**TL;DR** - **Steyn had the complete skillset** By the [numbers] (https://www.espncricinfo.com/player/dale-steyn-47492) alone, South Africa's Dale Steyn ranks among the best fast bowlers ever and is easily [the best fast bowler of the century] (https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/andrew-fidel-fernando-dale-steyn-the-greatest-fast-bowler-of-the-century-1152696). In 93 test matches, Steyn took 439 wickets (the most by a South African) at an average of 22.95. This average puts him among the top 10 of bowlers who have taken more than 300 wickets. Steyn ranks 8th on the all-time wickets list, having played the fewest matches of anyone ranked in the top 10. All of these numbers can be parsed further which only serves to make Steyn's achievements more impressive. However, his greatest skill has yet to be mentioned. Where Steyn really separated himself from his peers is his strike rate. Among bowlers who have played a minimum of 40 test and taken a minimum of 150 wickets, Steyn has the [best ever strike rate] (https://www.news18.com/cricketnext/news/dale-steyn-cements-status-as-all-time-great-in-tests-2039073.html) of 42.3. This means that Steyn, on average, took a wicket every 7 overs. In terms of skillset, Steyn could do it all. Not only was he lightning fast, but he could swing the ball at pace whilst also having an intimidation factor that few could match. This diverse skillset translated to Steyn having an incredible record in Asia, where the pitches typically favour spin bowling. Over his career playing in Asia, Steyn took 92 wickets in 22 matches at an average of 24.11 and with a strike rate of 42.9. The likes of Glenn McGrath, Courtney Walsh, Malcolm Marshall and Richard Hadlee come close but were not in Steyn's class in Asia. In sum, Steyn's record cements his legacy in the pantheon of greats and a deeper dive reveals quite how impressive is record is.