Top 5 wicket takers for South Africa in tests

By claiming the wicket of Bangladesh’s opener Tamim Iqbal, Dale Steyn became the fastest bowler to reach 400 wickets in tests, equaling Richard Hadlee’s record of 80 tests. Steyn is probably the best bowler of his generation, who has both, pace and accuracy, and picks up wickets whenever he is handed over the ball. But, he is still not the highest wicket-taker for South Africa. Through this article, Essentially Sports takes you through top 5 wicket takers of South Africa.

5) Jacques Kallis

Being an all-rounder and still featuring in this list, speaks a lot about the caliber of this great legend. Jacques Kallis is the broad-shouldered colossus of the South African team, a figure whose looming presence inspires calm in some and dread in others. He is probably the best all-rounder ever to have played the game. With a body structure like that, he bowled at a decent pace and very tight lines and would sometimes surprise the batsmen with his effort deliveries which, hurried the onto the batsmen. Kallis has taken 292 wickets in 166 matches at an average of 32.65.4) Allan Donald

Allan Donald has the best average amongst the bowlers being featured in this list. If the credit for South Africa’s success in the modern era could be given to one player, that cricketer would be him. Donald had a classic action and bowled with pace and his ability to shape the ball away kept the batsman guessing. Inevitably, he was over bowled and the injuries began to accumulate in the twilight of his career. He ended with 330 wickets from 72 matches at an astonishing average of 22.25.

3) Makhaya Ntini

Makhaya Ntini seemed to possess few of the standard attributes of the successful fast bowler. He packs neither express pace nor the drip torture of infallible accuracy, not even a quiver brimming with variation. What he does have, though, is almost 400 Test wickets. Ntini relies on perseverance and just keeps coming at the batsman. The never give up attitude is responsible for the huge amount of wickets that he has garnered. Ntini picked 390 wickets in 101 test matches at an average of 28.82.

2) Dale Steyn

Dale Steyn is the second South African bowler to take 400 wickets. With the gift of pace and the ability to move the ball, he has the ability to destroy any batting lineup. Steyn has deservingly been the spearhead of the South African bowling attack and with the age on his side, he can become the greatest fast bowler ever. He has 402 wickets from 80 matches at an excellent average of 22.48.

1) Shaun Pollock

Shaun Pollock is inarguably the best of the South African bowlers. He didn’t have express pace, but the immaculate line and length and the ability to seam the ball both ways caused enough trouble for the batsman. Pollock underperformed as a batsman throughout his career, but he would still have been picked in the team because of his capability as a bowler. He picked up 421 wickets in 108 tests at an average of 23.11.