Calcutta: Modern-day great Dale Steyn, who entered the 400 Test wickets club on Thursday, recently spoke to The Telegraph.

Steyn is 32.

Excerpts...

Q Whatever the yardstick, you're regarded as a legend. What's your definition of greatness?

A Look, I don't often think of myself as a great. Don't think of myself as a legend... Just being around great players is cool. I do like to set standards, but have never been a numbers person. That's not me.

Who would you call a great?

Great players are those who make a massive contribution over a period of time... They do so on a regular basis. More than greatness, it's the impact you make that matters. Of course, good players can make a great impact over a short period of time.

Looking back on a career of 10-plus years at the international level, what has worked for you?

More than adding to skill and maintaining fitness, it has been the presence of big performers around me... AB de Villiers, Jacques Kallis, Mark Boucher... I've always believed that if you hang around such greats, then you feed off their energy. By watching and learning, your own performance goes up.

How have you handled the pressure of being South Africa's premier bowler, not for a season or two, but years?

You can't keep the pressure away, so just accept it. That, indeed, has been my mantra.

There were high expectations from you in this year's World Cup, but did you make the impact (11 wickets at 31.45 apiece) you would have liked?

Obviously, I was disappointed. You put in four years of hard work, lose one match (the semi-final, against New Zealand) and you're on the way home. I accept that there can only be one winner, but a World Cup comes every four years. It's not, say, like the IPL... It's not an annual feature. Losing in the World Cup really hurts, for a fast bowler may play in no more than three editions.

You've played in two World Cups and have already said that you'd like to play in one more...

I'd like to, but 2019 is far down the road. Three years on, I could feel the same way as Kallis did in 2014. He'd been wanting to play in this year's World Cup, but eventually felt he wouldn't be the ideal man for another crack at the No.1 tournament. I can't, at this stage, say how I'll feel in 2018.

'Impact', for you, is the key word...

Let me give you an example from T20, the newest format. A bowler could go for 50 runs in 3.4 overs, but wickets in each of his last two deliveries would stop the opposition, requiring two runs to win, from doing so. That's a great impact, isn't it?

While on T20, has the format made even a great like you think and work harder?

The format has certainly challenged me. I've been around at the international level for over a decade, but I try to learn from bowlers who're successful in T20. Batsmen, too, look to do the same. I'm sure batsmen from across the world look at AB and see what they can learn from him. T20 has opened my eyes and I look at evolving as a bowler. No matter what my CV reads, I need to add to my skill. If I don't, the rest in the trade will catch up.

So, the process of learning never stops...

Absolutely.

Owing to the restriction on the number of overseas players in the XI, you've had to sit out in many of the IPL matches for the Sunrisers Hyderabad. Has that been frustrating?

My philosophy is to grab opportunities with both hands. Also, I don't need to play to make a difference. I could do so in other ways. Off the field, as well. But, yes, I love to play... Love being out on the park. I've played in all eight editions of the IPL, but haven't been part of a winning franchise. Next season, maybe.

Trent Boult, your teammate at the Sunrisers, has looked up to you. How do you rate him?

I've enjoyed Trent's company. He's quite a crazy guy and reminds me of the time I was at his age (26). Just wild... If he continues to be himself and takes that on to the field, he'll get even better.

What's special about Boult?

Trent is genuinely talented and has that spark about him. There's something different about the guy and he lands the ball in the right areas. Predictably, then, he picks up a lot of wickets. He bowls with so much confidence. Besides, Brendon (McCullum, the New Zealand captain) has so much faith in him. He's a performer who, well, does crazy things.

Besides Boult, is there somebody you sort of admire?

Mitchell Starc. In the World Cup, Boult and Starc brought the yorker back in the spotlight. Both are left-armers and the angle they bowl is different from mine. They're worth watching all the way.

What has made the difference for Starc?

Starc's ability to strike with the full ball. He bowls straight and attacks the stumps. If you miss, he hits. His yorkers go straight and I quite like the bouncer he bowls.

Test cricket, I assume, is your No.1 format...

I've tried to make myself available for every Test match. In fact, I don't think I've missed one in the last six or so years. It's a format where you can't deviate from the basics and you're forced to continuously maintain line and length. Because of the demands of Test cricket, I have to be smart with the body.

Morne Morkel had an outstanding World Cup (17 wickets). The two of you give that extra potency to South Africa's attack...

Morne's a great. He's tall and brings a different perspective to our attack. Then, he's really quick.

You must be disappointed that Allan Donald recently decided not to continue as South Africa's bowling coach. Your thoughts?

It's a pity that Allan has decided to step down. He's been a legend and one of my favourites.

In terms of the thinking, does a batsman-captain make it tougher for fast bowlers?

These days, captains give their bowlers complete freedom to set the field. A lot of captains do stand at mid off and advise their bowlers, but it all comes down to the bowler himself. Some like bowling straight yorkers, some bowl them wide, while some don't like bowling yorkers at all.

You've been around at the highest level for over a decade. Isn't there a big change in the way players approach the game today?

There's more aggression... We see more totals of 400 in ODIs... Teams have been chasing down totals in Test cricket more easily... In 2015, you never know what's a safe total.

Have you noticed a change in the mindset of the bowlers in India?

They're definitely more aggressive. Not by way of swearing and being in-your-face, but aggressive with their line and length and their bouncers. Perhaps, the IPL has helped in this. I say that because young fast bowlers spend five-seven weeks with the world's best and have an excellent opportunity to learn from them. There's a wealth of information out in the dressing room and the ones who're smart won't be found wanting.

The last one... Your advice to the younger lot...

Continuously land the ball in the right areas, stay fit... Enjoy what you're doing, have fun... The moment you start putting pressure on yourself, you forget why you took to cricket in the first place. It would be very difficult if you began thinking the entire world's burden rested on your shoulders. You won't be able to move forward.