South Africa’s lethal weapon Dale Steyn has vowed to live up to his ambition and become the quickest bowler in the world after shooting to No.2 in the world rankings.

Steyn, 24, currently has 105 wickets in 20 Tests at an average of 21.80. He was the quickest South African to reach the three-figure landmark and now wants to be the fastest in another way.

“I love the buzz of bowling fast,” he told the Wisden Cricketer magazine. “Yes, I do get a thrill from it. Morne Morkel is incredibly quick too and that spurs me on.

“You think you’ve got to bowl quicker than the other guys because you don’t want to lose your place in the team. Even the franchises are producing quick bowlers.

“The selectors have got a good thing going. Now I want to be the quickest in the world.”

Steyn has been man of the series in South Africa’s last three Test series, at home against New Zealand and West Indies, then away in Bangladesh. He tours India this month and then goes to England in June.