Steyn wants to keep bowling for his country

After taking his 400th wicket in the Mirpur Test, South Africa pace spearhead Dale Steyn says he just wants to continue bowling for his country for as long as possible.

Sports Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 30 July 2015, 06:59 PM
Updated : 30 July 2015, 06:59 PM

Steyn said he did not have a particular goal left now.

On Thursday, he struck with the wicket of Tamim Iqbal in the fifth over to reach the milestone on day one of the last Test against Bangladesh at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.

He became the second South African bowler after Shaun Pollock to join the 400-Test wickets club. 

He also became the second fastest to do so, in his 80th Test, along with Richard Hadlee. Sri Lanka's Muttiah Muralitharan was the quickest to the 400-club.

But Steyn is not short on motivation with huge prospects looming.

The 32-year old fast bowler can definitely fancy taking 500 wickets chasing Australia’s Glenn McGrath (563) to become the most successful seamer in Test cricket.
But Steyn claims such motivations are not necessary for him.
"Anything can happen, I don’t set targets. It’s enough to play and take wickets for South Africa. And then I managed to get 400. I never thought that that would happen… ever in my life,” he said in a press conference after the close of play on Thursday.
Steyn has time and again said all he wants to do is to bowl – a fact that still remains the same.
"I just want to bowl man. I have said that many times before, and I probably sound like a broken record. I just repeat myself. But I just love bowling. 
"Just give me the ball and if I am fit and I am strong, I will bowl all day. So there’s no targets. It’s not like I want to take 500 (wickets) or I want to play a 100 Tests. I just want to bowl."
"Winning games for my country has always been objective number one. So yeah job’s not over. But it’s nice to have 400," he said with a smile. 
Australian fast bowler Mitchell Johnson has been Steyn's top rival in the seam bowling zone.
But the Proteas speedstar showed immense respect for his Aussie counterpart who took his landmark 300th wicket against England in Edgbaston.
"Mitch is a scary bowler. He is going to bowl fast, he is going to scare you and make you cause a mistake because of his pace. That’s his strength and that’s why he bowls so well. 
"He is never going to be a Glenn McGrath, who is going to run in there and hit the line all day. He is going to bowl you bouncers, then a wide one and you are going to nick it. 
"He'll rush you and knock the stumps out of the ground. He is a great bowler to have in the side, a real strike force."
Bangladesh were reeling at 246 for 8 at stumps on the first day in the last match of the month-long series while Steyn returned 3 for 30 in 16.1 overs.