Proteas great Dale Steyn calls time on his career

South Africa’s greatest fast bowler, Dale Steyn, has retired from all cricket.

The 38-year-old made the announcement on Twitter on Tuesday.

Steyn, whose career has been hit hard by injuries in recent years, ends his Proteas career with 439 Test wickets at an average of 22.9, from 93 Tests. He played Test cricket for South Africa from 2004 to 2019.

In the ODI arena, Steyn picked up 196 wickets at an average of 25.9 from 125 matches. In T20s, he played 47 matches and captured 47 wickets.

Steyn said calling time on his career was “bitter sweet.”

He quoted a few lines from the famous Counting Crows song “A Long December” – his favourite band – to announce his decision to step away from all cricket.

“And it’s been a long December and there’s reason to believe,

“Maybe this year will be better than the last,

“I can’t remember all the times I tried to tell myself,

“To hold on to these moments as they pass”

Steyn played all around the world, from Centurion, to Cape Town, to India, England, Jamaica, Kandy, Islamabad and Melbourne.

Former teammate and Proteas captain AB de Villiers paid tribute to the fast bowler by replying to the announcement on Twitter with, “Great player, great man, amazing memories! U picked a good song to sign off my bud. Legend forever.”