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South African pacer Dale Steyn announced his retirement from Test cricket on Monday. Steyn still continues to feature in ODIs and T20Is for South Africa. His emotional retirement statement talked about his passion for the longest format of the game.
Steyn Retires
Arguably one of the best Test bowlers of all time and undoubtedly the best for last decades, Dale Steyn recently surpassed Shaun Pollock to be South Africa’s highest wicket-taker in Tests with 439 wickets from 93 Test matches. He could have easily reached the 500-wicket mark if he would have continued. However, an unfortunate series of injuries in the last few years kind of forced him to take the final call.
The 36-year old was out of action from Test cricket for around two years followed by his shoulder injury in a Test match against Australia in 2016. He kept on making several comebacks since then from time to time but another shoulder issue ruled him out of the World Cup 2019. Steyn made his Test debut against England at Port Elizabeth in December 2004 and scalped a huge number of wickets at an average of 22.95. His records include 26 five-wicket hauls as and his best figures of 11/60 in a match came against Pakistan in February 2013.
Steyn to play limited-over cricket
“Today I walk away from a format of the game I love so much. In my opinion Test cricket is the best version of this game,” Steyn said in an emotional statement. He added, “It tests you mentally, physically, emotionally. It’s terrible to consider never playing another Test again but what’s more terrifying is the thought of never playing again at all. So I will be focusing on ODIs and T20s for the rest of my career to maximise my full potential and ensure my longevity in this sport. I’d like to thank everyone in cricket, no one specific, because everyone has been a part of my journey. And I look forward to continuing to play for the Proteas in the shorter formats.”
