One could never get tired of watching South African quick Dale Steyn when in full flow. That piercing stare, throbbing veins, blink-and-you-miss outswingers and his trademark chainsaw celebration endeared him to fans around the world.
He burst on to the Test scene as a raw speedster against England in 2004, but his career took off only two years later. As the legendary quick bids goodbye to Test cricket, finishing as the highest South African wicket-taker in whites (439), here's a quick look at five of his memorable bowling performances in the longer format.
1
7/51 against India in 2010
The Proteas had two Tests and three ODIs lined up in India. They started brightly, declaring their first innings in the first Test at 558/6, with Hashim Amla remaining unbeaten on 253. In reply, India were skittled out for 233, with Virender Sehwag scoring 109 of those. Barring him and S. Badrinath (56), none of the other Indian batsmen could even get into double figures in the face of Steyn's fiery onslaught. The great Sachin Tendulkar, too, did not have any answer to a peach of an outswinging delivery which he could only edge to wicketkeeper Mark Boucher for 7. Though India batted a shade better in the second innings after being forced to follow-on, they lost by an innings and six runs.
2
5/75 against India in 2011
With both teams having won one Test each, the third one at Cape Town was the decider. South Africa batted first and were dismissed for 362 in their first innings. India, in reply, were faced with some accurate fast bowling from Steyn. With Gautam Gambhir (93) for company, Sachin Tendulkar (146) played the innings of his life to ensure India remained in the match, with Steyn breathing fire. His one particular seven-over burst produced just three runs and two wickets. The match, however, ended in a draw.
3
5/23 against India in 2008
After a high-scoring drawn first Test in Chennai, the focus shifted to Ahmedabad for the second game. But nobody was ready for what unfolded next. India were bowled out for 76 in their first innings—their second lowest total on home soil then. Irfan Pathan top-scored with 21; the second highest were extras—19! Steyn and Makhaya Ntini blew the Indian top order like a house of cards. In reply, South Africa declared on 494/7, with AB de Villiers scoring a double century. India came out fighting in the second innings but could score only 328. Steyn took three more wickets to help his team win the match by an innings and 90 runs.
4
10 wickets against Australia in 2008
The second Test of the three-match series, at Melbourne, had Dale Steyn written all over it! From taking five wickets in each innings to scoring an invaluable 76 runs in the first innings—sharing a match-defining 180-run stand with JP Duminy (166), it seemed that the South African quick can put no foot wrong in this match. Fittingly, it was Steyn who dismissed the last man, Peter Siddle, for his 150th Test wicket. South Africa won the match by nine wickets—they had won the first Test by six wickets—and eventually the series 2-1.
5
6/8 against Pakistan in 2013
It was a one-sided Test series in South Africa, with the Proteas whitewashing Pakistan. In the first Test, the visitors managed to restrict South Africa to 253 in the first innings. But any hopes to taking a lead were as quickly dashed as Steyn's lethal quick deliveries. Before Pakistan knew what hit them, the whole team was back in the pavilion for 49! Steyn's figures read an incredible 8.1-6-8-6. He went on to take five more in the second innings, taking his match haul to 11/60—his best ever in Tests. He was adjudged the Man of the Match, too.
