I'm not on 430-odd wickets, I'm on 20: Dale Steyn

South Africa speedster Dale Steyn is ageing like a fine wine. On Thursday, he once again starred for South Africa in the ongoing first Test against Sri Lanka in Durban. South Africa’s all-time leading wicket-taker in Tests rolled back the clocks with an impressive display on day two of the game. Steyn picked up 4 for 48 as South Africa bowled out Sri Lanka for just 191 to take a handy 44-run lead. At stumps, the Proteas were 126 for 4.

What made Steyn’s performance even more noticeable was the long spells he bowled. Steyn’s career has been marred with injuries in recent years but Thursday saw him leaving the past behind as he bowled his heart out. In fact, after lunch, he bowled ten overs in a row. After the game, Steyn admitted that he was tired but persuaded his captain to stick with him.  Unfortunately, Steyn could not pick up the fifth wicket but his spell, nonetheless, has put the Proteas in the driver’s seat.

For the first time in the last two years, Steyn is playing regularly and his words very much reflected how happy he is.  Between the end of 2016 and mid-2018, he had managed to play only one Test due to repeated serious injury. However, he is looking good now and is making the most of it.

“After not playing for two years, I feel like it’s a blessing to just be playing again. I’ve almost had to start over. I’m not on 430-odd wickets, I’m on 20 since breaking Shaun Pollock’s record. It’s nice to finish a three-Test series against Pakistan and not have someone write: ‘He’s an injury away from retiring.’ It’s nice to contribute again. Hopefully, I can continue this for longer,” he told reporters at the end of the day.

“When I’m bowling 10-over spells, it shows I’m enjoying what I do. I could take the easy option, take 4/30 and go and stand at fine leg and say someone else do it. But it’s fun. It’s fun taking wickets. It’s fun hitting guys on the head. As long as nothing serious happens.”

Record alert:

The second day also saw Steyn achieving a personal milestone. The right-arm pacer’s four-wicket haul helped him become joint-seventh on the list of all-time Test wicket-takers.

He came into day two level with the former India skipper Kapil Dev with 434 wickets. The Proteas pace spearhead struck in his very second over to remove Oshada Fernando to take his Test wickets tally to 435 and pip Kapil Dev in the all-time list of Test wicket-takers. He then took two more wickets to equal England pacer Stuart Broad’s tally.

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