Dale Steyn Hails Ottneil Baartman as SA20's Standout Bowler
South African pace legend praises Baartman's consistency and says his simple, disciplined approach has earned him success across formats.
Ottneil Baartman, the leading wicket-taker in the four-season history of the SA20, has found a fan in South African legend Dale Steyn, with whom he has worked in the past at Sunrisers Eastern Cape. Baartman, who has claimed 61 wickets across four seasons, dismissed 20 batters in just nine matches during his maiden stint for the Paarl Royals in the 2025-26 edition and played a significant role in David Miller and Co. reaching the second qualifier before they were knocked out by the eventual champions, Sunrisers Eastern Cape.
Steyn was left impressed by Baartman's ability to land the ball in the right area consistently, which has been one of the key reasons why the 33-year-old has been able to take wickets regardless of the match situation or the tournament he is playing in. “I’m always looking at guys who can consistently land the ball in the right area. The thing about T20 cricket is that you can bowl badly and still pick up wickets. You can get your bad ball caught on the boundary or something like that,” Steyn said, speaking to SA20.
“But for me, somebody like Ottneil Baartman, what he’s done season after season has earned him a spot in that South African team. I’m looking at guys who can consistently land the ball in the hot zone for a long period of time.”
Baartman’s very ability has seen him soar up the bowling charts in the United States, where he is playing the Major League Cricket for the Seattle Orcas. He has taken 16 wickets in eight matches at a strike-rate of 10.87. Baartman’s consistency, as he has shown for every team he has represented, has been instrumental in the Orcas’ run in the ongoing edition, with the franchise currently sitting second on the points table.
Steyn believes that Baartman’s ability to keep things simple, makes him a standout bowler and one of the best in the current crop. “If you go and look at his numbers, and you look at the games and the crunch matches that he’s won, he’s probably the standout bowler in the SA20, along with Marco Jansen, across all four seasons,” he said.
“If you went back four seasons and asked who would be the best bowler in the country, you would probably have thought of Kagiso Rabada or some of the other big names. But Ottneil Baartman has probably been my standout and one of my favourite bowlers to watch in the competition, simply because of his ability to keep it simple, which is an incredibly difficult skill, and then throw in just enough variation to get himself a wicket or two.”
Baartman, who comes from a small town in the Western Cape, said that keeping your head down and doing the basics well in the fast-paced T20 format is the only way to succeed as a bowler, and that remains his sole focus.
“When the ball is flying everywhere, you just have to keep your head down and stay consistent,” Baartman explained. “Consistency is key for me, just doing what I do as well as possible and not trying to complicate things. I think if you commit to one specific ball or one specific plan, that can change the game,” he added.
Steyn added that Baartman’s journey and subsequent success will inspire and motivate young, aspiring cricketers from smaller towns across the country to take up the sport.