At the height of his career, Dale Steyn was perhaps South Africa's best-ever bowler. His extreme pace, the ability to swing the ball both ways, and accuracy made him the bane of the world’s batsmen.
He played just seven first-class matches before he was selected for South Africa and made his debut against England in 2004.
He did not have an immediate impact, but after honing his craft playing for Essex in Division 2 of the county championship and the 2005-06 domestic season, he returned a different beast.
He took 16 wickets in his second series against New Zealand but when he faced them the following season, the summer of 2007-08, he announced himself as one of the fierce fast men.
Steyn took 10 wickets in the first Test in Johannesburg. Then, shortly after lunch on the first day of the second Test in Centurion, he delivered a short ball to Craig Cumming, who missed. The ball crashed into his face and sent him to intensive care.
The flow of wickets became a gush, and in 2008, he became the fastest South African at the time, and the 15th fastest overall, to reach 100 Test wickets. That September, Steyn was named ICC Test Player of the Year after taking 86 wickets in 14 matches at an average of 18.10.
He went on to win the Test championship with the team in England in 2012 and took his 300th Test wicket the following year against New Zealand. He was only the fourth South African to rack up that many scalps.
Career Statistics
Full name: Dale Willem Steyn
Born: June 27, 1983, Phalaborwa
Major teams: South Africa, Africa XI, Botha XI, Cape Cobras, Cape Town Blitz, Deccan Chargers, Essex, Glamorgan, Gujarat Lions, Hampshire, Islamabad United, Jamaica Tallawahs, Melbourne Stars, Nelson Mandela Bay Stars, North Eastern Transvaal, Northerns, Proteas, Rest of South Africa, Royal Challengers Bangalore, South Africa A, South African Invitation XI, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Titans, Warwickshire
Playing role: Bowler
Bowling style: Right-arm fast
Test Career: South Africa (2004-2019)
Mat Inns Balls Runs Wkts BBI BBM Ave Econ SR 4w 5w 10w
93 171 18608 10077 439 7/51 11/60 22.95 3.24 42.3 27 26 5
Career Highlights
- Best strike rate of any bowler over 300 Test wickets (42.3)
- 8 times selected to ICC Test Team of the Year
- Took 439 wickets at 22.95
- 9th most 5-wicket hauls in Tests (26)