Cricket was once regarded a gentleman’s game but the definition is fast changing. South African speedster Dale Steyn, who terrorises batsmen with his hostile bowling, believes his role is to be intimidating and aggressive. “As a fast bowler I have got a role. I have got to be menacing, aggressive and have to be pretty much your worst enemy.
Because nobody wants to play against teddy bear, let’s be honest about that,” said Steyn here on Tuesday.
Caring little about reputation, Steyn said he is happy to be nasty as long as he takes wickets. “My job is to look like a nasty ugly person.” The top ranked Test bowler in the world said he learned the tricks of the trade from Shane Warne.
“I love the theatre of cricket. When I was growing up watching someone like Shane Warne bowl, I loved the theatrics. If he bowled a bad ball and the batsman hit it for four he would react as if he had planned it.”
Many former fast bowlers have complained about the current lot spending too much time in the gym. Steyn endorsed a similar opinion and revealed his style of working out.
“Look, I am working quickly in the gym pretty much the way I bowl. I don’t wait to develop those ‘beach muscles’ all men like. I use weights quickly and train my muscles to work under stress.”
With India schedule to tour South Africa for a three-match Test series later this year, Steyn believed the visitors would find it difficult. “We have got a pretty good Test side at the moment and we play quite well at home. Coming to South Africa, it is a difficult place to play cricket.”