Dale Steyn Targets 500 wickets, 100 Tests

South Africa star Dale Steyn’s Test career was totally off the track in the last couple of years. He spent the better part of last two years or so on the sidelines while being marred by multiple injuries. He could not play competitive cricket till November last year after injuring his shoulder during the tour of Australia in 2016.

The speedster was expected to return to action earlier last year, but the healing process took longer than expected. He made his much-awaited return to Test cricket during the first Test at New Lands against India this year. However, the joy was short-lived as another injury saw him getting ruled out of the game and subsequently the series.

The spate of injuries made many believe that Steyn would struggle to get into the national team. However, the veteran is now on the verge of yet another comeback in Sri Lanka next week. Steyn has been included in South Africa’s Test squad. With only four pacers in the team, Steyn is more than likely to play the series-opener in Galle which begins on July 12. And Steyn has set his sight on some more accolades.

The 34-year old, who needs just two more wickets to break Shaun Pollock’s record of most Test wickets for South Africa, is looking to play 100 Tests and take 500 wickets.

“A hundred Test matches would be amazing and 500 wickets would be incredible,” Steyn was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.

Steyn, meanwhile, recently played five games for Hampshire, three List A fixtures and two county championship matches. And as time wore on, he showed good improvement.

He started the action by conceding 80 and picking up one wicket in his 10 overs. In his next outing, Steyn bowled 26 overs in the county fixture against Surrey. He impressed in his second limited-overs’ match and took 1 for 34 in seven overs against Yorkshire before bowling 29 and 21 overs in a first-class match against Yorkshire. In the first innings of that game, he had taken 5 wickets for 66.