Simply the best: AB de Villiers leads congratulatory wishes on Twitter after Dale Steyn smashes Shaun Pollock’s record

The 35-year-old quick, playing his 89th Test, took his 422nd wicket to enter unchartered territory.

Dale Steyn is now South Africa’s most successful Test bowler. @ Twitter

Dale Steyn became South Africa s most successful bowler in history surpassing Shaun Pollock as he broke the record for the most number of Test wickets during the first Test against Pakistan at the Centurion on Wednesday. The 35-year-old Steyn, playing in his 89^th Test, snapped his 422^nd wicket set the record and is currently joint eleventh in the all-time list of wicket-takers in Test cricket.

1st Test, South Africa vs Pakistan: SCORECARD

Sri Lanka spin great Muttiah Muralitharan leads the chart with 800 while the top fast bowler is England s James Anderson with 565.

Steyn, who looked set to create history on Wednesday, entered unchartered territory when he took the wicket of Fakhar Zaman, who edged it to Dean Elgar in the slip cordon and depart for 12.

Former South Africa captain AB de Villiers was the first to congratulate Steyn as tributes poured in on Twitter.

Dale Steyn, we salute you! What a man, what a player. Fitting that Simply the best is playing at Supersport Park, where everything started! Congrats legend @DaleSteyn62

AB de Villiers (@ABdeVilliers17) December 26, 2018

Well done @DaleSteyn62 pic.twitter.com/YzZM7O7ghg

Shaun Pollock (@7polly7) December 26, 2018

The man who flattened my Off Stump with his 1st Test wicket is now the leading wicket taker in SA Test History … Well done @DaleSteyn62 … Great bowler & top man … #Steyn

Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) December 26, 2018

Didn t waste much time getting to 422 test poles this morning. @7polly7 will be proud there s no doubt. I asked @DaleSteyn62 if he would love 500 test wickets and he said..Not sure if my body would allow it? Well you look fit, strong and motivated pal so let s do thispic.twitter.com/3PQnesb8Ov

Allan Donald (@AllanDonald33) December 26, 2018

#legend @DaleSteyn62 pic.twitter.com/v86PfW9kTS

Graeme Smith (@GraemeSmith49) December 26, 2018

Congrats to the coolest surfing, fishing , skateboarding fast bowler on the planet on becoming the leading wicket taker in Test cricket for South Africa Dale Steyn you beauty https://t.co/GrAIortFaC

Robin John Peterson (@robbie13flair) December 26, 2018

Here are some other reactions:

Dale Steyn took his 400th Test wicket on 30 July 2015. It has taken him 1245 days get the next 22 wickets to go past Shaun Pollock’s SA record. This is just his 9th Test in that time.

Andrew Samson (@AWSStats) December 26, 2018

Best ever strike-rates for bowlers with 200 or more Test wickets:

Dale Steyn 42.00

Waqar Younis 43.40#Cricket

Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) December 26, 2018

DALE STEYN MAKES HISTORY!!!

Steyn is the leading wicket taker in South African test cricket.

That s a mighty 422 test scalps for the SA CRICKET SUPERSTAR

Finally top of the charts#ProteaFire #SAvPAK pic.twitter.com/GwiKNG7Rtj

Kass Naidoo (@KassNaidoo) December 26, 2018