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Highest Wicket-Takers For South Africa In Test: South Africa has a long and interesting cricket history. They played their first Test match in the 1888–89 season but struggled to achieve success in the early years. In 1970, the International Cricket Council (ICC) banned South Africa from international cricket due to the country’s apartheid policies.
The ban lasted until 1991, when the team was allowed to return. Since then, South Africa has become a strong team in world cricket, producing some of the best players, especially fast bowlers.
Over the years, six South African bowlers have taken more than 300 wickets in Test matches, with two of them going beyond 400 wickets.
Let’s take a look at these top wicket-takers
6. Kagiso Rabada – 302* wickets
Kagiso Rabada is the latest South African bowler to reach the 300-wicket milestone in Test cricket. He achieved this in October 2024 during a match against Bangladesh in Dhaka. Rabada is the fastest in terms of balls bowled to reach this milestone.
So far, he has played 65* Test matches and taken 302 wickets at an average of 21.95, with a strike rate of 39.25. He also has 14 five-wicket hauls. Among all bowlers with over 300 Test wickets, Rabada has the best strike rate and one of the best bowling averages.
5. Morne Morkel – 309 wickets
Morne Morkel was a tall fast bowler known for generating extra bounce, even on slow pitches. He played 86 Test matches and took 309 wickets at an average of 27. Morkel had eight five-wicket hauls in his career.
4. Allan Donald – 330 wickets
Allan Donald, also known as ‘White Lightning,’ was one of the most dangerous fast bowlers of the 1990s. He troubled batsmen with his extreme pace and aggression.
Donald played 72 Test matches and took 330 wickets at an average of 22. He also claimed 20 five-wicket hauls. His famous battle with England’s Michael Atherton at Trent Bridge in 1998 remains one of the most memorable bowling spells in Test cricket.
3. Makhaya Ntini – 390 wickets
Makhaya Ntini was a determined fast bowler and a role model for many young cricketers in South Africa, especially for people of color.
Ntini used his unique bowling style to swing the ball into right-handed batsmen. He played 101 Test matches, taking 390 wickets at an average of 28. He also picked up 18 five-wicket hauls.
2. Shaun Pollock – 421 wickets
Shaun Pollock was the first South African bowler to take more than 400 wickets in Test cricket. He played 108 Test matches between 1995 and 2008 and took 421 wickets at an average of 23. Pollock also had 16 five-wicket hauls in his career.
1. Dale Steyn – 439 wickets
Dale Steyn was one of the most dangerous fast bowlers of his time. Known for his aggressive bowling and energetic celebrations, he was a nightmare for batsmen.
Steyn broke Pollock’s record to become South Africa’s highest wicket-taker in Test cricket. He played 93 Test matches from 2004 to 2019, taking 439 wickets at an average of 22.95. Steyn also holds the record for the most five-wicket hauls (26) by a South African bowler in Test cricket history.
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