New Delhi, June 12 (IANS) South African pace great Dale Steyn believes one of the most rewarding aspects of his post-playing career has been watching the next generation of fast bowlers flourish on the international stage, with players such as Marco Jansen and Ottniel Baartman carrying forward many of the principles that defined his own success.

Having transitioned into coaching roles after retirement, including a stint as bowling coach of Sunrisers Eastern Cape in the SA20, Steyn said seeing bowlers he has worked with rise through the ranks has been particularly satisfying.

“For me, the pleasure is having trained and worked with two guys that are right up there in terms of the highest wicket-takers, in Marco Jansen and Ottniel Baartman, and watched their rise in South African colours. They’ve gone on to play in leagues around the world. They’ve played in World Cup finals in Barbados and World Cup semifinals,” Steyn told IANS in an interaction facilitated by SA20 in the lead-up to Season 5.

Reflecting on their growth and success, Steyn admitted it gives him a sense of pride to know he has played a role in their development.

“So that’s a good thing for me to know, that I’ve helped them somewhat get South Africa to a wonderful place and get them recognised around the world,” he stated.

Steyn explained that while he shares his experiences and methods with young bowlers, his coaching philosophy is built around helping players develop their own identities rather than simply replicating what he achieved in his playing days.

“I was bowling coach of the Sunrisers Eastern Cape. And a lot of my coaching philosophy was obviously saying what I would do but then still allowing the players enough room to bring their personal side into it. Because, look, I’m not the one that’s on the field anymore,” he mentioned.

The former fast bowler believes that despite cricket’s evolution, the fundamentals that made him successful continue to be effective in the modern game. He pointed to several current South African quicks who have thrived by focusing on execution rather than relying solely on variations.

“If I was playing, I still think that I’d look at somebody like KG (Kagiso) Rabada. I’d look at somebody like Marco Jansen, Anrich Nortje. These are bowlers that do really, really well in the SA20. And I lined myself up with guys that I’d do a very similar thing with,” the 42-year-old stated.

Steyn noted that his own approach was relatively uncomplicated, centred on consistency and control as he said, “I didn’t have a great variety of variations. I had one or two different slower balls. I had a good yorker. I had a good bouncer. And I landed the ball in the right area for the most period of time.”

According to Steyn, Jansen and Baartman are among the bowlers who best embody that philosophy in contemporary cricket.

“And Marco Jansen has epitomised that throughout the SA20, which is why he’s one of the leading wicket-takers, as is somebody like Ottniel Baartman. So I wouldn’t have strayed far away from what they do because that’s what I did. And I’ve coached them to do the same kind of thing,” he opined.

Their success, he suggested, is also evidence that the methods which served him so well during his playing career remain relevant in today’s fast-changing game.

When asked if a young Dale Steyn would thrive in today’s game as he did in his prime or would he need to adapt to the demands of modern cricket, the pace legend said, “No, I would have been fine. I would have done fine. If I played the modern-day game, I would have done okay.”

–IANS

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