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The ball exits the bowler’s grip at the end of that fluid action. Supple yet muscular arms and legs moving in unison, it is natural to watch that it’s nearly hypnotic. The loping, fluid approach toward the delivery stride, right hip almost knitted with the wicket on the non-strikers end. Elevated arm and rapidly rotating bowling shoulder passing the edge of the umpire’s hat by just a millimetre. It comes out and the crowd and batsman freeze.

“That was thrilling, you heard a gasp or an ‘aah’ each inning,” said the speedster following his devastating spell pace attack which reduced the opposition’s batting lineup in ruins. The home side romped to an unprecedented win, with Archer ending taking four wickets. During the spell, he had four wickets for the cost of a handful of runs, but this was a spells in which the numbers didn’t even seem to matter.

Many claim but there is a unique thrill in seeing a fast bowler at peak performance, top speed. Maybe especially today, as batting more and more dominating ball globally, batsmen peppering the stands celebrating, record totals broken regularly including young prodigies making their mark internationally. That’s why an enjoyable change of pace witnessing always six-smiting batters “dismissed”; more thrilling to see those batsmen jumping about the crease like someone at a pub that’s unintentionally stepped on a spaniel’s tail. Watch as the ball zips past their nose, deviates away from the bat or flies dangerously near to the stumps it might whisper sweet nothings to the stumps as it passes to scorch the keeper’s gloves.

His performance built excitement and gave memories. Most England fans’ thoughts might have jumped a couple of months to Australia for the opening match. The idea of seeing Archer down under, fully fit after years of debilitating setbacks recovery, running amok against the Aussie batting card. It doesn’t just raises excitement but causes heart-racing. Consider pure clean hit of his comeback Test and supercharge it tenfold.

Others would also have been reminded of Archer’s spell against the batsman in London during the series among the most intense phases pace bowling in recent memory. Long after the players retire their shoes, that segment of cricket will be recalled. Most tell you his statistics or what score Smith made, this was one of those spells that rises above and etches above most others, leaving stats or even the end result of the match to mere admin.

Think of a wild-eyed and zinc-lipped Allan Donald facing saucer-eyed the batsman in Nottingham in 1998. Alternatively, to keep the England v South Africa narrative, Andrew Flintoff charging like a blond, bulldog-nosed force against the legend in Birmingham 10 years later. The latter usually appeared unshakeable yet, in those few overs of assault from Flintoff, briefly resembled almost balsa.

His performance made an impact on another rising star destined for greatness. A 26-year-old the protea participated in his first Test tour in the UK, a broken thumb sustained early on left him an onlooker at the ground. “That’s one of my most vivid recollections,” says Steyn. “Fans were electric and I had never experienced such noise. They were roaring him on everything just felt epic. I desired that experience when I bowled. The drama and intensity. Seeing that was truly special and for me is what Test cricket is all about.”

“During those in good rhythm, everything is effortless. Your approach, you’re following through. Everything feels perfect with no strain on the body. It simply coming naturally.”

The majority may never get close to that feeling, so it prompts the question – how does it feel to be a fast bowler during one of those spells, when all is on song, each delivery is on a string and the batter may as well be under the palm of your hand? “It just happens” was the extent of detailed the legend got attempting describe those instances he got on a hot streak.

“Unforgettable!” Thankfully, ex- pace star the athlete is less equivocal. “When you’re at your best, everything is smooth. Your run-in, you’re following through. It all seems right with no effort on the body. It’s just natural. I mean, those moments, they are, understand, simply …”

Malcolm is momentarily lost in a moment of reverie. Perhaps it is quite hard explain such experiences in the end.

“I will say this,” he adds after a second or two. “Those performances, those golden days, they make up for all the times upon waking unable to rise, when your body hurts. They’re deserved therefore. All the catches is held, all the LBs are given, fans are supportive and it feels like your moment to shine.”

Steyn retired in 2021; an avid skateboarder, surfer angler, he gets excitement in other ways than fast bowling these days. He has also recently turned a father newly. His head sleeps weary but content daily, yet there is one feeling he misses.

“It feels like an instinct nearly. You sense like you have this incredible power in those moments. You perceive the fear and the thrill and you realize that you’re the cause.”

And then more specifically: “There’s this moment when the ball leaves your fingers, you know it since it’s been released countless times, I can picture it … as it finishes leaving your grip right at the end, you feel your finger rub down the seam and it lets go, in your mind you know immediately that this is a good ball, that it will likely result in a wicket. That’s the feeling I yearn for.”