Top 5 Test bowlers of the decade (2010-19)

#1. Dale Steyn

Dale Steyn

Matches -- 59, Wickets -- 267, Average -- 22.29, Strike Rate -- 43.9, Best Bowling in an innings -- 7/51

When it comes to the best Test bowler of the decade, South African legend Dale Steyn towers head and shoulders above the rest. Nagging injuries have restricted Steyn’s appearances to 59 in the decade. But, when fit, he was mostly in a zone of his own. Steyn is among the rare breed of bowlers in world cricket who didn’t need help from the surface to turn in match-winning performances. His pedigree is so great that he could make the most docile of pitches talk. And, when there was seam and bounce of offer, there was little batsmen could do to keep him at bay.

Some of Steyn’s incredible performances came in away wins, which is why he is the clear winner of the Test bowler of the decade. In 10 away wins that the legendary pacer featured in, he picked up 66 wickets at a sensational average of 15.31 and a strike rate of 32.1. His best of 7 for 51 came against India at Nagpur in February 2010. Steyn’s incredible spell of bowling gunned down India, as they fell from 221 for 5 to 233 all out.

Dale Steyn

In July 2014 at Galle, a surface renowned for assisting spin, Steyn came up with magnificent performances in both innings -- 5 for 54 and 4 for 45 -- to bowl South Africa to a memorable triumph. Further, Steyn also had five-fors in West Indies (Port of Spain, June 2010), Zimbabwe (Harare, August 2014) and England (The Oval, July 2012). Modern batsmen should consider themselves lucky that Steyn retired from Tests in August this year.

The Steyn gun.