South African speedster Dale Steyn created history on the first day of the Boxing Day Test against Pakistan as he became the highest wicket-taker for South Africa in Test cricket.
Steyn had been stuck at 421 wickets since July but with the dismissal of Fakhar Zaman at the SuperSport Park in Centurion, he finally reached 422 wickets in just 89 matches.
Shaun Pollock’s record of 421 wickets came in 108 Test matches while Steyn took 19 less games to overtake the record.
The 35-year-old quick has struggled with injuries for the past two years and was making just his fourth appearance in the longest format since reaching 417 wickets in November 2016.
Proteas greats AB de Villiers and Graeme Smith led the tributes to Steyn on social media following his achievement.
Dale Steyn, we salute you! What a man, what a player. Fitting that “Simply the best” is playing at Supersport Park, where everything started! Congrats legend @DaleSteyn62
— AB de Villiers (@ABdeVilliers17) December 26, 2018
#legend @DaleSteyn62 pic.twitter.com/v86PfW9kTS
— Graeme Smith (@GraemeSmith49) December 26, 2018
Well deserved for a true champion. Lengend of a cricketer and a legend of a bloke. https://t.co/qUC99pgvAL
— Kumar Sangakkara (@KumarSanga2) December 26, 2018
@DaleSteyn62 LEGEND!!!👊🏼👊🏼👊🏼
— Mark Boucher (@markb46) December 26, 2018
Well done @DaleSteyn62 👑 pic.twitter.com/YzZM7O7ghg
— Shaun Pollock (@7polly7) December 26, 2018
The man who flattened my Off Stump with his 1st Test wicket is now the leading wicket taker in SA Test History … Well done @DaleSteyn62 … Great bowler & top man … #Steyn
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) December 26, 2018
Dale Steyn….one of the finest fast bowlers of all time. Undoubtedly the best in his generation. Across the globe. #Respect #Legend
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) December 26, 2018
To take over @7polly7 to become South Africa’s highest wicket taker in 19 tests lesser is some feat. Congratulations to @dalesteyn62! 🙌🏻 pic.twitter.com/Gfg7W3Laeu
— Vinod Kambli (@vinodkambli349) December 26, 2018
@DaleSteyn62 LEGEND!!
— Tabraiz Shamsi (@shamsi90) December 26, 2018
Well done @DaleSteyn62 Well deserved. The work you put in behind closed doors pays off. This is a perfect example.Hopefully many more wickets still lie ahead 🥂
— Jacques Kallis (@jacqueskallis75) December 26, 2018
https://twitter.com/AllanDonald33/status/1077849340822065153
Congrats to the coolest surfing, fishing , skateboarding fast bowler on the planet on becoming the leading wicket taker in Test cricket for South Africa 🇿🇦🙌🏼🥂 Dale Steyn you beauty… https://t.co/GrAIortFaC
— Robin John Peterson (@robbie13flair) December 26, 2018
It’s about the @DaleSteyn62 this morning. You’ve got this big man. #BoxingDay #SAvPAK
— David Miller (@DavidMillerSA12) December 26, 2018
Got a good feeling I’m popping these in the first hour.. so excited for @DaleSteyn62!! #422 pic.twitter.com/ENO5HWoKCC
— Morne Morkel (@mornemorkel65) December 26, 2018
Well done @DaleSteyn62 huge achievement, very well deserved! #legend
— Ryan Harris (@r_harris413) December 26, 2018
