Im not best or most skilled,just a consistent pacer

Dale Steyn believes there are better bowlers in world cricket,and it is simply his durability and consistency that have enabled him to rise to the top of the ICC Test rankings.

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Dale Steyn believes there are better bowlers in world cricket,and it is simply his durability and consistency that have enabled him to rise to the top of the ICC Test rankings.

Many would disagree with the South African,not least those who count among his 287 Test victims. Part of the most feared pace attack in world cricket along with Vernon Philander and Morne Morkel,Steyn looked relaxed and confident at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Thursday as he pondered the upcoming three-Test series against Australia. That this relaxed demeanour was a contrast with his sometimes fiery on-field persona was not lost on the 29-year-old. Cricket brings out a more aggressive side of me,to be honest, he said. Where else in the world do you get the chance to basically kill someone with two bouncers in an over? Legally? I think that can bring out the anger in anyone. Off the field Im pretty chilled,but on it,its all business.

As one Australian newspaper pointed out this week,Steyns Test figures (287 wickets in 57 Tests at an average of 23.50) compare pretty well to West Indies great Malcolm Marshalls at a similar stage of his career. Steyn,though,seems genuinely uncomfortable talking about his prolific wicket taking.

In all honesty,there are probably a lot better bowlers than what I am, he said. I guess I am just one of the guys that consistently plays for South Africa and has performed well. I think that when (captain) Graeme (Smith) needs a wicket or something like that he hands me the ball and Ive been fortunate enough to take the wickets for him. If Im playing every Test match and Im taking wickets … Im going to be up there. But,like I said,it doesnt necessarily mean that Im the best or the most skilled bowler in the world.

With Australia sweating over the long-term fitness of young tearaway Pat Cummins,there was plenty of interest in how Steyn has stayed healthy throughout his career.

Im definitely not strong,Im pretty thin, he said. Ive been managed well,the message thats been sent back to our coaches from the trainers has been the right one. Ive only played a handful of ODIs (considering how long Ive been playing). So theyve managed me very well and Im stoked about that. When I was younger,I probably over-bowled myself. Now,its about managing myself and knowing that Ive got to bowl my best deliveries in the game. You dont see Usain Bolt breaking 100 metre world records during training sessions.

Four years ago,Steyn played a key role with bat and ball to help South Africa clinch the second Test in Melbourne and thus their first ever series victory in Australia. This time,they arrive fresh from a series victory in England which put them top of the ICC rankings. I think that ranking was something that we wanted to achieve for a long time, Steyn said. But that doesnt mean anything when you go up against any team. They dont play you any different really.