Top 10 Things You Didn’t Know About Dale Willem Steyn

Dale Steyn has maintained the Proteas’ tradition of producing some of the world’s great fast bowlers and has succeeded the likes of Allan Donald, Shaun Pollock and Makhaya Ntini as the leader of the South African attack. He is the complete package with athletic ability that enables him to bowl at high pace, to swing the ball late and to get it to skid through off the surface. Altogether it makes him a lethal package.

Here’s a list of things you may have or may have not known about Dale Willem Steyn:

1.  In 2013 Dale Willem Steyn was named Wisden Leading Cricketer in the World for the year 2013 in 2014 Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack.
2. Steyn is the only fast bowler who has taken five-wicket haul against all test playing nations.
3. Steyn became the fastest South African to reach 100 wickets in Test matches, on 2 March 2008 in his 20th match but this record was subsequently bettered by Vernon Philanderwho achieved this figure in only his 19th match.
4. Steyn became the fastest South African along with Hugh Tayfield, to reach 150 wickets in Test matches, which he achieved in his 29th match.
5. Steyn became the fastest South African to reach 200 wickets in Test matches on 10 June 2010, which he achieved in his 39th match.
6. Dale Willem Steyn became the second fastest bowler,behind Denis Lillee to reach 250 wickets in Test matches on 15 December 2011, which he achieved in his 49th match.Also,he became the fastest South African to reach 250 wickets in Test matches surpassing Allan Donald record which he achieved in 50 test matches.
7. Dale Willem Steyn became the third fastest bowler,behind Denis Lillee and Muttiah Muralitharan to reach 300 wickets in Test matches on 2 January 2013, which he achieved in his 61st match.Also,he became the fastest South African to reach 300 wickets in Test matches surpassing Allan Donald record which he achieved in 63 test matches.
8. Dale Willem Steyn became the second fastest bowler,behind Muttiah Muralitharan to reach 350 wickets in Test matches on 26 December 2013, which he achieved in his 69th match.Also,he became the fastest South African to reach 350 wickets in Test matches surpassing Shaun Pollock record which he achieved in 86 test matches.
9. As of 2013 Dale Willem Steyn had the fifth-best bowling strike rate of 41.1 (in Tests), behind George Lohmann, Vernon Philander, John Ferris and Shane Bond.
10. Dale’s nickname is Steyntjie, Hoolio