JACQUES Kallis hailed South Africa teammate Dayle Steyn as the world’s greatest bowler today after the paceman’s five-wicket performance inspired the crucial World Cup win over India.
Steyn’s 5-50 was key to the Proteas’ three-wicket win in Nagpur on Saturday (March 12) after India had been well set for a huge total when they stood at 267-1.
But India lost their last nine wickets for just 29 runs in nine overs to be bowled out for 296.
“It showed why Dale Steyn is the best bowler in the world and has been for a couple of years now,” said Kallis.
“What’s the difference between a really good bowler and a great one? You can, eventually, subdue a really good bowler and get on top of him, especially as he gets tired.
“You can never do that with Dayle. He is as likely to get you out with the new ball as he is with one that is 100-overs old in his sixth spell.”
Kallis also admitted that he was relieved to be back among the runs, making 69 against India, having made a total of just 21 in the team’s previous three outings.
“It was a relief to contribute some runs for a change after just making 20-odd before,” he wrote in a column for the Hindustan Times.
“There’s no doubt that conditions changed significantly during the second innings and batting was more awkward.”
