9 wickets down, team struggling, the game has been turned upside down with some exquisite fast bowling, an injured player walks out to make a difference, a player who walked with the help of crutches in the morning. Dale Steyn on January 8, 2017 joined the elite list of brave cricketers who have walked out to bat despite an injury when the team was in dire need of it.
The team comes first, an individual comes second; Steyn proved this when walked into bat with wobbly feet. The fast bowler came and joined AB de Villiers in the middle who was running out of partners and said, “I am fine. Take it easy”.
However, De Villiers could not make the most of Steyn’s brave effort as he got out within 6 balls of him coming out to bat. But before that Steyn had endured four balls from Bhuvneshwar Kumar. He had even worked the ball into gaps two times, mid on and offside but could not take a single because of his injury.
Here’s the video of Steyn coming out to bat –
Dedication Level- Dale steyn @DaleSteyn62 ! Congratulations to wriddhiman saha @Wriddhipops for breaking the record of MSD of most number of catches in a test! He now tops the list with 10 catches in this match! Test at its best #SAvsIND #TeamIndia #FreedomSeries pic.twitter.com/uqikUP13Q1
— Keshav (@goyal4384) January 8, 2018
Steyn’s effort was lauded by Twitterati as they compared him with previous incidents of bravery from cricketers.
Add one more to this list, @DaleSteyn62 has just walked in to bat with a injured heel. What do these South Africans eat for so much courage.
— Varadraj (@varadadya) January 8, 2018
dale steyn= real fighter #INDvSA
— mukunda madhab (@mukunda2836) January 8, 2018
Steyn saying to Abd
“I am fine. Take it easy”
Respect for @DaleSteyn62
Feels bad for @ABdeVilliers17
No one helped him around #SAvIND— Sujit Yadav (@imSujityd) January 8, 2018
Dale Steyn coming to bat reminds me of @GraemeSmith49 brave attempt to save the test against Aus,,, Heroes both Steyn and Smith… #indvssa #savsind
— Srikanthan (@SrikanthanS) January 8, 2018
Graeme Smith in 2009. (Batted with a broken finger)
Dale Steyn in 2018. (Batting with a broken leg)History repeats itself. The greatest Cricketing team ever, Proteas. Such commitment.#ProteaFire #INDvSA @OfficialCSA
— Hari Sriram (@harisriram28) January 8, 2018
#SAvIND @DaleSteyn62 doesn’t matter how much injured a lion is.. always he will take guard of his kingdom. #Legend #sportskeeda
— Rafe Khan (@rafe786) January 8, 2018
Hats off to @DaleSteyn62 for coming out to bat! Limping his way out on the field & sternly facing the last 4 balls of that over! Incredible determination! #INDvSA
— Sachin (@SachinKhunte) January 8, 2018
What a player @DaleSteyn62 Respect. Advised 4-6 weeks of Bed rest for a bruised heal. Showed character and limped out to support his ailing team. #INDvSA
— Shubhash Sharma (@Sharmaji_says) January 8, 2018
The crowd is behind @DaleSteyn62 , every single ball he faces the crowd cheers him up. That’s the spirit you show when you play for your nation. #INDvSA #SAvIND
— Anikait (@Anikait1) January 8, 2018
Limping out there to help his team is an injured @DaleSteyn62. What a hero this guy is. This is Marshall-esque, Kumble-esque! #SAvIND
— Gaurav Sabnis (@gauravsabnis) January 8, 2018
Dale Steyn was walking on crutches this morning. He is out to bat right now because his team needs him. This is why I love Test Cricket #INDvSA
— Sohil Nikam (@sohilnikam) January 8, 2018
@DaleSteyn62 True spirit in this guy. He cannot walk properly still came to support his team. Remembering @GraemeSmith49 innings vs aus. This man is legend. Take a bow. You’re our opponent but you all will remain our hood friends always @OfficialCSA Cheers! #SAvIND
— Karan Snotra (@KaranSnotra) January 8, 2018
Africa stuck in middle. Where Mr. Dale Steyn is decided to save his team after he had critical leg injury.
Message : बहादुर वो होते है जो हालातो पर दोश नहीं मढते.#Respect #DaleSteyn #Salute #Bowdown.@DaleSteyn62— Vikas Pandit (@VocalistPandit) January 8, 2018
I’ve been waiting to see will happen when Dale Steyn gets in the field, his injury looks bad but he’s soldiering on #SAvIND
— NGHULELE EDEN (@Tiyiselani_Eden) January 8, 2018
Dale Steyn. Man. Myth. Legend. Hero. That block shot alone showed that he has more batting talent than Virat Kohli.
— Simmi Areff (@simmiareff) January 8, 2018
Gun !!!! @DaleSteyn62 @SuperSportTV pic.twitter.com/4s5Z3LabTG
— Tiaan (@Tiaanjoubert83) January 8, 2018
Let’s forget everything and take a moment and give a standing ovation to Dale Steyn as he comes out to bat. #SAvIND
— Uzair Hasan Rizvi (@RizviUzair) January 8, 2018
Legend
Respect
Will Miss You In the Series
Hope For A Speed Recovery and Back for The Aussie Series#DaleSteyn #SAvIND pic.twitter.com/J93vkw3Haf— Gurpreet Singh (@Guru4848) January 8, 2018
Dale Steyn was walking on crutches this morning. He is out to bat right now because his team needs him. This is why I love Test Cricket #INDvSA
— Sohil Nikam (@sohilnikam) January 8, 2018
#SAvIND
Salute to this guy name Dale steyn
He Injured but he came for team result not matter pic.twitter.com/yhXX1Sa6LH— INDIयन Critics (@indi_critics) January 8, 2018
Dale Steyn walking out to roaring applause. Having been in crutches earlier today, this is nothing short of exceptionally brave. #SAvIND And once again @FirdoseM knew something the rest of us didn’t.
— Anand Vasu (@anandvasu) January 8, 2018
Here is a list of players who have taken the field despite injury –
2018- Joe Root vs Australia
Joe Root has not resumed after lunch. Jonny Bairstow is batting with Tom Curran.
Follow: https://t.co/la4sylkRna #ashes pic.twitter.com/OK5CcDl1ko
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) January 8, 2018
2015- Wahab Riaz vs Sri Lanka
2014-15- Michael Clarke vs South Africa
2010- Ian Bell vs Bangladesh
2009- Graeme Smith vs Australia
2003-04- Gary Kirsten vs South Africa
2002- Anil Kumble vs West Indies
1984- Malcolm Marshall vs West Indies
1976-77- Rick McCosker vs England
ALSO READ: ‘Laga Dun Kya’, Hardik Pandya asks Bhuvneshwar Kumar while batting against Morne Morkel
1963- Colin Cowdrey vs West Indies
1953-54- Bert Sutcliffe vs New Zealand
ALSO READ: Veda Krishnamurthy stuns Australian crowd with a full-stretch diving catch in WBBL 2017-18
Steyn has been ruled out from the rest of the series. He was just a few wickets away from becoming the highest wicket-taker for South Africa in Test cricket by surpassing Shaun Pollock.
