TAUNTON (England), June 29: South Africa fast bowler Dale Steyn has soared towards the top of the world rankings in the last year and is relishing the prospect of facing England and Australia over the next few months.

“I have done well but we are coming up against two big teams of world cricket who will be difficult to knock over,” Steyn told Reuters in an interview ahead of the first match of their England tour in Somerset on Sunday.

“They are big challenges but I like challenges.”

Steyn, who sampled English conditions with Essex in 2005 and Warwickshire last season, is due to face the world’s top-ranked side at the end of the year.

“We are in England now, then we go to Australia after the Champions Trophy (in Pakistan) and Bangladesh at home so this is a time where I have to stand up and be counted,” he said.

Steyn was 31st in the test bowling rankings a year ago but is now second after briefly holding top place ahead of Sri Lanka spinner Muttiah Muralitharan.

It demonstrates the success he has enjoyed since South Africa’s tour to Pakistan in October, a spell in which he has claimed 78 wickets in 12 tests to make it a total of 120 in 23 matches.

“It’s all happened quickly but although I have had a fantastic season I know I have to continue this throughout my career to be considered a world great,” Steyn said.

“It was fantastic to be rated number one but my average and number of wickets over an extended period, when I retire, is more important to me. Consistency is a big thing.”—Reuters