Dale Steyn on mentoring Marco Jansen and Ottniel Baartman: 'Got SA to a wonderful place'
Synopsis
Dale Steyn isn't just a pace legend — he's quietly been shaping South Africa's next wave. In a candid interview ahead of SA20 Season 5, Steyn revealed how mentoring Marco Jansen and Ottniel Baartman, now among the world's top wicket-takers, has given him his greatest post-retirement satisfaction. His coaching mantra: fundamentals first, identity second.
Key Takeaways
Dale Steyn says mentoring Marco Jansen and Ottniel Baartman is among the most rewarding parts of his post-playing career.
Both bowlers have featured in T20 World Cup finals and semifinals and play in leagues around the world.
Steyn served as bowling coach of Sunrisers Eastern Cape in the SA20 .
His coaching philosophy centres on sharing experience while allowing players to develop their own bowling identity.
Steyn believes his own success came from consistency and control — 'landing the ball in the right area' — rather than a wide range of variations.
The 42-year-old says he would have 'done fine' if he played in today's modern game.
South African pace legend Dale Steyn says one of the most fulfilling chapters of his post-retirement life has been witnessing Marco Jansen and Ottniel Baartman rise to global prominence — two bowlers he has worked with closely and whose success, he believes, reflects the principles that defined his own illustrious career.
Pride in the Next Generation
Speaking ahead of SA20 Season 5, the 42-year-old former fast bowler said the growth of the pacers he has mentored gives him a deep sense of satisfaction. 'For me, the pleasure is having trained and worked with two guys that are right up there in terms of the highest wicket-takers, in Marco Jansen and Ottniel Baartman, and watched their rise in South African colours. They've gone on to play in leagues around the world. They've played in World Cup finals in Barbados and World Cup semifinals,' Steyn said.
He added: 'So that's a good thing for me to know, that I've helped them somewhat get South Africa to a wonderful place and get them recognised around the world.'
Steyn's Coaching Philosophy
Having served as bowling coach of Sunrisers Eastern Cape in the SA20, Steyn outlined an approach rooted in personal expression rather than imitation. 'A lot of my coaching philosophy was obviously saying what I would do but then still allowing the players enough room to bring their personal side into it. Because, look, I'm not the one that's on the field anymore,' he explained.
This balance — sharing hard-won experience while preserving a bowler's individual identity — has been central to how he operates in the coaching environment.
Fundamentals Over Variations
Steyn was candid about what made him one of the most feared fast bowlers of his era: simplicity and precision. 'I didn't have a great variety of variations. I had one or two different slower balls. I had a good yorker. I had a good bouncer. And I landed the ball in the right area for the most period of time,' he said.
He sees the same qualities in the current crop of South African quicks. 'If I was playing, I still think that I'd look at somebody like KG (Kagiso Rabada). I'd look at somebody like Marco Jansen, Anrich Nortje. These are bowlers that do really, really well in the SA20,' he noted, adding that Jansen and Baartman have 'epitomised' that philosophy — which is why both rank among the SA20's leading wicket-takers.
Would Steyn Thrive in Modern Cricket?
When asked whether a younger version of himself would succeed in today's fast-changing game, Steyn was unequivocal. 'No, I would have been fine. I would have done fine. If I played the modern-day game, I would have done okay,' he said. His confidence rests on the belief that execution, consistency, and control remain timeless virtues regardless of format or era.
Notably, this comes as South Africa continue to be one of the most potent pace-bowling nations in world cricket, with their seamers a central reason the team reached a T20 World Cup final in Barbados — a milestone Steyn takes quiet pride in having contributed to, even from the sidelines.
Point of View
Length, and a handful of reliable weapons — suggests that the fundamentals Steyn preached still win games. What is underreported is the structural role that franchise leagues like the SA20 have played in giving mentors like Steyn a formal platform to transmit that knowledge. South Africa's pace depth is not accidental; it is, at least in part, a coaching dividend.
NationPress
6 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who has Dale Steyn mentored as a bowling coach?
Dale Steyn has worked closely with Marco Jansen and Ottniel Baartman, both of whom have risen to become among the highest wicket-takers in South African cricket. He served as bowling coach of Sunrisers Eastern Cape in the SA20.
What is Dale Steyn's coaching philosophy?
Steyn's approach focuses on sharing his own experiences and methods while giving players the freedom to develop their individual bowling identities. He believes a bowler's personal style must be preserved rather than overwritten by a coach's preferences.
How did South Africa perform in recent T20 World Cups?
South Africa reached the T20 World Cup final in Barbados and a World Cup semifinal in recent editions — milestones Steyn cited as evidence that the bowlers he has worked with have helped elevate the team on the global stage.
Would Dale Steyn have succeeded in modern cricket?
Steyn himself believes he would have thrived in today's game, saying 'I would have done fine.' He argues that his core strengths — consistency, a good yorker, a good bouncer, and accuracy — remain effective regardless of era.
What made Dale Steyn such an effective fast bowler?
Steyn attributed his success to simplicity and precision rather than an elaborate arsenal. He had one or two slower balls, a reliable yorker, a good bouncer, and — crucially — the ability to land the ball in the right area consistently over long spells.
