveted World Cup trophy. It proved to be one bridge too much for the pacer to cross, becoming the face of his team’s loss to New Zealand in the semi-finals.
Steyn bowled the final delivery that was hit for a six, ironically off the bat of a South African, as Grant Elliot became a national hero and took the Kiwis to victory.
Since then, he has looked a pale shadow of his former self, making sparing appearances for South Africa in all formats. He returned in 2016 for a couple of World T20 matches, and later for the Test series against Australia, which, even until June 2017, remains his last match for his nation. As he prepares for life after 34, always a difficult proposition for a fast bowler, he might have to let go of one of the formats in order to prolong his career. A lightning fast Steyn might have been lost forever, but a fit-again and craftier version featuring for South Africa can be hoped for.Also read: ICC Champions Trophy 2017: 5 champions who were missed
Brand-new app in a brand-new avatar! Download Cric Rocket for fast cricket scores, rocket flicks, super notifications and much more!
