This Bowling Legend Stayed No. 1 In ICC Test Rankings For Over 6 Years

In an era when bowlers from Australia, England, and the West Indies made headlines, Steyn emerged as a force to reckon with.

Dale Steyn made his Test debut in 2004 against England, picking up three wickets.

Source : @mufaddal_vohra / X

Cricket has witnessed several legendary fast bowlers, but South Africa’s Dale Steyn stands apart with his lethal pace and unmatched dominance.

In an era when bowlers from Australia, England, and the West Indies made headlines, Steyn emerged as a force to reckon with. His fiery spells, sharp swing, and relentless accuracy troubled even the best in the business. Though he has retired, his records remain untouched.

King of Test Arena

Born on 27 June 1983, Steyn made his Test debut in 2004 against England, picking up three wickets.

Over the next decade, he became a pillar of South Africa’s bowling attack. Steyn was ranked No. 1 in ICC Test bowling rankings for 2,343 days, a record that still stands. In his Test career, he played 93 matches, claiming 439 wickets, with best innings figures of 7/51.

Dale Steyn's Test bowling Rank on his birthday (27th June):

2005 - 74th.
2006 - 48th.
2007 - 33rd.
2008 - 2nd.
2009 - 2nd.
2010 - 1st.
2011 - 1st.
2012 - 1st.
2013 - 1st.
2014 - 1st.
2015 - 1st.
2016 - 5th.
2017 - 8th.
2018 - 17th.

- 2,343 days reign at No.1. pic.twitter.com/hfbxv0iItq

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) June 27, 2025

Impressive Across Formats

Steyn wasn’t just a Test specialist. He made his ODI debut in 2005 and played his first T20I in 2007. In limited-overs cricket, he picked up 196 wickets in 125 ODIs and 64 wickets in 47 T20Is. His final appearances in all formats came in 2019, marking the end of a stellar career.

Dale Steyn’s legacy as one of the greatest fast bowlers remains strong. His fierce competitiveness and passion for the game made him a global cricketing icon.

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Reflecting on his 20-year journey, Steyn had said upon announcing his retirement, in his own heartfelt words: “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. Thank you to everyone, from family to teammates, journalists to fans, it’s been an incredible journey together.” 

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