The bowler Starc admires the most

Pace ace Mitchell Starc has stuck strong with the fast bowling brotherhood by nominating Proteas legend Dale Steyn as the rival bowler he most admires.

Starc has faced the South Africa spearhead in eight matches across all three formats, describing the 34-year-old as a "serious athlete".

"He’s taken so many wickets, he’s done it in all conditions," Starc told The Unplayable Podcast.

"He's not the biggest or strongest bloke but he’s played a lot of cricket, taken a lot of wickets, bowled fast for a long time and unfortunately it’s starting to catch up with him.

"For someone like that (I have) a lot of admiration for."

While Starc is reaching his peak as an international cricketer, Steyn looks to be in the twilight of his celebrated career.

The lethal right-armer hasn’t played a match since succumbing to a shoulder injury in the first Test against Australia in Perth last November.

However, he confirmed last Friday a return could be "two or three weeks away" after inking a new deal to play with Titans in South Africa’s domestic competition for the 2017-18 season.

In 85 Tests for South Africa, Steyn has captured 417 wickets at 22.30 apiece and at a strike rate of a wicket every 41.4 balls. No bowler in Test history with 200 or more wickets has captured wickets more regularly.

Steyn’s imminent return is not the only good news for South African fans this week.

Former Test captain AB de Villiers announced on Wednesday he has stepped down from the role as ODI skipper but is available for selection in Tests, ODIs and T20s for South Africa.

Quick Single: De Villiers reveals playing future

The 33-year-old hasn’t played a Test since January 2016 but is now firmly back in the five-day reckoning for India’s tour to South Africa this summer and then Australia’s visit in the new year.

"Following this recent break, I really do feel refreshed and revived," de Villiers said in a video shared on his official app.

"I want to get back on the field and I have today assured the national selectors that I will be available for selection in all three formats of the game during the coming season.

"There is plenty of hard work ahead in the nets and I must prepare properly, but I will be ready to play, if required, from the middle of October onwards."

Following their 3-1 Test series defeat to England, South Africa’s next Test assignment is at home against Bangladesh next month once the Tigers are finished facing Australia on their own turf.