Cape Town - Star Proteas bowler Dale Steyn feels that the pressure of becoming the country's highest wicket-taker in Test cricket has become somewhat of a "burden".

READ: Steyn set to retire from ODIs after 2019 CWC

In the recently concluded two-match Test series against Sri Lanka - which saw the Proteas lose 2-0 - Steyn only picked up two wickets.

The 35-year-old tied Shaun Pollock as the Proteas' leading Test wicket-taker on 421 dismissals in the first Test in Galle.

He now requires just one more wicket to surpass Pollock.

Steyn says he doesn't understand why everyone is consumed with him getting the lone wicket to surpass Pollock.

"Actually, it's like a bit of a burden now," he told Reuters in an interview.

"I hope it just gets out of the way and we can just carry on. Because there's more wickets in me than 421. I have got 500 plus on the horizon so I don't know why we are so consumed on one number.

"When I am bowling it's like 'you're gonna get there, you're gonna get there'. I know I am, but I'm not interested in getting there," said Steyn.

"What I am interested in doing is performing well for my country, taking wickets and winning cricket games. If I can do that, those records, that fame and all the other things you want with professional sport will come."

Steyn will have to wait until December to become the highest wicket-taker in South African Test history when the Proteas take on Pakistan in their Boxing Day Test at SuperSport Park.