Dale Steyn can become South Africa's leading wicket-taker with the India series

South Africa have produced some of the finest pacers that the cricketing world has witnessed. Fast bowlers like Allan Donald, Shaun Pollock, Dale Steyn and Makhaya Ntini to name a few. Among them, only Steyn is an active cricketer at this moment and carries a lot of expectations on his shoulders. His pace and accuracy have been brilliant over the years and he is on the fringe of becoming South Africa‘s most prolific wicket-taker in Tests.

It has been 14 months since Steyn last featured in a Test match. His shoulder issues emerged against England in Durban in December 2015 but it was just under a year later in Perth in November 2016 that extensive damage was done as he tore three major muscles during the first Test against Australia.

Steyn’s own battle

The 34-year-old Protean pacer has picked up 417 wickets in Tests so far and is only 4 wickets away from overtaking Pollock. Steyngun has been nearing the record since the last one year but he’s yet been far. He was initially named in the squad that played the boxing day Test against Zimbabwe but he was ruled out on the morning of the match due to a bout of influenza. He will be eager to take on the field as South Africa take on India in three Tests beginning January 5 at Newlands, Cape Town.

After the shoulder injury, the pacer went to Cape Town for surgery followed by lengthy rehabilitation. He returned to T20 action back in November but turned wicketless in the twelve overs he bowled. There are indications that the rustiness of a lay-off, plus the absence of a decent examination of his shoulder in match conditions, could see him being left out of the first Test, local media suggested.

Steyn averages a staggering 22.3 with 65 wickets in 13 Tests at an average of 21.93 –- 12 against India. At the age when a pacer nears retirement, the 34-year-old is making a comeback. His recent statements fill his fans with confidence but the Indians don’t seem too pleased.