Steyn claims 400th Test wicket

Dale Steyn became the second South African bowler to take 400 Test wickets and the fastest ever to the mark in terms of balls bowled after he dismissed Bangladesh opener Tamim Iqbal on the opening day of the second Test in Dhaka on Thursday.

The 32-year-old fast bowler reached his landmark when South Africa skipper Hashim Amla took a chest-high catch at first slip in Steyn's third over of the match.

Shaun Pollock is the only other South African to pass the 400 mark, taking 421 wickets before retiring in 2008.

Steyn, who is playing his 80th Test, became the 13th cricketer to take 400 or more wickets in Test matches.

He is one of only three currently active cricketers to achieve the feat, joining India spinner Harbhajan Singh and England paceman James Anderson.

Cricket South Africa were quick to congratulate their lion-hearted quick, who has been a cornerstone of much of their success over the past decade. 

“The statistics as always speak for themselves and one cannot compliment Dale enough,” said CSA chief executive, Haroon Lorgat. “He is the joint second-fastest to reach this mark in terms of matches played but he is by far the quickest in terms of balls bowled as his strike rate of 41.6 is far superior to anybody else.

“No other bowler in that category has a strike rate below 50.

“But there is far more to Dale’s success than pure statistics. His ability to bowl conventional swing at high pace and then switch to lethal reverse swing – he is one of the finest exponents of this latter art – combined with his superb control make him the world leader he has become for most of the past decade.

“The other quality of Dale we will always remember is the way he celebrates every wicket he takes and the intensity with which he does it. Those veins tell us exactly what it means to him to take a wicket for his country. He is truly a proud South African.

“With his skill and natural athleticism there is no reason why he cannot go on to achieve the 500 wickets mark beyond.”

Only Muthiah Muralidaran (72 Tests) has reached the mark in fewer matches, with Sir Richard Hadlee also reaching the milestone in 80 Tests, though as Lorgat points out, Steyn's remarkable strike-rate places him in a category of his own.

Steyn finished with 3-30 on day one as Bangladesh went to stumps at 8-246.

Tigers skipper Mushfiqur Rahim (65) made the only half-century as part-time spinner JP Duminy (3-27) and Steyn made regular breakthroughs to put South Africa on top.

After the first of their two matches ended in a draw, Bangladesh are looking to record their first Test victory over the world No.1-ranked team.

The 32-year-old Steyn almost reached the 400 landmark in his second over of the day but Dean Elgar dropped Tamim at second slip.

South Africa handed wicketkeeper-batsman Dane Vilas a Test debut in the match, replacing Quinton de Kock.

The 30-year-old became South Africa's sixth new cap in 18 months.

Bangladesh brought back Nasir Hossain in place of left-arm spinner Taijul Islam.

The first Test ended in a draw after rain washed out the last two days in Chittagong.

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