Shane Watson, the former Australian all-rounder, was one of the most impactful cricketers of his generation. Known for his explosive batting at the top of the order and handy medium-pace bowling, Watson had a long international career and played a key role in Australia’s success across formats.
Whether it was winning World Cups or shining in T20 leagues like the IPL, Watson always delivered in big moments.
Recently, Watson took to his official Facebook account to pay tribute to a cricketing icon, Dale Steyn following the South African pacer’s retirement. In a heartfelt post, Watson didn’t hold back in his admiration for Steyn.
He wrote:
“I have to say, Dale Steyn was consistently the best bowler I faced throughout my career. I feel like he never bowled me a bad ball. Such a fierce competitor on the field, but such a sweet and super kind person off it. Enjoy the fruits of retirement. You deserve it mate.”
That’s massive praise from someone who has faced the likes of Malinga, Anderson, and Bumrah. But what made Dale Steyn so lethal?
Steyn’s bowling technique was a perfect blend of speed, swing, and aggression. He was famous for his ability to bowl at express pace while consistently hitting the right areas.
His outswinger to the right-handers was one of the best in the game, and he often used it to set up batters before firing in a deadly inswinging yorker or a sharp bouncer. His wrist position was immaculate, which allowed him to generate late movement even on flat tracks.
Steyn finished his international career with 699 wickets — 439 in Tests, 196 in ODIs, and 64 in T20Is. Most of his dismissals came by either bowling batters or getting them caught behind with that signature outswinger. He thrived on intensity and never backed down from a contest, making him a nightmare for top-order batters around the world.
Shane Watson’s praise just confirms what many already believe. Dale Steyn was not just one of the best of his era, but one of the greatest fast bowlers the game has ever seen.