I must admit that Dale Steyn’s impressive bowling figures in Test cricket were not apparent to me, I know he’s a world class player, but I didn’t know that he’s on his way to potentially becoming the best fast bowler of all time.

Steyn took his 200th Test wicket against the West Indies in the first Test of the three match series, that 200th wicket came from just 39 Test matches. Dale Steyn is the fourth fastest bowler to get to 200 Test wickets, only CV Grimmett (Aus) 36, DK Lillee (Aus) 38 and Waqar Younis (Pak) 38 have reached the 200 Test wicket mile stone quicker than Dale Steyn.

It’s the above statistic that got me reading and looking up Steyn’s statistics, here’s what I found:

Steyn’s strike rate has been consistent since the start of his Test career in December 2004, his 100th wicket came in his 21st test match.

He’s taken 10 wickets in a match on four occasions, he took 10 wickets back to back against New Zealand in 2007. Steyn has taken 5 wickets on fourteen occasions. To put these statistics in perspective, Shaun Pollock who holds the record for the number of Test wickets by a South African (421) has taken 5 wickets on sixteen occasions and 10 wickets just once.

Bowling partners

The recent success that Morne Morkel has enjoyed should have a positive impact on Dale Steyn, all of the great fast bowlers in the world have had a successful bowling partner. Donald had Pollock, Pollock had Ntini and now Steyn has Morkel.

As South Africans we should enjoy watching the number 1 Test bowler in the world hitting his finest form and celebrate his success.

Alan Donald reached the mile stone of 200 Test wickets in his 42 second test match, 9th fastest in all time. Donald took 5 wickets on twenty occasions and 10 wickets three occasions.