'The legend will always be... till the end' - Hashim Amla pens touching post for Dale Steyn

South Africa pace legend Dale Steyn brought down curtains upon a stellar career on August 31, as he announced his retirement from all forms of cricket on social media. Within moments, wishes poured for the nation’s leading Test wicket-taker from all quarters, as everyone realized that another Protea legend walked away from the sport.

Steyn’s teammate AB de Villiers termed him a “legend forever” while Shane Watson named him “the best bowler” he faced in his entire career. That aside, another one of Steyn’s former teammates, Hashim Amla, had his own creative way of paying a tribute to the retiring legend, as he penned a poem for him.

Hashim Amla’s unique tribute

“The game is tense, no…it is high voltage electric,” the poem read.

I receive the ball from the cover fielder. I’m at mid off. I gather the little sweat that sprinkles my brow. The heat is saying hello but not kindly.

I moisten the shiny side whilst walking towards the bowler who is already at the top of his mark. I look down, clench my eyelids and muscles to give the ball a final shine. I flick the ball to the bowler.

Lean, athletic and lethal. Our eyes lock..the eyes of Dale Steyn. No ordinary eyes.‘Keep going dalo’ I say casually. He does not hear nor see me.

Thousands are chanting his name…he does not hear nor see them. I hear him though.

Those eyes. The mirror to the soul.

Speak: ‘I have come from humble beginnings. Lived and saw difficulties. No fancy school to swell my ego. But I will give everything I have to make a play for us and the country. I want this. Those tough times have strengthened my spirit. That simple school gave me my natural beautiful action and those humble beginnings remind me never to take it all for granted, work hard and enjoy it till the end.’

The timber is rattled. The play is made. The game is won. This reel. On a loop. For a decade and more.

The legend will always be.. till the end,” wrote Amla.

Steyn represented South Africa in 93 Tests, 125 ODIs and 47 T20Is, picking 439, 125 and 64 wickets, respectively.