Top 5 South African bowlers with most 5-wicket hauls in test cricket

South Africa made their debut in test cricket in 1889.

In test cricket, registering a five-wicket haul or a “fifer” is one of the most proud moments for any bowler.

The test format is known for its toiling nature that tests the endurance and patience of the players for a long period of time. When a bowler steps up for his team to claim the bulk of the opposition’s wickets, it not only dismantles the batting lineup, but also helps other bowlers in the team gain control and bowl with better discipline.

South Africa is known to produce fast and bouncy pitches that assist fast bowlers. The seam movement and carry available on these surfaces help the pacers bring various modes of dismissal into play.

Throughout their rich cricketing history, South Africa has been home to several world-class bowlers, mostly seamers, who have not only performed excellently at home but have also dominated in away test matches.

On that note let’s look at the top five South African bowlers with the most five-wicket hauls in test cricket.

Top five South African bowlers with the most five-wicket hauls in test cricket:

5. Shaun Pollock – 16

Known for his impeccable discipline with line and length, Shaun Pollock took 16 test fifers in his career. Pollock was a master of swing bowling and dismantled oppositions in his new balls spells. Pollock’s speciality lay in extracting full assistance of the new shiny ball.

He played 108 tests, amassing over 400 wickets, a feat that placed him among South Africa’s greatest bowlers.

4. Kagiso Rabada – 16

Leader of the current South African pace attack, Kagiso Rabada has picked up 16 test fifers in his career. What is exciting about Rabada is the fact that he is still 29 years old and has a few more years of test cricket in him, which would see him climb further on this list.

Rabada is known for his pace and accuracy. He made his test debut in 2015 against India and quickly became an international sensation with his match-winning spells. In his 66-match career, Rabada has taken 313 wickets at an excellent bowling average of 21.49.

3. Makhaya Ntini – 18

Makhaya Ntini was South Africa’s first black African international cricketer. Having made his debut in 1998, Ntini picked up 18 test fifers in his career.

Ntini bowled relentlessly with a never-say-die approach. His contribution to South African cricket is beyond statistics, as he inspired a generation of cricketers of colour.

Ntini played 101 test matches in his career, picking up 390 wickets at an average of 28.82.

2. Allan Donald – 20

Famously known as the “White Lightning,” Allan Donald picked up 20 test fifers in his career. Donald was one of the fastest bowlers in the world during the 1990s.

Donald debuted in 1992 and played 72 tests. He finished his career in 2002 with 330 wickets at an impressive bowling average of 22.25. Donald’s pace and his ability to generate extra bounce on flat pitches made him a nightmare for the batsmen.

1. Dale Steyn – 26

One of the most complete fast bowlers of the 21st century, Dale Steyn took the most test five-wicket hauls (26) for South Africa. Steyn was a formidable force with the ball, dismantling the opposition with pace coupled with swing and seam movement.

Steyn’s ability to get new-ball swing as well as reverse swing made him a deadly weapon that his captain could turn to. Steyn finished with 439 test wickets, the most for his country, in 93 tests at an exceptional bowling average of 22.95.

(All stats updated till 1st November, 2024)

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