Dale Steyn - Fastest to 400 Test wickets

Mohandas Menon 20:05 30/07/2015
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  • Steyn has cemented his place in the record books.

    South African Dale Steyn added another feather to his illustrious cap when he became the 13th bowler in Test cricket history to claim 400 wickets. He emulated former teammate Shaun Pollock, who achieved his landmark nearly nine years ago, way back in December 2006.

    Steyn’s 400th scalp was Bangladeshi opener Tamim Iqbal, who he had caught at slip by captain Hashim Amla on the opening day of the second Test in Mirpur. Kiwi paceman Sir Richard Hadlee was the first to reach this landmark. He did so in February 1990 against India at Christchurch. Since then, in all, three Indians, two West Indians, Australians & South Africans and one Englishman, New Zealander, Pakistani & Sri Lankan are in this elite list.

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    Incidentally, the 32 year old Steyn took only 16,634 balls to reach his 400th wicket mark – the fewest in Test history, which is, at least, 3600 balls less than what Richard Hadlee needed to reach his milestone.

    The table below has the updated career records of all the thirteen Test bowlers with 400-plus wickets:

    Dale Steyn will now target Shaun Pollock’s career tally of 421 wickets, which will make the highest wicket-taker for South Africa in Tests. At his current strike rate it does look he will easily cross the South African record during the forthcoming tour of India in November/December.

    The tables below looks at Dale Steyn’s Test career statistics since his debut against England at Port Elizabeth in December 2004.

    Steyn has the distinction of claiming 50 or more wickets against three Test opponents – Australia, India and New Zealand. However his best strike-rate has come against Bangladesh.

    He has 235 wickets on African grounds (in South Africa and Zimbabwe), while his next best has come in Asia with 90 wickets. 

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    On three occasions in his Test career, he has claimed 50 or wickets in a single calendar year. His best coming in 2008 when he finished with 74 wickets

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