'I'm not here to make friends' - Dale Steyn
Dale Steyn talks to Cricinfo about the fast bowler's craft, growing up in the back of beyond, and sharing the new ball with men like Makhaya Ntini and Darren Gough
Nagraj Gollapudi
10-Aug-2006
Since bursting on to the international stage with a magic ball to dismiss Michael Vaughan at Port Elizabeth in December 2004, Dale Steyn, despite the odd blip, has revealed himself to be one of cricket's most exciting raw talents, bowling with pace and hostility in all conditions. His five-for in the second Test against Sri Lanka confirmed how dangerous he could be, and suddenly the comparisons with his boyhood hero, Allan Donald, don't seem quite as laughable. He talked to Cricinfo about the fast bowler's craft, growing up in the back of beyond, and sharing the new ball with men like Makhaya Ntini and Darren Gough.
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As a kid, what sport did you like?
I like all kinds of sport and I love extreme sport. When I was in high school, I loved skateboarding, wakeboarding and moto-cross. But the risk factor now is too high, so it's hard to do all that.
I like all kinds of sport and I love extreme sport. When I was in high school, I loved skateboarding, wakeboarding and moto-cross. But the risk factor now is too high, so it's hard to do all that.
Moving to cricket what does fast bowling mean to you?
Running in fast, bowling quickly, taking wickets and scaring people.
Running in fast, bowling quickly, taking wickets and scaring people.
It must be fun sharing the new ball with Makhaya Ntini as he is always up to something?
There are so many things I could say about him and it wouldn't still reflect the unbelievable person he is. What he has done for South Africa in the last few years is amazing. He is such a character - all he wants to do is bowl well and bowl quickly. After every over he will come up to me and say, "Dale, it's our day - me 'n you, five and five."
There are so many things I could say about him and it wouldn't still reflect the unbelievable person he is. What he has done for South Africa in the last few years is amazing. He is such a character - all he wants to do is bowl well and bowl quickly. After every over he will come up to me and say, "Dale, it's our day - me 'n you, five and five."
Talking about characters you shared the new ball with another, with Darren Gough at Essex?
He is a funny guy. In the four-day games, where I didn't bowl so well, as a senior partner, he would come up to and say I had to do something more. At that time, I might think it was so much extra work. But a few games later, you do what he said and it works. It is these little things that players like him tell me that are locked in my head.
He is a funny guy. In the four-day games, where I didn't bowl so well, as a senior partner, he would come up to and say I had to do something more. At that time, I might think it was so much extra work. But a few games later, you do what he said and it works. It is these little things that players like him tell me that are locked in my head.
You had not met the likes of Shaun Pollock and Jacques Kallis, so can you talk about those first moments in the dressing room?
It was very difficult. Before I made my international debut, I had just played seven first-class games. I had never met most of the senior players. So it was tough: I didn't really know what to do, I didn't know where to go, I didn't know where to sit. I mean I was having fun in my first-class cricket and the next thing you know I was sitting in the international dressing room. But when you are new, you are keen and eager to learn anything so I adapted easily.
It was very difficult. Before I made my international debut, I had just played seven first-class games. I had never met most of the senior players. So it was tough: I didn't really know what to do, I didn't know where to go, I didn't know where to sit. I mean I was having fun in my first-class cricket and the next thing you know I was sitting in the international dressing room. But when you are new, you are keen and eager to learn anything so I adapted easily.
Before your one-day international debut you said: "I'm not here to make friends. I'm going to make that clear when I go out to bowl." Does that mean you have no friends now?
No, no. I didn't go there to make mates, I just wanted to try and rise up to the occasion. But to be honest it backfired as I didn't perform well at all with the ball. It was a bit naïve of me back then to say that.
No, no. I didn't go there to make mates, I just wanted to try and rise up to the occasion. But to be honest it backfired as I didn't perform well at all with the ball. It was a bit naïve of me back then to say that.
You took your first five-for against New Zealand. How did that feel?
To get that monkey off the back was lovely. Before the second innings, Makhaya came up to me and said, "Today I'm taking five and you are taking five", and that is exactly what happened.
To get that monkey off the back was lovely. Before the second innings, Makhaya came up to me and said, "Today I'm taking five and you are taking five", and that is exactly what happened.
You use the phrase "I promise you" frequently...
Ah, I think, I've grown up always trying to prove people wrong and that is why I try telling people to believe in me, and trust in my abilities.
Ah, I think, I've grown up always trying to prove people wrong and that is why I try telling people to believe in me, and trust in my abilities.
How keen are you on the history of the game?
A little bit. When I was younger, I didn't have access to books, videos and magazines most others had because I came from a real small town that didn't have that kind of stuff. So I'm a bit lost as to what happened in the past. But every time I visit a new country I try my best to catch up and am getting better.
A little bit. When I was younger, I didn't have access to books, videos and magazines most others had because I came from a real small town that didn't have that kind of stuff. So I'm a bit lost as to what happened in the past. But every time I visit a new country I try my best to catch up and am getting better.
Who is the best fast bowler you've seen and why?
You can't pinpoint individuals. In the present day, Shoaib Akhtar is unbelievably quick with that lethal reverse inswinging yorker and also that very good straight bouncer. Then you've Brett Lee who is just a workhorse who doesn't stop bowling quick.
You can't pinpoint individuals. In the present day, Shoaib Akhtar is unbelievably quick with that lethal reverse inswinging yorker and also that very good straight bouncer. Then you've Brett Lee who is just a workhorse who doesn't stop bowling quick.
How does verbal intimidation work?
I am trying to let my bowling do the talking more lately but verbal exchanges do work in your favour. If you can get inside somebody's head and force them to do something stupid, then you just bowl in right areas and wait for them to make the mistake. It's a 50-50 thing. Shane Warne is brilliant at verbal intimidation and also with his body language - sometimes you can just have eye-contact with the batsman and let him know that you are there.
I am trying to let my bowling do the talking more lately but verbal exchanges do work in your favour. If you can get inside somebody's head and force them to do something stupid, then you just bowl in right areas and wait for them to make the mistake. It's a 50-50 thing. Shane Warne is brilliant at verbal intimidation and also with his body language - sometimes you can just have eye-contact with the batsman and let him know that you are there.
There were 16 no-balls in your debut Test against England at Port Elizabeth - must've been some nerves?
Like I said, I had a handful of first-class games before the debut and I wanted to prove everyone right. I ran in quickly and wanted to take wickets but it was utter chaos. Even in Australia, I was terrible; going for over 10 runs an over in the beginning. But I wouldn't want to change one thing because I came back a better player. The one thing I said to myself was that I never want to feel the way I felt there [in Australia] again.
Like I said, I had a handful of first-class games before the debut and I wanted to prove everyone right. I ran in quickly and wanted to take wickets but it was utter chaos. Even in Australia, I was terrible; going for over 10 runs an over in the beginning. But I wouldn't want to change one thing because I came back a better player. The one thing I said to myself was that I never want to feel the way I felt there [in Australia] again.
Do you have any fears each time you step on to the ground?
My biggest fear is that I won't enjoy myself because then I'll play badly.
My biggest fear is that I won't enjoy myself because then I'll play badly.
You had 69 wickets in 13 [domestic] games last season, the second-best in the all-time list for fast bowlers during a season. What is the most important change in your bowling?
Did I? That is the first time I've heard that. The only thing, which my coaches have always pointed out, I have learnt is that it's not such a bad thing to go for runs if I bowl straight. So I bowl straighter and make the batsman play more and I'm finding the edge of the bat more often than what I did in previous years. Also, I am swinging the ball much later and that is another big improvement in my bowling.
Did I? That is the first time I've heard that. The only thing, which my coaches have always pointed out, I have learnt is that it's not such a bad thing to go for runs if I bowl straight. So I bowl straighter and make the batsman play more and I'm finding the edge of the bat more often than what I did in previous years. Also, I am swinging the ball much later and that is another big improvement in my bowling.
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You mark out your run-up with a tape measure. How come?
When I was younger, I would measure it normally with the feet. But I had this big no-ball problem, which was so evident in my debut series against England. Immediately I got the tape measure and decided that I was going to work on one run-up and one run-up only. And one day in the nets I measured the run-up with the tape. In my last series against New Zealand, I bowled far less no-balls. To be precise, it measures 18.9 metres.
When I was younger, I would measure it normally with the feet. But I had this big no-ball problem, which was so evident in my debut series against England. Immediately I got the tape measure and decided that I was going to work on one run-up and one run-up only. And one day in the nets I measured the run-up with the tape. In my last series against New Zealand, I bowled far less no-balls. To be precise, it measures 18.9 metres.
Shaun Pollock points out that you have an action like Allan Donald and would get a few batsmen nervous. That must rev you up?
During my backyard cricketing days, I used to look up to Allan Donald, who was one of my heroes along with Jonty Rhodes and Hansie Cronje. So for me to be able to grow up and follow in his footsteps is an inspiration to get better, bowl quicker and try and excel like he did. It's not going to take a year or two, it's going to take my whole career. I wouldn't like people to talk of me as the next Allan Donald but I want them to talk of the four great South African fast bowlers: Shaun Pollock, Allan Donald, Makhaya Ntini and Dale Steyn. That is my dream.
During my backyard cricketing days, I used to look up to Allan Donald, who was one of my heroes along with Jonty Rhodes and Hansie Cronje. So for me to be able to grow up and follow in his footsteps is an inspiration to get better, bowl quicker and try and excel like he did. It's not going to take a year or two, it's going to take my whole career. I wouldn't like people to talk of me as the next Allan Donald but I want them to talk of the four great South African fast bowlers: Shaun Pollock, Allan Donald, Makhaya Ntini and Dale Steyn. That is my dream.
The ball you bowled Michael Vaughan with at Port Elizabeth - does that remain the best wicket still?
That memory will never fade away even if I was called the one-ball hero because of it. Shane Warne kick-started his career with that delivery to Mike Gatting, and in some ways, that ball to Vaughan was a kick-start to mine.
That memory will never fade away even if I was called the one-ball hero because of it. Shane Warne kick-started his career with that delivery to Mike Gatting, and in some ways, that ball to Vaughan was a kick-start to mine.
Tell us something we don't know about Dale Steyn?
I'll tell you two little things: I live in South Africa and I can't speak Afrikaans even if I'm learning. Secondly, I love animals, the bush and fishing. We've 13 dogs at home where my mom lives and I personally keep three dogs in Pretoria and am about to buy another one. If I wasn't a cricket player, I would be a fisherman.
I'll tell you two little things: I live in South Africa and I can't speak Afrikaans even if I'm learning. Secondly, I love animals, the bush and fishing. We've 13 dogs at home where my mom lives and I personally keep three dogs in Pretoria and am about to buy another one. If I wasn't a cricket player, I would be a fisherman.
Nagraj Gollapudi is Assistant Editor of Cricinfo Magazine