<p><strong>Rankings are just for recognition: Dale Steyn – Cricket News Update</strong></p>
<p>Despite occupying the number one spot on the International Cricket Council’s list of top Test bowlers, Proteas pacer Dale Steyn is convinced that the ranking is just a number which becomes irrelevant on the field.</p>
<p>“I don't think I'm the best player ever yet. There maybe somebody else who is superior to me. It is just a number after all. It does not change much on the field if you are the no 1 or no 100 bowler. It's just a recognition,” he said.</p>
<p>The right-armer went on to add that he had attained the top spot on the rankings after putting in a lot of effort.</p>
<p>“It took a lot of hard work to reach here. All cliché stuff... But that's the reality. It does not happen overnight. It took me about nine years to reach here. I've played two county seasons (for Essex and Warwickshire) in between... It does not happen fast.”</p>
<p>The pacer made his Test debut in 2004 against England, during which he claimed 8 wickets in the 3 Test matches he played. A veteran of 54 Tests, with 272 scalps at an economy rate of 3.39 to his name, the 28-year-old last played a Test for the national side
earlier this year, during South Africa’s tour of New Zealand in March, during which he claimed 9 wickets in 3 Test matches.</p>
<p>In addition to commenting on his top ranking, he went on to add that he felt lucky to be part of a set-up like the South African team, which boasted “great work ethics”, and “outstanding players” such as Jacques Kallis, Mark Boucher, Hashim Amla, AB de Villiers,
and coach Gary Kirsten.</p>
<p>Steyn is currently playing in the ongoing 5<sup>th</sup> edition of the Indian Premier League, and while being a part of the bottom-of-the-table Deccan Chargers is likely to be a far cry from playing for South Africa (who currently occupy the second spot
on the ICC’s list of top Test, ODI and T20 teams), the fast bowler has claimed 9 wickets in 5 innings for the Chargers so far, remaining the most vital element of their bowling attack.</p>
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