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[uknsaunders]

Very interesting article here:-

http://www.sacricketmag.co.za/steyns-got-300-overs-left-then-out/

Upshot is the author reckons Steyn, in his pomp is nearly a spent force. Given this was done in May, its probably going to make the next few months interesting viewing. For balance, the author hopes he will go on and I think he might be ok for a while. However, it does ask the question - how long can he and Anderson keeping bowling at there respective peaks? Anderson has the advantage (disadvantage in terms of wickets) of bowling a bit slower and having a fairly economical action. Would Steyn be the same bowler if he bowled low 80's? I remember Ntini struggling once his pace dropped but then again Steyn does more with the ball.

I'm sure Gerry will have something to say on this as our SA expert!

[Manormanic]

The maths is somewhat flawed, in that the writer talks about international overs without considering the extra hundreds, if not thousands that the likes of Ambrose, Walsh et al bowled in county and state cricket; as such, its a bit tricky to take his central premise too seriously.  That said, any fast bowler who has reached his thirties becomes the subject of at least some such consideration and it is certainly time for South Africa to make a much better fist of managing his workload.

[uknsaunders]

certainly gets messy when you think of state cricket. I've heard many of the top players use to "throttle back" in county/state cricket, whether through choice or not. How many miles in the legs a county game takes out compared to a International is also worthy of debate.Walsh I doubt we will ever see the like of again. He managed a number of years at Gloucestershire and still kept going for the Windies.

I think the IPL doesn't help Steyn. It's not the 4 overs of bowling but the constant wear and tear the schedule brings. How tired will India be after going to Australia without much of a break since late May?

[Manormanic]

I know Jonathan Agnew, in his excellent book Eight Days A Week, talked of being able to bowl at his full pace maybe once or twice a season, but I suspect that he may have been exaggerating somewhat.  The game has in any event moved on from those days, with schedules at least a little more supportive of bowlers (County sides even rotate now which would never have been countenanced in the 80s!) and, unless you happen to be English, at least some form of off season for three years in four.

[uknsaunders]

I imagine Steyn did a fair amount of state cricket in his early years but I doubt he has for the last 3-4 years. I don't think SA schedule has been as full on as England's either.

[Cowcorner]

I thinks it's a brave man who tells a fast bowler of Steyn's pedigree how much cricket he's got left in him.....he still looks like he's full of fire!!