South African fast bowler Dale Steyn has retired from all forms of professional cricket.
Steyn retired from Test cricket in August 2019, but remained available for ODI and T20I selection, until this week.
He hadn’t played an international limited-overs fixture since March 2019, but had represented various franchises in the Indian Premier League, Lanka Premier League and Pakistan Super League since.
“It has been 20 years of training, matches, travel, wins, losses, strapped feet, jet lag, joy and brotherhood,” said Steyn.
“There are too many memories to tell. Too many faces to thank.
“Today, I officially retire from the game I love the most. Bittersweet but grateful.
“Thank you to everyone, from family to team-mates, journalists to fans – it has been an incredible journey together.”
Announcement. pic.twitter.com/ZvOoeFkp8w
— Dale Steyn (@DaleSteyn62) August 31, 2021
Dale Steyn statistics
The 38-year-old Steyn is South Africa’s leading Test wicket-taker, with 439 in 93 matches. He was the eighth-highest Test wicket-taker overall at the time of retirement.
The veteran right-armer is the fifth-highest Test wicket-taker among seamers, after England’s James Anderson and Stuart Broad, Australia’s Glenn McGrath and West Indies’ Courtney Walsh.
Steyn also took 196 wickets in 125 ODIs – and 64 in 47 T20Is.