(REUTERS): South African pacer Dale Steyn has announced his retirement from all forms of cricket, closing the curtain on a 20-year career in which he became South Africa’s highest wicket-taker in Tests.
“And it’s been a long December and there’s reason to believe maybe this year will be better than last. I can’t remember all the times I tried to tell myself to hold on to these moments as they pass,” Steyn said in a statement.
Announcement. pic.twitter.com/ZvOoeFkp8w
— Dale Steyn (@DaleSteyn62) August 31, 2021
“It has been 20 years of training, matches, travel, wins, losses, strapped feet, jet lag, joy and brotherhood. Today I officially retire from the game I love the most. Bittersweet, but grateful,” Steyn added.
Steyn retired from the Test cricket in 2019 but had been available for limited-overs cricket and hoped to play at the Twenty20 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) later this year, though he had not featured in the team since February last year.
He took 699 international wickets, including a South African record 439 in Tests, and is regarded as one of the best fast bowlers of his generation with extreme pace in his prime and the ability to swing the ball in both directions.
Steyn would have taken many more wickets but for injuries later in his career, especially a shoulder problem that restricted him to only 11 Tests after 2015. He featured in 93 in all, averaging 22.95 with the ball at a strike rate of 42.30.
He is ranked 15th on the list of most international wickets across formats. He still holds the record for the fastest to 400 Test wickets and held the top spot in the ICC Test rankings for bowlers for a record 263 weeks between 2008 and 2014.
Some of the former and current cricket greats took to Twitter to hail the pacer on his glorious career spanning two decades. “We have witnessed a fierce bowler in you, whose bowling feats will inspire the future generations,” said former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram in a tribute to Steyn.
“Bitter sweet” is the right way to sum up a great fast bowler’s career,@DaleSteyn62 . We have witnessed a fierce bowler in you, whose bowling feats will inspire the future generations. Congratulations on a wonderful career buddy and best wishes for whatever you do in future.
— Wasim Akram (@wasimakramlive) August 31, 2021
Australian pacer Pat Cummins hailed Steyn for “setting a standard for fast bowlers world round to follow for 20 years”.
Announcement. pic.twitter.com/ZvOoeFkp8w
— Dale Steyn (@DaleSteyn62) August 31, 2021
