Source: Cricbuzz
South Africas pace legend - Dale Steyn - has announced his retirement from all cricket on Tuesday (August 31). He featured in 93 Tests (439 wickets), 125 ODIs (196 wickets) and 47 T20Is (64 wickets). Steyn had already retired from Tests in August 2019 to prolong his career after a number of injuries.
Steyn made his ODI debut for Africa XI against Asia XI in 2005 at Centurion. His best figures - 6 for 39 - came in Port Elizabeth against Pakistan in 2013 as the pacer tormented batsmen both in Tests and limited-overs cricket. In 2007, Steyn made his T20I debut against New Zealand and in his second game - against West Indies - he registered career-best figures of 3-0-9-4. His last ODI was against Sri Lanka in 2019 while the T20I against Australia in February last year turned out to be his last international fixture.
Dale Steyn the bowler ➜ ?
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) August 31, 2021
Dale Steyn the fielder ➜ ?
Wishing happy retirement to one of the best to ever play the game ???pic.twitter.com/gIIQaHmikZ
"And its been a long December and theres reason to believe maybe this year will be better than last," Steyn said in his statement. "I cant remember all the times I tried to tell myself to hold on to these moments as they pass.
"Its been 20 years since training, matches, travel, wins, losses, strapped feet, jetlag, joy, and brotherhood. There are too many memories to tell. Too many faces to thank. So I left it to the experts to sum up, my favourite band, the Counting Crows.
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"Today I officially retire from the game I love the most. Bitter sweet but grateful. Thank you everyone, from family to teammates, journalists to fans, its been an incredible journey together."
Steyn enjoyed a successful run in franchise cricket as well - featuring for Deccan Chargers, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Brisbane Heat, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Gujarat Lions, Jamaica Tallawahs, Cape Town Knight Riders, Cape Town Blitz, Glasgow Giants, Melbourne Stars, Islamabad United, Kandy Tuskers and Quetta Gladiators. After making himself unavailable for IPL 2021, where he stressed he wasnt retiring, Steyn last featured in the PSL in March this year.
Announcement. pic.twitter.com/ZvOoeFkp8w
— Dale Steyn (@DaleSteyn62) August 31, 2021
Steyn had been laid low by a spate of injuries. In December 2015, he injured his shoulder in the Durban Test versus England and was ruled out of the rest of the rubber. He went under the knife to re-attach his coracoid. Unfortunately, for Steyn, he again injured the coracoid process during the Perth Test in 2016. Steyn returned for the Test series against India in 2018, but only to sustain a "freakish" heel injury in Cape Town.
He made a successful comeback to the Test arena during 2018-19, playing against Pakistan and Sri Lanka. However, he suffered another shoulder problem during the IPL 2019 and subsequently, couldnt play in the World Cup due to the injury.
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