Kagiso Rabada creates history, breaks 61-year-old record; becomes first player in world to register rare feat

Online Sports Desk

Kagiso Rabada created history on the fourth day of play in the second Test match between South Africa and Australia at the St. George Park in Gqeberha on Wednesday (October 21), as a remarkable display by the home team’s bowling attack has put the hosts on the cusp of an unlikely win in the rain-hit Test match. The ace pacer completed 200 Test wickets on South African soil during Australia’s first innings.

While Marco Jansen stole the headlines with a stunning five-for as the visitors were bowled out for just 99 runs, Rabada played an integral role with a fiery spell in which he took two wickets (2-33 in 12 overs) by dismissing Scot Boland and Mitchell Starc. He also got two dismissals before stumps in the second innings, dismissing Nic Madisson and Matt Renshaw.

Kagiso Rabada Creates History

Rabada completed 200 Test wickets in South Africa and became the fourth player to achieve the feat after Shaun Pollock, Makhaya Ntini, and Dale Steyn. Overall, the Proteas star has become only the 26th bowler in the history of Test cricket to take 200 wickets in one country (all at home).

Among the 26 bowlers with 200 home wickets, Rabada is the first to have a strike rate (SR) below 40. The record was previously held by Steyn, but the South African star has beaten it by a good distance with an incredible SR of 35.

Best Bowling Strike Rate Among Players With 200 Test Wickets At Home

*stats at stumps on Day 4 of second Test between South Africa and Australia

Meanwhile, Rabada’s bowling average (19.9) is the second-best in history and the best among pacers. Only Muttiah Muralitharan, the highest wicket-taker in Test cricket, had a better average in home conditions (Sri Lanka). England’s Fred Trueman, who last played at home 61 years ago, held the record among pacers, which Rabada has breached as things stand (stumps on Day 4). No pacer before him has crossed the 200-wicket mark in one country while averaging below 20.

Best Bowling Average Among Players With 200 Test Wickets At Home

*Stats at stumps on Day 4 of the second Test between South Africa and Australia

Rabada has played 74 Tests in his career and has 344 wickets, with an SR of 39.4 is the best among the 42 players with over 300 wickets. Meanwhile, his average (21.96) is the fifth-best in the elite list.