The world awaits for
Steyn to come back to his lethal best…….
0 for 60 vs Sri Lanka on July 20, 2018
0 for 30 vs Sri Lanka on July 20, 2018
1 for 54 vs Sri Lanka on July 12, 2018
1 for 35 vs Sri Lanka on July 12, 2018
2 for 51 vs India on January 5, 2018
From 2007 to 2014, Dale Steyn could easily be termed as the best
fast bowler of modern era and his wicket-taking abilities at home and away,
easily makes an all-time best customer. Especially, on the flat-decks of
subcontinent, his guile had put chills down the spine of the best in business,
but sadly, for the last three years, the going has not been rosy for Steyn.
Injuries threatened his existence in the international
arena. The likes of Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi or Vernon Philander may not have
made us all miss the sight of a red-hot Steyn, but somewhere, an emptiness
could always be felt.
The kind of aura, which Steyn brought into the game like a
Shoaib Akhtar or Brett Lee, it would take time for Rabada to reach that level.
The South African Black Panther is an absolute predator, when the mission is about
hunting batters and is following the footsteps of Steyn – but in cricket, there
is something about involving the whole world with you, when you are on song in
the middle.
When Steyn ran towards the batsmen, for a moment, the time stopped
and no matter how much important work you did, you would stop doing it, focus
on an object of mass destruction, slowly unleashing his destructive qualities
to create a havoc in 22-yards – destruction can be a piece of spectacle and
like Malcolm Marshall, Allan Donald or Shoaib Akhtar, Steyn made destruction an
art of joy for all. Like a Shoaib or Lee, he has been a rock star and a rock star
just forces you to get involved with his actions. They are hard to ignore.
That is why the emptiness were felt. That rock star flavor was
hugely missed. But it seems, the Steyngun is gradually coming back to his best.
It was evident during the limited-overs series against Australia, where his
accuracy and skill hinted of a better outcome. Yes, the pace has gone down a
bit, even though he was quite lively in the Test series against Zimbabwe, but he
does not hit the 145 kmph mark on a consistent basis. He hits the 130-135 kmph mark
consistently at present and targeting the outside edge has become more important
for him than banging in those lethal inswingers.
But it is guaranteed, despite the lack of pace, a fit Steyn
won’t short of that rock star flavor. His followers are expecting him to
rediscover his lost mojo at Centurion where the Proteas would play their Boxing
Day Test against Pakistan. On South African soil, Steyn has always been an irresistible
force and against Pakistan, he boasts a very good record. Meanwhile, Steyn is
just one wicket away from becoming the all-time best wicket taker in the Test history
of South Africa. At present, he is level is Shaun Pollock’s 421 Test wickets.
With Philander and Ngidi being injured, it is expected,
Steyn would share the new ball against
Pakistan along with Kagiso Rabada on what is expected to be a lively wicket in
Pretoria.
“Test matches are what really drive me to perform. If I can
carry on playing Test cricket for as long as possible that will be great. There
is a plenty of T20 cricket going on at the moment because that is where the
money is at but I think that people will always know that test cricket is the
real deal. I love the red-ball game,” Steyn told this to Sports24 in a recent
interview.
Steyn would be given that old responsibilities to lead the
attack and the greater the responsibilities, the better the best delivers. It
is expected, Steyn would rediscover his old best in Centurion. He has still a
lot to offer in Test cricket.
Thank You
Faisal Caesar
No comments:
Post a Comment