South Africa's fast bowler Dale Steyn announced his retirement from all forms of cricket on Tuesday (August 31). He posted a tweet with three pictures from his playing days and a thank you note to his family, teammates, journalists, and fans.
"And it's been a long December and there's reason to believe. Maybe this year will be better than the last. I can't remember all the times I tried to tell my myself. To hold on to these moments as they pass," he wrote.
"It’s been 20 years of training, matches, travel, people, wins, losses, strapped feet, jet lag, joy, and brotherhood. There are too many memories to tell. Too many faces to thank. So I left it to the experts to sum up, my favorite band, the Counting Crows.
"Today I officially retire from the game I love the most. Bitter sweet but grateful. Thank you to everyone, from family to teammates, journalists to fans, it’s been an incredible journey together," the message read.
Steyn had already quit Test cricket in 2019 after playing 93 Tests. He picked up 439 wickets at an average of 22.95 to become South Africa's highest wicket-taker in the longest format.
Batsmen around the world feared the Proteas speedster and he was a treat to watch for the fans. In ODIs, Steyn played 125 matches and picked up 196 wickets, while in T20Is, he bagged 64 wickets in 47 matches.
The 38-year-old's last international cricket match appearance came in a T20I clash against Australia last year. He had picked up two wickets in the match which South Africa lost by 107 runs at Johannesburg.
Steyn also posted a few pictures on his Instagram page with the same thank you note from Twitter. He included a photo with Dalai Lama while playing for Deccan Chargers in the Indian Premier League.
Here is the post:
