Dale Steyn distracted, says, ‘I’ve never been more scared in my life’

Steyn said he had been distracted with bushfires in Cape Town threatening to engulf his home.

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Steyn received about 80 messages and 30 missed calls one night from friends looking after his house. (Source: Reuters)

Dale Steyn believes that South Africa captain AB de Villiers is seeing the ball better than any other player in the world. Here, the 31-year-old paceman talks about what makes his skipper a special batsman. Excerpts from a media interaction. (Full Coverage| Points table| Fixtures)

On the phenomenon

Oh, man, it’s like watching The Matrix movie, really. There is Neo for you right there. Like he just doesn’t understand how good he is.

When he made his debut in first-class cricket, I remember him scoring 50 and 50 on the dot. That was against Western Province or whatever it was.

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And walking back into the change room and going that wasn’t that difficult at all. I think he’s actually figured out now that he is like — there is no roof or cap on how good he can possibly be. He’s limitless in what he can do. He’s one of those players that’s proven in this year especially just how good he is. I think he’s starting to realize that now.

On what bowlers can do

Players around the world, bowlers are struggling to find a way to get this guy out. The only way to get him out is when he gets himself out. He’s that good at the moment. Yeah, hopefully we can see more players like him because it does make the game more entertaining to watch.

On how he would bowl

I’d trip him on his way out of the hotel tomorrow morning and hope that he breaks his ankle. I don’t know (laughing). No, he’s a serious player. I’ve said it before. There are only two games I play against him all year, and those are the two IPL games. So I am trying to work it out in the nets, but he doesn’t give all his secrets away in the nets, so that’s going to be tough.

He’s a phenomenal player and seeing the ball like no other player is seeing a cricket ball before, and he’s playing shots that I don’t think most people have seen before. Hopefully, he executes those same skills tomorrow and going forward in this competition.
On the ground-size factor

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I really don’t think it matters the dimensions of the ground really. It doesn’t matter if it’s a big ground or small ground, you’ll still find a way. That is the beautiful thing about really good players. They don’t rely on conditions. Great fast bowlers don’t have to worry about whether the track is flat or green. They’ll find a way to get wickets. And great batsmen don’t.