Steyn is best South African bowler ever: Pollock

Tuesday, 20 December 2011 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Cape Town (ANI): Former South Africa skipper Shaun Pollock has said that pacer Dale Steyn is the best bowler that the country has ever produced.

Steyn became the second-fastest bowler in the history of Test cricket to get to 250 wickets when he dismissed Sri Lankan captain Tillakaratne Dilshan in the recent match at SuperSport Park.

He reached the milestone in 49 Tests, only trailing Australian great Dennis Lillee, who reached 250 wickets in 48 Tests. “There’s for me no doubt that he’s the best South African bowler that we’ve seen thus far - at least since readmission in 1991. I didn’t see any of the guys from way back, but his record speaks for itself,” Pollock told the Rapport newspaper.

“His ability to swing the ball away with incredible pace is phenomenal and not something you’ll find every day. The fact that Dale so nearly equalled Lillee’s record proves his quality,” Sport24 quoted him, as saying. Pollock, South Africa’s all-time leading Test wicket-taker with 421, is convinced Steyn - who now stands on Test 255 scalps, will comfortably overhaul his record.

“I’m convinced that Dale will crush the record, especially if he can remain injury-free over the next couple of years,” he said.