Steyn always believes there is someone better than him

South Africa’s pace demon Dale Steyn has been terrorising batsmen for years now, but he still refuses to deem himself as the best pace bowler in international cricket today.

Steyn has stuck to the method of putting as much pace and effort behind every delivery he bowls and his never give up attitude has seen him skyrocket to the top.

Many people would think that pace bowlers fall victim to injuries quite often due to the numerous hours they spend bowling during games and in the nets, but Steyn has barely missed any Test matches at all throughout his eight-year career.

Steyn’s most notable absence would have to be during South Africa’s tour of England in 2008, where the spearhead bowler was forced to miss two Test matches after sustaining a broken thumb.

South Africa’s coaching staff constantly monitor his workload and Steyn himself believes that the team management have helped him ink his name atop of the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Test bowlers rankings and at 10th on the ODI and Twenty20 International bowlers rankings as well.

“I think I’ve been managed well. We’ve got a good trainer – Rob Walter – and I think our coaches that we’ve had over the last couple of years … the messages that have been sent back to the coaches from the trainers have been the right ones, I’ve only played a handful of one-day internationals – I’ve only played like 80 one-day games. For someone that’s been playing as long as I have in my Test career I probably should have played double that at least. So they’ve managed me bloody well. I’m pretty stoked about that,” Steyn said.

Early into his international career, Steyn was usually left out of ODI matches by the South African national selectors and this left him fresher and fitter when Test series came around.

“At the start of my career there were guys like Polly, Makhaya and Andre Nel, so it was a bit tough to break into that team, those kinds of [management] conversations are happening now, more so with the Champions League, the IPL tournaments. I’m playing one game for Brisbane Heat. Those kind of tournaments that I’m taking part in just mean that I’ll be playing more cricket, so Cricket South Africa understand that and want us to play in the big tournaments I think … World Cups, ICC trophies and games like that,” Steyn added.

Steyn constantly practices in the nets to keep himself in excellent form and shape, but his training routine and workload is constantly monitored by many members of the coaching staff.

“Our trainer tries to keep us down to a minimum, yesterday I probably bowled more overs than I should have, but today I’ll take it easy because of the game tomorrow, it’s about man management, you’ve also got to know your body. When I was younger I probably over-bowled myself a lot because I just wanted to bowl and bowl and bowl. Now it is about managing myself and knowing my best deliveries I’ve got to bowl in the game and save all my strength for the game. So just managing myself – you don’t see Usain Bolt breaking the 100m world record during training sessions all the time, and it’s the same thing for me, there’s no point breaking the speed barrier all the time,” Steyn said.

Steyn admitted that he used to be extremely aggressive during his younger years, but now knows that he can bowl far better while staying calm and being in complete control of his bowling.

Despite being called the best pace bowler in international cricket by numerous cricket pundits, Steyn chooses to remain humble and believes that there are many other bowlers who perform much better than him.

“In all honesty I think there is probably better bowlers than what I am, I think I’m one of the guys that have consistently played for South Africa and performed well. When Graeme (Smith) needs a wicket or something like that he kind of hands me the ball and I’ve been fortunate enough to take the wickets for him. If I’m playing every Test match and taking wickets those points rankings mean I’m always going to be up there. But it doesn’t necessarily mean that I’m the best and most skilled bowler in the world. I think there is probably better bowlers out there,” Steyn added.

However, Steyn noted that he has not completely lost all of his aggression and instead has learnt to let it out in small lethal doses at a time.

“I think cricket brings out a more aggressive side in me in all honesty, where else in the world do you get the opportunity to basically kill someone with two bouncers an over? Or try, legally. That can bring out the anger in anyone. I think off the field I’m pretty chilled, but on the field it’s all business,” Steyn said.