Everything in pace for sharpshooting Steyn
MELBOURNE Stars recruit Dale Steyn says he doesn’t need “10 billion” different deliveries because his venom and smarts are still so brilliant.
South Africa’s greatest Test bowler will finally make his Big Bash League debut against Adelaide Strikers tonight with the likes of Australian white-ball keeper Alex Carey and Jake Weatherald in his sights.
Aussie Andrew Tye boasts that he has about 16 deliveries in his Twenty20 arsenal.
Asked how many balls were in Steyn’s T20 repertoire, he said: “Let me work it out – I’ve got slow, I’ve got slower and then I’ve got fast and I’ve got faster. Then you just need a bit of brains. You need to know when to bowl it, that’s the important part.”
Steyn’s chutzpah appears valid. The 36-year-old speed demon can still crank out balls close to 150km/h and he spent last month knocking over the likes of AB de Villiers and Chris Gayle in South Africa’s Mzansi Super League.
“I’m at a point in my career now where I’m good enough to execute a skill,” Steyn said.
“So, ‘All right, cool, I want to bowl a yorker’. I’ll run in and say 80-90 per cent (of the time) I can land a yorker spot on.
“That’s what it boils down to – making a decision, even if it’s the wrong decision, but execution is most important.
“I’m pretty good at the execution part. I don’t need to have 10 billion balls.
“It really boils down to making the right decision and just executing it perfectly.
“That’s all you can really do. You’ve got to hope the batter comes along to the party, too.
“An inside edge for four is as good as a cover drive for four. But if you can still land the ball where you want to then I think you’re winning the battle.”
Stars – often the BBL’s slowest starter – have jumped to 2-0 with Steyn (side strain) and Nathan Coulter-Nile (ankle) missing.
Both will return at Metricon Stadium tonight and are likely to share the new ball.
Steyn has vowed to be aggressive and target the stumps rather than taking “the soft option”, such as bowling wide slower balls.
Peter Siddle has been released from the Test squad in time to play for Strikers tonight.
Haris Rauf, the Pakistani plucked from grade cricket in Hobart as cover for Steyn, has been released from the squad.
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