When you talk about some of the greatest fast bowlers of all time, Dale Steyn's name is in that category.
South Africa has produced a plethora of outstanding bowlers in Allan Donald, Makahya Ntini, Shaun Pollock, Morne Morkel, Vernon Philander, Jacques Kallis and Hugh Tyfield in representing the rainbow nation.
But none were more frightening and fierce than Steyn.
Coming onto the Test scene in 2004 against England, Steyn went from strength to strength in becoming the country's best bowler, taking 439 wickets in 93 Tests at an outstanding bowling average of 22.95 and a strike rate of 42.39. He possessed a terrific outswinger and inswinger and sheer brutal yorkers leaving the batsmen's stumps sprawling.
Whilst his bowling put fear into opposition batsmen, his wicket celebrations and "crazy eyes" would have made the youngest cricket fans quickly retreat from their living rooms. Despite battling a shoulder injury in the twilight of his career, it doesn't take away from the fact that the man from Phalaborwa, in South Africa's Transvaal Province, would imprint himself among cricket's greats.
In this piece, we'll take a dive into the top five moments of Dale Steyn's illustrious cricketing career.
4. 7/51 v India, Nagpur 2010
In his second series in India, Steyn made every post a winner. Having been the Proteas leading-wicket taker in the 2008 series with 15, the tearaway quick did not disappoint, tearing through the classy Indian batting lineup.
South Africa piled on the runs registering 6/558dec behind the tremendous batting displays of Hashim Amla (253 not out) and Jacques Kallis (173) before it was Styen's turn to let it rip with the ball. With India beginning to resurrect its innings at 4/221, Steyn would be brought back into the attack by captain Graeme Smith to generate a breakthrough.
And he did, not once but three more times.
Already claiming scalps of Murali Vjay and Sachin Tendulkar with two absolute corkers, Steyn left a trail of destruction to India's tail-enders. After dismissing the dogged resistance of Badrinath looking to clip him through the onside, 7.3 overs later Steyn struck again, dismissing wicket-keeper Wriddhiman Saha with an inswinging jaffer.
Already teetering, Steyn made sure to further dent India's hopes. Next he castled Zaheer Khan looking to play the ball. Amit Mishra would soon be back in the change rooms falling to another Steyn inswinger with his leg stump completely castled. Capping off a career-best bowling performance, Steyn had Harbajhan Singh completely stuck on the crease trapping him LBW, thus completing a vintage masterclass.
Steyn picked up another three wickets in India's second innings, finishing with a ten-wicket haul as the Proteas won by an innings and six runs. The result is only one of five victories by South Africa in India since the very first series in 1996/1997.
