Veteran speedster Dale Steyn bowled his way to being South Africa’s leading wicket-taker in Test cricket, while Indian skipper Virat Kohli’s phenomenal scoring saw him rack up the most runs in a Calender year; as players continue to squeeze in last minute records with 2019 just days away.
Steyn has had a rough time as of recent battling a heel injury and missing time off from cricket to recover but not before finding his way back into some domestic cricket before making a steady return to the rigors of international cricket. The
Dale Steyn
pacers’ 422 victim was Pakistan’s Fakhar Zaman who was dismissed during the Centurion game.
The 35-year-old surpassed countryman and one of South Africa’s most legendary players in Shaun Pollock; who bagged 421 wickets during his career, thus leaving more than a decade long legacy which was recently broken. Regarded as the best pacer of the modern century, Steyn leapfrogged some South African greats on his way to the top of the list.
World-class bowlers like Makhaya Ntini (390 wickets), legendary pacer Allan Donald (330 wickets), Jacques Kallis (291), former new-ball partner Morne Morkel (309 wickets) and even as of recent Vernon Philander (205 wickets); all had their tallies surpassed by the speedster from Phalaborwa.
Despite playing just seven Tests in the last two years and four months while currently 12 matches away from his milestone; the pacer now in the prime of his
Virat Kohli
cricket life has further revealed that he would like to play 100 Tests and could easily achieve his feat should he maintain his physical condition.
King Kohli
While Steyn etched his name in the bowling book of records, Indian skipper ‘King’ Kohli found his way into the books by surpassing one of his country’s most prolific batsmen; as his magical powers as a batsman seems to increase with every game.
The right-hander racked up the most run by an Indian in Test for 2018 after making 82 a few days ago; further establishing himself as one of the best run-getters for the year.
Rahul Dravid, the ex-Indian skipper and veteran batsman, previously held the
Rahul Dravid
record of 1,137 runs from 11 matches back 2002. Kohli surpassed the legendary ‘Wall’ when his knock at Centurion saw him reach 1,138 runs from 11 Tests this year with a staggering average of close to 55 with 4 tons and 5 fifties.
Kohli, with knocks:5, 28, 153, 5, 54, 4, 149, 51, 23, 17, 97, 103, 46, 58, 49, 0, 3, 34, 123,17 and 82 in 2018, joined elite company in ex-South Africa Captain Graeme Smith who holds the record with 1,212 runs from 11 games during the year 2008. West Indies batting legend Sir Viv Richards racked up 1,154 runs in just seven Tests back in 1976; with the Indian captain now sitting among prestigious ranks in Test cricket.
