It’s been a pretty torrid Test baptism for Dale Steyn, South Africa’s 21-year-old pace bowler, who has been forced to toil against England’s batsmen on two uncompromising surfaces at Port Elizabeth and now Durban

Andrew Miller29-Dec-2004

Some words of advice for Dale Steyn from Graeme Smith during the seesaw Test at DurbanGetty Images
It’s been a pretty torrid Test baptism for Dale Steyn, South Africa’s 21-year-old pace bowler, who has been forced to toil against England’s batsmen on two uncompromising surfaces at Port Elizabeth and now Durban. And his learning curve got even steeper this evening, as he was sent out to face the media after another tough day in the field for South Africa.Steyn, however, was upbeat about his team’s prospects, after England’slate declaration had given them an outside sniff of victory. “There’s agood vibe in the dressing-room,” he insisted. “We’ve got nine men in hand,we want to win, and we’re going out there on the fifth day of a good Testto have a go.”Steyn’s figures today made painful reading – 25.3 overs, 1 for 122. “It’sbeen a tough start,” he admitted, “but I’m willing to learn, and whetherit’s the hard way or the easy way, I’m up for it and looking forward tothe challenge. I’ll still be running in and getting in everyone’s faces,and if it works it works – I’ll still go home smiling.”Things got a little out of hand for Steyn during the closing stages ofEngland’s innings, as he was twice pulled for six by Geraint Jones,just out of the reach of Hashim Amla at midwicket, and ended up having topost a back-stop to stem the flow of uppercuts. “That’s the way it goes,”he shrugged. “Any other day he could have skyed it straight up and beencaught by the keeper. I must have had 30 runs over the keeper’s head.That’s certainly the first time I’ve seen a back-stop, and he even savedfour!”But Steyn insisted: “Everyone’s been amazing on and off the field. Polly[Shaun Pollock], Makhaya [Ntini], Jacques Kallis. And I’ve spoken to AllanDonald most mornings. It’s made me feel really confident, and the captainhas been relaxed all the time, even if I’ve gone for 20 in the over andthere are still three balls to go.”If South Africa’s task seems overwhelming, then Steyn was certainly notletting on, and he even managed to put a positive spin on their day in thefield. “We looked at the game this morning, and we were almost spot-on inthe sort of target we’d be set. Maybe we’d have preferred 30 or 40 runsless, but we’ve got enough overs and we’re happy to chase.”Even after bowling England out for 139 in the first innings, there was nota glimmer of despondency in Steyn’s attitude. “To win would be great, todraw would be fine, and of course no-one wants to lose. If we end up witha draw, then so be it. Hopefully we’ll level up next game.”