Happy Birthday to Two Prominent Feats

These two were the definition of bat and ball game. One being a batsman and other being the bowler, have being born on the same day. Both were from the South African Country, with one moved on to UK and represented England national team whilst the other represented his mother nation, South Africa. Both were aggressive, both on and off the field, and both had faced opposite encounters. Their career is a graph of wavelength with peak and slump in their careers. Also, both have been in the No.1 position in their rankings atleast once. Here, I am going to speak about them in the order of their age, as other than that both are equal in their respective game of cricket.

Kevin Pietersen

He was born on 27th June, 1980 at Pietermaritzburg, South Africa. His father was an Afrikaner while his mother is an English. He was youngest among the three brothers. He had played rugby during his childhood but a forearm injury at the age of 11, ruled out the possibility of playing rugby further. Still he played tennis, squash for improving his arm and forearm power. During his teen age, he represented Natal B domestic side at the year 1997/98. There he started as an off spinner and a cricketer who could bat at No.9 position. Also, during his performance at school festival cricket, his performance impressed Clive Rise and he asked him to immediately sign for Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club. From there, he emerged as a pure batsman. Also, the real fact is that, the politics in selection process at South Africa between the Blacks and the Whites, forced him to move to England. As his mother was of English desent, he needed to represent English County side for 4 years. He started at 2000 and after completing his 4 years, at 2004, immediately he was selected to the English national side. 

This act of representing other nation over his own nation, drew much criticism, with during the tour of South Africa, at 2004-05, he was booed by the audience. Many called him as a traitor, and drew much hatred towards him. But, this didn't degrade him. Also, he countered those criticism both on press meeting and on field. The performance at ODI Series, against the same tour of South Africa, garnered him reputation and earned him first Man of the Series Award. Also, at the end of the tour, South African Audience, gave him standing ovation. 

Switching on from an off spinner to one of the greatest batsman, it has been so hard and only few were able to switch on their roles in International Cricket. But, he did pick up occasional wickets, but he was not even an occasional off spinner in the side. 

Other than this, he is the master of Switch Hit Shot and this had driven many controversies over him. During the tour of New Zealand, at the year 2008, he hit two sixes by switching his hands in his crucial 110. This started attention among people that, how could a batsman entirely switch his body, and hit a six. Although, Muttiah Muralitharan, in 2006, played a reverse sweep shot for a six, in this case the entire body is twisted. Many commentators alleged it to be banned as it affects the line and length of the bowlers'. Many said, that the switch hit shot mighit disrupt the off stump line for LBW, where for an example If a batsman plays right handed, the bowler might be bowling by pitching outside off stump line and would be hitting the stumps. But, when the ball is bowled, the batsman entire switches his side, which would appear as pitching outside leg stump and the result would be given not out. Finally, ICC accepted switch hit shot as it might develop the prospect of the game, with similar to the reverse sweep shot.

He was even made as Captain for England's both Test and ODI Cricket Team. In his captaincy, the team had lost overseas tour against the Indian cricket team. Also, his relationship with the coach Moores turned out worse. But, he wanted it to be in personal which the ECB made public. Moores resigned from his coaching role, then it was announced that Kevin Pietersen would be resigning from his captaincy role. In an interview, he said that ECB had announced him resigning but he himself not.

Also, during 2010-11 he was dropped on by England Cricket Board for his poor performances, which in Twitter, he mentioned some aggressive comments on England Cricket Board, which sparked in between.

Other than that, the injuries ruled his career out. He missed 2009 Champions Trophy, a part of 2011 Cricket World Cup, 2012 T20 Cricket World Cup. His form slumped due to flurry of injuries. He announced his retirement on May 31, 2012. But, then he reversed his decision and played for another two years, before finishing his career at 2013-14 Ashes Series.

He has achieved Number 1 Spot in the year 2007. He has 2 double centuries, at Tests in his name. He has been one of the five Leading Cricketers to receive Wisden Award in 2005. His records were compared similar to that of Graham Gooch. He has the second leading amount of runs in 125 tests. He achieved 5000 in 4 years, the fastest to reach the milestone. He was so phenomenal in 2005 Ashes Series, with his batting performances. Also, in 2007 Cricket World Cup, he was the leading run scorer for England. 

As a right hander, he was so elegant in his shot making. His stance and foot movement over the bowling of seam bowlers, made his career  brighter. He was regarded as one of the best English Cricketer. In 104 Test matches, he scored 8,181 runs with 35 fifties and 23 hundreds. In One Day Cricket, he played 136 matches, and scored 4,440 runs with 25 fifties and 9 hundreds. But, the end, shouldn't be this.

Dale Steyn

He was born on 27th June, 1983 at Transvaal Province. He had started his career as a right arm fast bowler and represented Notherns, Titans and also had featured in English County Cricket team, Essex. He made his International debut, at 2004 playing against England in Test Cricket. He has been known as Steyn Gun, and is famous for destructive bowling. 

He made his ODI Debut, at the year 2006, although he played in Afro-Asia Cup during 2005. His bowling proved to some immense and the aggression he shows on field against the opposition has a separate fan base. 

His career in test cricket were at peak. During his early career, he wasn't a proper wicket taking bowler. But, he was damn sure to cement his place in the South African Cricket Team. 

During 2007, his career as a bowler started to improve slowly, with fetching some wickets under his belt against India. But, still he wasn't been included in the South African squad for 2007 Cricket World Cup. This created a fire to prove that, the South African team should depend him for the team's success. During the tour of Pakistan, at 2007, he picked up his 3rd five wicket haul in test cricket, which made him regular member of the squad.

The real blast arrives here. During the series against New Zealand, in 2007, in the scheduled two test matches, he picked up tow ten wicket hauls and three five wicket hauls and one six wicket haul. Which combined, added 20 wickets in two test matches earning him the Man of the Series Award.

Against the West Indies tour, he again picks 20 wickets from 3 test match series, and this again earns him second Man of the Series Award. 

Then, and again, in the same year, during India tour, he picked up 15 wickets in 3 matches, earning him third consecutive Man of the Series Award in Test Cricket. Also, in that year, he picked up 75 wickets in 11 test matches, earned him his No.1 Ranking.

He continued this No.1 Ranking spot for mere 6 years till 2014, the longest period of time, in holding the No.1 spot surpassing Muttaiah Muralitharan. He also been the highest test wicket taker for South Africa, surpassing Shaun Pollock with having 439 wickets. He has retired from Test Cricket to focus on Limited Overs Format.

He was regarded as one of the best, the South African Cricket have ever produced. His attacking bowling and specially his death over yorkers and slower deliveries were pure bliss to watch. Many batsmen, across the world would fear to face him. He has the ability to bowl at 150 km/h speed. Now, he may be aged, but the impact he had created, still would be speaking even after generations.