South Africa has consistently been one of the top teams in international cricket. Despite a break during apartheid, they resumed playing as if they had never left. Cricket legends like Graeme Pollock and Barry Richards could have set remarkable records. Since their return, they have excelled but are still chasing their first World Cup win. Their only ICC victory was the 1998 KnockOut Trophy. South Africa has produced some of the greatest bowlers, particularly fast bowlers.
Let’s look at the five Best South African bowlers with the most international wickets.
5. Jacques Kallis
Jacques Kallis, the legendary all-rounder, ranks fifth among South African players with the most wickets in international cricket. As a former right-arm pacer, Kallis played in 519 matches (574 innings), taking 557 wickets at an average of 32.14, including seven five-wicket hauls.
In his 166 Test matches, Kallis claimed 292 wickets, averaging 32.65, with five instances of taking five wickets in an innings. In ODIs, he took 273 wickets across 328 games, with an average of 31.79 and two five-wicket hauls. Kallis also participated in 25 T20Is, where he picked up 12 wickets, with his best performance being 4-15.
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4. Allan Donald
Allan Donald, famously known as ‘White Lightning,’ ranks fourth among South African bowlers with the most wickets in international cricket. Over his career, he played 236 matches (291 innings) and took 602 wickets at an impressive average of 22.04. His achievements include 22 five-wicket hauls and three instances of taking 10 wickets in a match.
In Test cricket, Donald participated in 72 matches, securing 330 wickets with an average of 23.63. His Test record includes 20 five-wicket hauls and three 10-wicket match performances. Additionally, in 164 ODIs, he claimed 272 wickets at an average of 21.78, with two five-wicket hauls. Donald retired from international cricket before the advent of T20 cricket.
3. Makhaya Ntini
Former fast bowler Makhaya Ntini ranks among the top three South African bowlers with the most international wickets. Throughout his career, Ntini played in 284 matches (371 innings), where he took 662 wickets at an average of 27.33. His impressive record includes 22 five-wicket hauls and four instances where he took 10 wickets in a match.
In Test cricket, Ntini played 101 matches, securing 390 wickets at an average of 28.82. He achieved 18 five-wicket hauls and four 10-wicket match hauls. In One Day Internationals (ODIs), the 47-year-old took 266 wickets in 173 matches, with an average of 24.65 and four five-wicket hauls. Ntini also appeared in 10 T20 Internationals, where he claimed six wickets, with his best figures being 2 for 22.
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2. Dale Steyn
South Africa’s fast bowling great, Dale Steyn, ranks second among Proteas bowlers for the most wickets in international cricket. Steyn participated in 265 international matches (342 innings) and claimed 699 wickets, averaging 23.37. He achieved 29 five-wicket hauls and five instances of taking 10 wickets in a match.
The former right-arm pacer excelled in Test cricket, playing 93 matches and taking 439 wickets at an average of 22.95. He secured 26 five-wicket hauls and five 10-wicket match hauls. Steyn also shone in ODIs, where he took 196 wickets in 125 matches, averaging 25.95 with three five-wicket hauls. In T20Is, the 41-year-old played 47 games, capturing 64 wickets at an impressive average of 18.35, with a best performance of 4-9.
1. Shaun Pollock
Former South African captain and all-rounder Shaun Pollock holds the record for the most wickets by a South African bowler in international cricket. Across 423 matches (510 innings), he took 829 wickets at an average of 23.73, including 21 five-wicket hauls and one instance of taking ten wickets in a match.
In Test cricket, Pollock played 108 matches and took 421 wickets, averaging 23.11, with 16 five-wicket hauls and one ten-wicket match performance. In One Day Internationals (ODIs), he claimed 393 wickets in 303 matches, with an average of 24.50 and five five-wicket hauls. Pollock, who is now 51 years old, also played in 12 T20 Internationals, where he picked up 15 wickets at an average of 20.60, with his best figures being 3-28.
Here’s a table summarizing the stats
| Player | Format | Matches | Innings | Wickets | Average | 5W | 10W | Best Bowling | Economy Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jacques Kallis | Test | 166 | 272 | 292 | 32.65 | 5 | 0 | 6/54 | 2.82 |
| ODI | 328 | 283 | 273 | 31.79 | 2 | – | 5/30 | 4.84 | |
| T20I | 25 | 25 | 12 | 27.58 | 0 | – | 4/15 | 7.00 | |
| Allan Donald | Test | 72 | 129 | 330 | 22.25 | 20 | 3 | 8/71 | 2.83 |
| ODI | 164 | 154 | 272 | 21.78 | 2 | – | 6/23 | 4.15 | |
| T20I | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | |
| Makhaya Ntini | Test | 101 | 190 | 390 | 28.82 | 18 | 4 | 7/37 | 3.23 |
| ODI | 173 | 173 | 266 | 24.65 | 4 | – | 6/22 | 4.53 | |
| T20I | 10 | 10 | 6 | 34.16 | 0 | – | 2/22 | 7.53 | |
| Dale Steyn | Test | 93 | 171 | 439 | 22.95 | 26 | 5 | 7/51 | 3.24 |
| ODI | 125 | 125 | 196 | 25.95 | 3 | – | 6/39 | 4.87 | |
| T20I | 47 | 47 | 64 | 18.35 | 0 | – | 4/9 | 6.94 | |
| Shaun Pollock | Test | 108 | 202 | 421 | 23.11 | 16 | 1 | 7/87 | 2.39 |
| ODI | 303 | 297 | 393 | 24.50 | 5 | – | 6/35 | 3.67 | |
| T20I | 12 | 12 | 15 | 20.60 | 0 | – | 3/28 | 6.78 |
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