On Sunday, Dale Steyn revealed his choice for the greatest fast bowling action of all time, and it came as no surprise that he picked South African legend Allan Donald. Known as “White Lightning,” Donald is widely celebrated for his smooth and powerful bowling style.
Steyn, 41, could have easily chosen his own renowned action but instead opted for Donald, who made his debut for South Africa in 1991 and played his final match in 2003. Steyn began representing South Africa a year later, from 2004 to 2020, meaning the two never shared the field as teammates.
Steyn sparked the discussion on X (formerly Twitter) with a post: “The most beautiful fast bowler’s action of all time…? I’ll start. Allan Donald.”
Donald, now 57, was known for his iconic action and fierce pace. Over his career, he played 72 Tests and 164 One-Day Internationals (ODIs), becoming one of the most feared fast bowlers of his era. For years, Donald held the record for most Test wickets by a South African with 330 dismissals until he was surpassed by Makhaya Ntini (390), Shaun Pollock (421), and Steyn himself (439).
Currently, 29-year-old Kagiso Rabada stands at 299 Test wickets from just 64 matches, highlighting how steep competition remains in South African cricket.
Steyn didn’t stop with Donald, also giving a nod to Mfuneko Ngam. Despite only playing three Tests for the Proteas due to an injury-riddled career, Ngam was praised for his elegant bowling action, drawing immediate comparisons to Donald when he burst onto the scene in 2000.
“You all remember Mfuneko Ngam? Beautiful and so easy on the eye,” Steyn added, acknowledging another bowler with a style that left a lasting impression.