Australia battle through slow start, rain delay to clinch ODI series
Australia have sealed victory in the best-of-three one-day international series against South Africa, avenging their upset loss in match two with a rain-affected 110-run…
South Africa fast bowler Dale Steyn has announced his retirement from cricket.
The 38-year-old, considered one of the finest bowlers of his generation, made the announcement on social media, calling time on his 18-year professional career.
Former teammates and opponents wished him well after a brilliant career menacing the world’s batsmen.
Congrats on a remarkable career. Set the standard for fast bowlers world round to follow for 20 years. No better competitor to watch in full flight, enjoy retirement mate!????♂️All time great
— Pat Cummins (@patcummins30) August 31, 2021
Former South Africa captain and dynamic batsman AB de Villiers called him a ‘legend forever’ while .
“Great player, great man, amazing memories! U picker (picked) a good song to sign off my bud. Legend forever!,” De Villiers replied to Steyn’s post.
“Go well, great man,” said Virender Sehwag. “You were fire, one of the best the game has seen.”
“Today I officially retire from the game I love most. Bitter sweet but graceful,” Steyn said on Twitter.
“Thank you to everyone, from family to teammates, journalists to fans, it’s been an incredible journey together.”
Steyn, who made his Test debut in 2004 on home soil against England, added: “It’s been 20 years of training, matches, travel, wins, losses, strapped feet, jet lag, joy and brotherhood.
“There are too many stories to tell. Too many faces to thank.”
The famous ball on debut ????
What made Steyn truly great was that he retained the elements of this delivery – ability to bowl full, swing the ball, pace, accuracy – through his career while adding other things. Hallmark of a true great.
???? @robelinda2pic.twitter.com/fFqF9U7s7o
— Rohit Sankar (@imRohit_SN) August 31, 2021
Steyn appeared in 93 Test matches for South Africa, taking 439 wickets, and played his last Test against Sri Lanka in 2019.
He also represented the Proteas in 125 one-day internationals and 47 T20Is.
He played for four English county sides – Essex, Warwickshire, Glamorgan and Hampshire – and joined Kandy Tuskers for the 2020 Lanka Premier League in November last year and also played for Melbourne Stars in the BBL.
Steyn was named ICC 2008 Test Cricketer of the Year and Wisden’s Leading Cricketer in the World in 2013 and was the No.1 bowler in the ICC Test rankings for a record 263 weeks between 2008 and 2014.
The speed demon closes the curtain on a 20-year career in which he became South Africa’s highest wicket-taker in Tests and arguably the country’s greatest ever fast bowler.
Steyn retired from the five-day game in 2019 but had been available for limited-overs cricket and hoped to play at the Twenty20 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates later this year, though he had not featured in the team since February last year.
© AAP