Looking forward to seeing him back in action in the first ODI at Perth on November 4, wicketkeeping great Adam Gilchrist has showered huge praise on the outstanding Dale Steyn, saying that the fearsome quick is among the best fast bowlers to have ever played the game at the highest level.
Steyn, 35, is a proven all conditions and format match winner with his 421 Test wickets at 22.64 across 88 matches and 185 ODI scalps at an economy rate of 4.91 from 118 games for South Africa and has only recently overcome and returned despite some serious injury concerns to his body.
Excited about another chance to embrace arguably the greatest ever once again, Gilchrist told cricket.com.au, "He's got to rank up in the top echelon of fast bowlers ever. Statistically, he's fantastic. He was just starting to get towards his prime when I was finishing, so it was obviously very challenging for me!" and stressed, "I've been nothing but impressed by his whole approach and attitude. He seems to just not over complicate it, keeps it simple."
"I've chatted with him a little bit but those who really know him and spend time around him, he's one of the gentlemen of the game and nothing but impressive," he added.
Having gone through an extensive rehab and gradually working over his pace in County Championship and the recent home ODIs against Zimbabwe, Steyn himself talked about his game to the reporters present at the WACA on Friday, November 2, and said, "We played against Zimbabwe recently, I bowled in the high 140(kph)s, hit 150 which I was quite pleased about. You ask any bowler where he wants to be hitting speeds, if he bowls 150 he'll tell you about it. I was very happy with that."
"I feel good, body feels nice, I'm happy. I kinda feels weird being back here. The last time I walked off here I honestly didn't know how bad my shoulder was," he expressed, "Eight months of physiotherapy and non-stop rehab got me back and I'm very excited to be back here and thank God I'm not playing here at the WACA because I might start crying if I was at the top of my mark. It's good to be back," and signed off.
