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Is Dale Steyn the worst ever best fast bowler in the world?
- Thread starter pasag
- Start date
GuyFromLancs
State Vice-Captain
It's a good question really. Had he been around 15 years ago with the likes of Wasim, Waqar, Ambrose, Walsh, Donald etc he certainly would have had more competion. But having said that he averages 22 now (last time I checked) and his strike rate is awesome.
He might even have been better on the slightly rougher pitches of the 90s, which would put him even higher than the afore-mentioned. Not least for the fact that Steyn has the option of dropping it in short owed to his height and the express pace he can get in top gear. This would have made him even more effective in the 90s when the pitches offered more to bowlers.
Back to the point, I think Steyn stands up to the bowlers of yesteryear as he has adapted to harsher conditions for bowlers by pitching it up and swinging it (at pace) when the pitch offers nothing.
As of today he is worthy.
He might even have been better on the slightly rougher pitches of the 90s, which would put him even higher than the afore-mentioned. Not least for the fact that Steyn has the option of dropping it in short owed to his height and the express pace he can get in top gear. This would have made him even more effective in the 90s when the pitches offered more to bowlers.
Back to the point, I think Steyn stands up to the bowlers of yesteryear as he has adapted to harsher conditions for bowlers by pitching it up and swinging it (at pace) when the pitch offers nothing.
As of today he is worthy.
Furball
Evil Scotsman
He's got the best strike rate of any fast bowler to have taken more than 150 Test wickets.
Of fast bowlers who have taken more than 20 wickets, only Lohmann, Proctor and Bond have taken their wickets faster. If Steyn takes 7 more wickets in this match, he trumps Lillee and Waqar as the fastest quick to 200, if he takes 7 more on this tour he equals them.
Steyn's massively underappreciated. In a batsman dominated era, to be averaging 23 and striking at such a phenominal rate is an incredible achievement.
Of fast bowlers who have taken more than 20 wickets, only Lohmann, Proctor and Bond have taken their wickets faster. If Steyn takes 7 more wickets in this match, he trumps Lillee and Waqar as the fastest quick to 200, if he takes 7 more on this tour he equals them.
Steyn's massively underappreciated. In a batsman dominated era, to be averaging 23 and striking at such a phenominal rate is an incredible achievement.
four_or_six
Cricketer Of The Year
Steyn is so good. He's like you'd think Brett Lee should have been. He could be right up there when it comes to matches to get 200 test wickets, he's currently got 193 and this is his 37th match.
Why is it that he has such a (relatively) poor ODI record? He's also not played that many games.
Edit: Too slow...
Why is it that he has such a (relatively) poor ODI record? He's also not played that many games.
Edit: Too slow...
Last edited:
Furball
Evil Scotsman
He's improved in ODIs over the past year. His overall record is hampered by having a poor start to his ODI career.
honestbharani
Whatever it takes!!!
That is one of the best spells of reverse swing bowling I have ever seen... That post tea session was just surreal. It is one of those days when everything clicked for him.. I am sure he himself will know he won't have such days too often... Good on him that he made sure it counted, TWICE!!! 
GuyFromLancs
State Vice-Captain
If he maintains that record to 350 wickets, never mind improves upon it, he will be one of the greatest ever.
four_or_six
Cricketer Of The Year
Ah, cool. It's always good to see strike bowlers in ODIs.
Xuhaib
International Coach
Yup this was as Waqar as it can get seemed the 90's have rolled back.That is one of the best spells of reverse swing bowling I have ever seen... That post tea session was just surreal. It is one of those days when everything clicked for him.. I am sure he himself will know he won't have such days too often... Good on him that he made sure it counted, TWICE!!!
Uppercut
Request Your Custom Title Now!
As is his test record.
I think this kinda pinpoints the problem with the question pasag asks. If Dale Steyn goes down in history as an all-time great quick, and it looks like he probably will, no one's going to look back on the period two years into his dominance and say that he was, at that stage, the "worst best fast bowler in the world". Current players are always at a distinct disadvantage when considering this question because they haven't got their entire careers behind them.
TT Boy
Hall of Fame Member
And at the time it was poor post given the whole rationale for the thread was Steyn not doing the business against Australia that despite not playing a test against Australia.
pasag
RTDAS
Was it?
TT Boy
Hall of Fame Member
Well at the time of your post he had played and had success against every other side (England except), so not sure what else the argument could be.
pasag
RTDAS
I can't remember what it was, certainly wouldn't have been that. More likely his England exploits or that fact that Lee was now 100% out of the picture so Steyn was undisputed number 1, but probably not either. Nice try though.
aussie
Hall of Fame Member
Actually i think he would have. Two years ago this time South Africa where in India & he got Sehwag out with big inswinger bowled & LBW a few times.
L Trumper
State Regular
I think he is referring to the three card trick with 2 out swingers followed by the one that nips back which steyn mastered during ENG series. The way he got trott, bell, vijay is more or less same. Doing it in jo'borg itself is a difficult task but on indian feather bed ? That beggars belief.
aussie
Hall of Fame Member
Having watched Steyn alot in the last 4 years i think he has done that a long time before the recent ENG series TBH. As i said before vs IND 2008 he got Sehwag out with the 3 card trick & Vaughan vs ENG 2008 (although some may argue Vaughan to the end of his career sort of forgot where his off-stump was)
I just think maybe in the last two series he targeted those batsmen specially which such plans, thus we have seen such dismissals a bit more regularly.