SARrugby.com

 Dale Steyn is one wicket away from joining the prestigious '300-wicket club', of which three other South African bowlers, Allan Donald, Shaun Pollock and Makhaya Ntini are already part of. And Jacques Kallis is 20 runs shy of becoming the fourth batsman in the world to amass 13,000 Test runs

When the 13,000 comes up, Kallis will be the fastest to the mark in terms of number of matches. Cape Town will be his 159th Test, while Rahul Dravid got there in 160, Ricky Ponting in 162 and Sachin Tendulkar in 163 matches. Kallis would have played more innings than Tendulkar in reaching 13,000 and it seems Tendulkar is the only one Kallis cannot catch. With both Dravid and Ponting retired, there is every chance Kallis could pass them both and finish his career as the second highest run-scorer of all time.

Add to that that Kallis is the only one of the top 20 leading batsmen in the world who can be labelled a genuine allrounder and his status as one of the legends is unquestioned. He has often sailed under the radar with pundits reluctant to call him the best allrounder to grace the game but for Smith and South Africa, he is that and more.

If Steyn nips out his first victim at Newlands, he will become the joint third-fastest to the milestone. Dennis Lillee achieved the feat in 56 Tests and Muttiah Muralitharan in 58. Steyn will play his 61st match to put him level with Richard Hadlee and Malcolm Marshall.

Although Steyn has copped some criticism in recent times over what some see as waning powers, he maintains that it's more a case of him saving the savage spells for when they are most needed. His ability to swing the ball at pace is still unmatched and Smith will continue to rely on him to step up in pressure situations.

Thanks Ek. I think if we are honest Steyn is no quite the bowler he once was. Still  a fine test bowler.

http://www.espncricinfo.com/south-africa-v-new-zealand-2012/content/current/story/599460.html

I had the privilege of watching Steyn LIVE in Hyderabad in an IPL5 last league match against RCB from on-side stands and I can compare him to a Puma running into to prey, hardly he takes 9 steps to deliver the ball from the 30 yard circle.There were other bowlers too in that match but did not have the class or the speed of him.And the ball was whistling past the batsmen and hardly I could see the ball. Imagine the batsmen in the middle. And the accuracy at that pace is very rare.I have seen Akthar, Waqar, Donald & Lee bowling loose balls but Steyn & Bond are 2 bowlers I will have in my side any day. I will put my money on Steyn to break 563 wkts of Mcgrath. Given his fitness and athleticism and age he looks to be the sole contender. Good Luck! Steyn for more wickets.

I love watching Vernon Philander bowl-he is a throwback to a forgotten type-the medium fast swing/seam man ala Terry Alderman,I.T.Botham,Kapil,etc.In some ways he has redefined the bowling unit which in modern day cricket is so influenced by the speed gun. HOWEVER,as magnificent as Big Vern has been he is not in Steyn's class,not even close.Steyn creates pressure allowing Philander to feed off that menace to produce wicket taking deliveries.When the going got tough in England and Australia,guess who the "go-to" man was? D.W Steyn,the leader of the pack and the only man in the S.A attack who can change a gear up in pace when required to.Certainly he may not always take the most wickets and will bowl poorly at times but he is a true great.

Above are comments from Cricinfo, suggesting what the international public think of Dale.

Beeno I don't agree with you that Steyn is not the Bowler he used to be. on the contrary i think he is better...

He is not the pace juggernaut, however he is more Mature.

Can hold it back and then unleash the demon.

Just like Kallis is the best Cricketer and Batsman ever to come from south Africa, so Dale wil become(if he not already is) The best bowler ever to come from here.

The guy is a once in a generation bowler. He will become a legend. As he has incorpeorated so much more than just pure pace. He dosen't need to take that many wickets, he is never easy to score off. He bowls an impecable line. And creates that swing from pace when needed.

He is a freak Beeno, alas only time will tell, but he definitely is in the same class as a Malcolm Marshall or Denis Lilee if you ask me.

Ek I am not disputing that Dale is a great bowler.  I am questioning whether he is as good as he was. I don't think so. Nevertheless he is still a fine test bolwer and I really hope he goes on to break  Glenns 563 wickets.

Philander on a seamers wicket is a nightmare! Morkle is also doing very well. All differnt types of bolwrs.

Alviro is doing well. I like the technically correct batting he provides.  His average is now around 43(?) and rising.

As for Kallis, as suggested before, its out of him and Bradman for the best ever. Nobody else comes close.

Kallis and Bradman????

Rather Kallis and Sobers

Bradman was a batsman alone and still reamains the best batsman ever.

The argument for best cricekter would be between Kallis and sobers. Kallis had a slightly higher batting and better bowling average however Sobers could bowl seam and spin, so yeah it's a toss up between them.

Oddly enough last night I was contemplating a best ever test side I got to something like this:

Well people will have favourites but this would be mine or close to it:

1. Sir Donald Bradman (bat)

2. Sir Garfield Sobers ( bat seam spin)

3 Sachin Tendulkar (bat)

4. Ricky Ponting (C) (bat)

5. Jacques Kallis (bat seam)

6. Adam Gilchrist (W- bat)

7. Shane Warne (Spin - bat)

8. Sir. Richard Hadlee (Seam bat)

9. Dale Steyn (seam)

10. Malcolm Marshall (seam)

11 Dennis Lilee (Seam)

12. Brian Lara.

Just could not find a place for Lara. but he also deserves it.

This must give you an indication of the respect I have for Steyn's ablities, that i would pick him in a team like this, some people would think it a bit premature though.