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Dale Steyn: Put on Earth to bowl in Test cricket

Bharat Sundaresan tells you why Dale Steyn is head and shoulders above not just his contemporaries but also the legends of the past.

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Ishant Sharma, who has 209 wickets in his 72 Tests presently, will have to take 207 wickets in his next 12 matches to catch up with Steyn. That’s how far ahead Steyn is of his contemporaries. (Source: Reuters)

When Dale Steyn limped off from the Indian tour last year, many feared his best was behind him. But against the Kiwis he showed that he’s only getting better. Maybe he’s right when he says, “Have been put on earth to play Test cricket”. At Centurion in his 84th Test, his 5/33 took him to 414 wickets, which helped him go past Wasim Akram and occupy the sixth position amongst fast bowlers with most Test victims.

When hot, smoking hot

290 wkts @15.91 in Test wins

That is 70 % of his entire tally so far. Though Glenn McGrath did take more wickets, 414, in victories for Australia, Steyn the match-winner is unparalleled. The Proteas have dominated because of his ability to dominate, and his average is better than anyone with over 200 wickets in Test wins.

Hauls of Fame

20 five-fors in Test wins

Steyn is the only bowler to have taken as many five wicket-hauls in Test victories. The next best include Malcolm Marshall, Richard Hadlee and Dennis Lillee — all locked at 17. His strike-rate of 31.2 in wins is also far better than anyone in history.

Knock top, wipe bottom

98 openings

What do you expect from your pace spearhead? To knock out the top and wipe the bottom. Well, Steyn has knocked out 98 openers (16 for no score) in his career, and they’ve averaged 17.17 against him. And he’s cleaned up 94 nine, ten and jacks.

King of adaptability

90 wickets in the sub-continent

With 90 wickets, he has dismissed more batsmen in subcontinent conditions than any other non-Asian fast bowler. Even McGrath and Courtney Walsh — who finished with 563 and 519 wickets respectively —only managed 72 and 77.

Vis-a-vis greats

Far Ahead at Same stage

Waqar Younis had 50 wickets fewer, Wasim Akram was 55 behind while Anderson trailed by a whopping 94. Even Glenn McGrath had 389 scalps, still 25 adrift.

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