I am not the world's best: Steyn

Dale Steyn believes there arebetter bowlers in world cricket and it is simply his durabilityand consistency that have enabled the paceman to rise to the topof the Reliance ICC Test bowling rankings.

There are many who would disagree with the South African,not least those who have faced his blend of ferocious pace andpinpoint accuracy at the crease and count among his 287 testvictims.

Now part of the most feared pace attack in cricket alongwith Vernon Philander and Morne Morkel, Steyn looked relaxed andconfident at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) on Thursday as hepondered this month's three-test series against Australia.

That this relaxed demeanour was a contrast with hissometimes fiery on-field persona was not lost on the 29 yearold.

"Cricket brings out a more aggressive side of me, to behonest," he told reporters with a laugh. "Where else in theworld do you get the chance to basically kill someone with twobouncers in an over. Legally.

"I think that can bring out the anger in anyone. Off thefield I'm pretty chilled, but on it, it's all business."

As one Australian newspaper pointed out this week, Steyn'stest bowling figures (287 wickets in 57 tests at an average of23.50) stack up pretty well compared to West Indies greatMalcolm Marshall at a similar stage of his career.

Steyn, though, seems genuinely uncomfortable talking abouthis prolific wicket taking and his reign at the top of therankings.

"In all honesty, there are probably a lot better bowlersthan what I am," he said.

"I guess I am just one of the guys that consistently playsfor South Africa and has performed well.
"I think that when (captain) Graeme (Smith) needs a wicketor something like that he hands me the ball and I've beenfortunate enough to take the wickets for him.

"If I'm playing every test match and I'm taking wickets,those points ranking system is always going to mean that I'mgoing to be up there.

"But, like I said, it doesn't necessarily mean that I'm thebest or the most skilled bowler in the world."

With Australia sweating over the long-term fitness of youngfast-bowling talent Pat Cummins, there was plenty of interesttoo in how Steyn has managed to stay healthy throughout hiseight-year test career.

"I'm definitely not strong, I'm pretty thin," he laughed,adding: "I've been managed well, the message that's been sentback to our coaches from the trainers has been the right one.

"I've only played a handful of one-day internationals(considering how long I've been playing). So they've managed mevery well and I'm stoked about that.

"When I was younger, I probably over-bowled myself. Now,it's about managing myself and knowing that I've got to bowl mybest deliveries in the game. You don't see Usain Bolt breaking100 metre world records during training sessions."

South Africa play a three-day match against Australia A atthe SCG starting on Friday.

The test series begins at the Gabba in Brisbane on Fridayweek before matches at the Adelaide Oval (Nov. 22-26) and theWACA in Perth (Nov. 30-Dec. 4).

Steyn played a key role with both bat and ball to help SouthAfrica clinch the second test in Melbourne and thus their firstever series victory in Australia four years ago.

They arrive this time fresh, in test terms, from a seriesvictory in England which put them top of the ICC rankings.

"I think that ranking was something that we wanted toachieve for a long time," Steyn said. "But that doesn't meananything when you go up against any team, they don't play youany different really."