He was a figure for fast bowlers everywhere and in the Test format of the game.
Dale Steyn, South Africa’s leading wicket-taker, recently announced his retirement from Test cricket. Injuries were the main reason why he decided to retire from Test cricket, but he still wants to play in the limited-overs format. Steyn got 439 wickets in 93 Test matches.
He made his first appearance against England in 2003 and ever since has been an inspiration of fast bowling. Injuries have prevented him from performing at his best; he also wasn’t able to play in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 due to a shoulder injury he suffered when playing in the IPL. One of the many players who look up to him is Indian fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah.
Jasprit Bumrah played in his first Test match in 2018 against South Africa. Steyn also played in that game but had to leave early due to an injury. Bumrah tweeted, “You’re a focal point for fast bowlers everywhere. Test cricket will miss you @DaleSteyn62. Congratulations on a great career and good luck for the future. 👍” as a tribute to Steyn.
“Today I walk away from a format of the game I love so much. In my opinion, Test cricket is the best version of this game. It tests you mentally, physically, emotionally. It’s terrible to consider never playing another Test again but what’s more terrifying is the thought of never playing again at all. So I will be focusing on ODIs and T20s for the rest of my career to maximize my full potential and ensure my longevity in this sport,” Steyn said.
Test cricket is one of the longest formats of the game; it usually spans five days. To find out more about the different formats of the game, visit Betwala’s page.
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