Highest Wicket-Takers For South Africa In Test: The South African cricket team has a storied history, and quite a fascinating one. They made their Test debut in the 1888–89 season but were mostly bereft of any success. In 1970, the ICC imposed a ban on the South African cricket team due to the anti-apartheid movement.
The ICC reinstated the Proteas into international cricket in 1991, and they came back much stronger, gaining tremendous success, barring an ICC trophy.
South Africa have produced several legendary cricketers, including fast bowlers. The factory of world-class speedsters who have played for South Africa entails some of the greatest names of all time.
Out of them, six bowlers managed to take over 300 Test wickets, and two of them went on to take over 400 scalps in the longest format. In this article, we will look at them.
Top 6 highest Wicket-Takers For South Africa In Test cricket:
6. Kagiso Rabada – 302*
Kagiso Rabada is the latest entrant to the 300 Test wickets club. He achieved this feat in October 2024 during a Test match against Bangladesh in Dhaka. In terms of balls, Rabada is the fastest to get to the 300-wicket milestone.
So far, in 65* Test matches, Rabada has taken 302 wickets at an average of 21.95 and a strike rate of 39.25 with 14 five-wicket hauls. Among the 39 bowlers with over 300 Test wickets, Rabada has the fifth-best average and the best strike rate!
5. Morne Morkel – 309
Lanky fast bowler Morne Morkel used his height to great effect to extra bounce even on lifeless surfaces in all parts of the world. Morkel snapped 309 wickets in 86 Tests at an average of 27, taking 8 five-wicket hauls in his career.
4. Allan Donald – 330
Nicknamed ‘While Lighting,’ Allan Donald was one of the deadliest bowlers in the 1990s who terrorized batsmen with his raw pace.
Donald played 72 Tests, in which he snared 330 wickets at an average of 22. The right-arm speedster bagged 20 five-wicket hauls in his Test career. Donald’s battle with Michael Atherton in the 1998 at Trent Bridge is one of the most compelling spells of all time in Test cricket.
3. Makhaya Ntini – 390
An underrated star but one of the best South African bowlers, fast bowler Makhaya Ntini was a serious competitor and a role model in South African cricket, especially for the people of color.
The seamer used the width of the crease well to generally bowl inswingers and deliveries that nipped back into the right-handers. He picked up 390 Test wickets in 101 matches at an average of 28 and also registered 18 five-fors.
2. Shaun Pollock – 421 wickets
Shaun Pollock was the first Protea bowler to breach the 400-wicket mark in Test cricket. Pollock, who played 108 Tests from 1995 to 2008, finished his career with 421 Test wickets, taken at an average of 23 with 16 five-wicket hauls.
1. Dale Steyn – 439
Dale Steyn was one of the most ferocious bowlers of the 21st century and arguably the most potent one of his era. Known for his chain-thumping celebrations.
Steyn broke Pollock’s record and ended his career as the highest wicket-taker for South Africa in Test cricket with 439 scalps, which he collected in 93 Tests at an average of 22.95. Steyn, who played from 2004 to 2019, bagged 26 five-fors in his Test career, the most five-wicket haul by a South African bowler in Test history.
Get the Latest Cricket Updates at IceCric.News. Also, Follow Our Social Media for Live Updates – Facebook & Instagram.
