South Africa’s prime pace bowler Dale Steyn has announced his retirement from all forms of cricket on Tuesday, August 31. The legendary bowler played 93 Tests, 125 ODIs and 47 T20Is. Steyn already took retirement from Test cricket in August 2019 to continue his career following several injuries.
The 38-year-old made his ODI debut for Africa XI against Asia XI at centurion in 2005, he registered his career-best figures of 6 for 39 against Pakistan in 2013 in Port Elizabeth. In the longest format, the pacer took 439 wickets at an average of 22.9. He managed to pocket 196 wickets in the 50-over format at an impressive average of 25.9. In the shortest format, Steyn pocketed 64 wickets at an average of 25.9. Steyn played his final international fixture against Australia in February last year.
He made his Test debut on December 14, 2004, against England, with every passing Test match, Steyn proved out to be a big match-winner in the longest format for the South Africa team. The pacer went to acquire the number one spot in the ICC Test rankings for a record number of 2343 days. Steyn recorded his best bowling figures of 7/51 in the longest format against India in Nagpur. He played for several teams in the IPL – Royal Challengers Bangalore, Deccan Chargers, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Gujarat Lions,
“And it’s been a long December and there’s reason to believe maybe this year will be better than last,” Steyn said in his statement. “I can’t remember all the times I tried to tell myself to hold on to these moments as they pass.“
“It’s been 20 years since training, matches, travel, wins, losses, strapped feet, jetlag, joy, and brotherhood. There are too many memories to tell. Too many faces to thank. So I left it to the experts to sum up, my favourite band, the Counting Crows.”
“Today I officially retire from the game I love the most. Bitter sweet but grateful. Thank you everyone, from family to teammates, journalists to fans, it’s been an incredible journey together.“
Apart from the immortal records and legendary stats, Steyn’s career has been surrounded by injuries, which kept him away from the game in the latter part of his career. In December 2015, during the Durban Test against England, he was ruled out due to a shoulder injury. In the 2016 Perth Test, he injured his coracoid for the second time. In a Test match against India at Cape Town in 2018, he picked up a “freakish” hell injury.
After making a comeback in the red ball cricket during 2018-19, he played fixtures against Sri Lanka and Pakistan. During IPL 2019, he sustained yet another shoulder problem, due to which he had to miss the World Cup as well.