As tomorrow is #DaleSteyn's birthday, here's a special thread on the legend.

Steyn's first impression was with the outswinger that flattened #MichaelVaughan's off-stump, but off the field, it was humble beginnings. At the time of debut, Steyn had just one pair of shoes. He didn't have "the money for more than one". As Vaughan's mention suggests, Steyn's debut was against England, coming at Port Elizabeth in 2004. He'd played just 7 first-class games before he was picked.

Initially, the Titans provincial set-up overlooked him but former SA batsman Daryll Cullinan had Steyn's back all along.

SPECIAL THREAD ON GLENN MCGRATH. A line flashes in the mind while sharing anecdotes on the legend's formative years - where to start and how to end??

McGrath was born in Dubbo to Beverly and Kevin McGrath. Do you want to know more about this place? It is a wheat and sheep farming hub, which is around 390 kph north-west of Sydney. McGrath looked after sheep, rode tractors and tried out the motorbike. Yes, he was a very shy kid, who did his schooling at Narromine. He was so shy that he presumably left school, so that he could avoid speaking! Yes, the same bowler who became famous for sledging!!

"In 2018, the incoming deliveries had completely stopped. At that time my outswing was working better," Siraj said in the presser.

(Cont) "So I was a bit confused as to why my inswingers weren't working. Then I decided to use the wobble seam because incoming deliveries are always a problem for batters.

(Cont)

Credit to Ebadot there. Short, short of a good length and then went fuller. Anyway, Iyer hangs back, so the bowler has that opportunity to fuller. Good planning and even better execution.

Gritty innings from Iyer but Ebadot made his own luck. He is a bowler with a big heart. "During the 10-day quarantine, one day I was watching Ashes and saw Anderson picking up only 1 wicket after whole day's play. What struck me most was that even though he was not picking wickets he just gave away around one and a half runs per over," Ebadot told Cricbuzz.

(cont)

Nathan Astle and the Pani-Puri seller

1996 WC - Astle was looking out for a net bowler before the game v ENG. So, he asked a Pani-Puri seller, Bharat Shah, to bowl at him.

The NZ cricketer wouldn't have imagined what was in store for him.

(Cont)/ Shah bowled with a burst of good pace, and the first three deliveries missed the off-stump by a whisker!

Astle somehow defended the next two deliveries. Shah, though, had reserved his best for the last ball off the over as he beat Astle for pace and shattered the timber!

(Cont)

Not an expert. Just observations 🙏

If you notice, when his back foot lands, he is completely/ultra side-on. His head doesn't fall. There are a few other good points.

My point is (mere observation) those with mixed/front-on tend to be more of hit the deck pacemen (con)

https://twitter.com/kpimperial_7/status/1570081944335187968

In T20 cricket, if you pound the deck hard, it can give you a bit of buffer.

But I'm a fan of Umran Malik and his fast bowling. He is still raw and with right guidance, he can improve.

I do believe test cricket can suit him more... with guidance.

Yuzvendra Chahal. Just an opinion.

As I once observed he looks to 'buy' wickets with flight, subtle changes of line and length.

On his day, he can take 3-4 wickets but he can also go for plenty. You don't expect much of 1 for 25 or 1 for 30.

(Cont) Old school spinner and not known for having those defensive weapons.

On bigger AUS grounds, he may still end up 'buying' some wickets.

@Plumb_infront Just adding to the point I made on bowling in tandem.

When you think of sports, it is also a mental game. Cricket is no different. Batting or bowling is no different. Mental game.

I will explain in the following tweets.

(Cont) One bowler bowls a maiden over and beats the bat say a couple of times.

The batter would most likely have tentative footwork as he or she is feeling the pressure.

This is when you need the other bowler to maintain pressure.

(Cont)

Phew!! Vamos. That was one thrilling match.

For periods of time, Nadal struggled with his service motion. But got it right in the final set.

He still had that one nervy game where he was broken back.

(Cont) Barring one poor slice, the slice BH stood up again.

Obviously, he took his chances at the net with solid volleys. He hit high up on Fritz's BH and found the FH DTL at the right juncture.

Fritz played really well. Rafa was just a bit better at crucial moments.

Sinner and the serve. He is also out-hitting Djoko in relation to baseline exchanges so far.

A few headaches for saab ji. Excellent FHDTL passing shot.

Just a random thought.

India can look at Yash Dubey for at least A tours.

I'm not for once saying pick him in the Indian side. He needs to perform consistently at that position in the next season too.

But worth a try for A tours. The other player I will keep an eye on in that MP side is Rajat Patidar.

Yes, a very instinctive batter. But he has a bit of extra time on his hands v pace.

Shreyas Iyer v Patidar against pace? Take your pick as I put an escape :)

S Waugh was a back and across instinctive puller in his early days. His selection of shots - what to pull and what not to - was perhaps an issue until 91-92.

Iyer stays slightly leg-side. So, he will get a lots of short deliveries pelted at him in tests in certain conditions.

https://twitter.com/imsunkrish/status/1543921641960665089

The modern style, with T20s around, is to stay slightly leg-side and clear the front leg.

In terms of technique v the moving ball, Rohit's game in ENG in 2021 is the best I have seen from an Indian opener v Dukes in that country. It was about the opening slot.