The Phalaborwa Express has blaased his laaste fluitjie, with Proteas legend Dale Steyn announcing his retirement from cricket on Tuesday.
At the age of 38, Steyn called it quits as one of the game’s all-time great Test fast bowlers.
In 93 Test matches, he claimed 439 scalps – making him South Africa’s top bowler in the format and eighth in overall, with a top-10 strike rate to boot.
His haul of 74 wickets in 2008 saw him named the ICC Test Player that year and would go on to dominate batters until his retirement in 2019 with his aggressive 150km/h-plus bowling and his mastery of swing and reverse-swing.
With 25 fivers (10th best) and five ten-fors, he was at his best when he had built up a head of steam. After retiring from the longest form of the game in 2019, but continuing in limited-overs cricket, Steyn now stepped down from shorter formats too.
Injuries late in his career saw him slow down, missing out on the 2019 World Cup campaign after being selected and played his last international – a T20 –against Australia last year.
In a post on social media, he said: “It’s been 20 years of training, matches, travel, wins, losses, strapped feet, jet lag, joy and brotherhood.
“There are too many memories to tell, too many faces to thank.
“Today I officially retire from the game I love the most.
Bittersweet, but grateful.
“Thank you to everyone, from family to teammates, journalists to fans, it’s been an incredible journey together.”
STEYN IN SHORT
Full name: Dale Willem Steyn
Age: 38
Test debut: 17 December 2004 v England
Last Test: 21 February 2019 v Sri Lanka
ODI debut: 17 August 2005 v Asia XI
Last ODI: 13 March 2019 v Sri Lanka
T20I debut: 23 November 2007 v New Zealand
Last T20I: 21 February 2020 v Australia
Tests and wickets: 93 and 439
ODIs and wickets: 125 and 196
T20Is and wickets: 47 and 64