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South African fast bowler Kagiso Rabada has created history in the second Test against Australia by completing 200 Test wickets on home soil. He has become only the fourth South African bowler to achieve this milestone. However, Rabada narrowly missed breaking Dale Steyn’s record for the fewest matches required to reach 200 home Test wickets.
Rabada achieved the landmark on Day 4 of the second Test against Australia. Although he needed one more match than Steyn to reach the milestone, he surpassed the former South African pacer in terms of the number of balls bowled.
Kagiso Rabada Reaches 200 Test Wickets on Home Soil
Rabada has taken 200 wickets in 38 Test matches played in South Africa. His impressive bowling average of 20.06 highlights his consistency and effectiveness in home conditions.
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The fast bowler has also registered 10 five-wicket hauls on South African soil, demonstrating his ability to deliver match-winning performances in familiar conditions.
With this achievement, Rabada has joined an elite group of South African bowlers who have taken at least 200 Test wickets at home.
Dale Steyn Retains Record for Fastest 200 Home Test Wickets
Dale Steyn remains the fastest South African bowler to complete 200 Test wickets on home soil in terms of matches played. He reached the milestone in just 37 Tests, while Rabada required 38 matches.
However, Rabada has surpassed Steyn in terms of deliveries bowled to reach the 200-wicket mark. Rabada achieved the feat in 7,017 balls, whereas Steyn needed 7,751 deliveries.
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Rabada vs Steyn: Who Reached 200 Wickets in Fewer Balls?
Although Steyn reached the milestone in fewer matches, Rabada took fewer deliveries to complete 200 home Test wickets. This highlights Rabada’s effectiveness as a wicket-taking bowler in South African conditions.
The comparison highlights two different records: Steyn remains ahead in terms of matches played, while Rabada leads in terms of balls bowled to reach the milestone.
Most Test Wickets for South Africa at Home
The list of South African bowlers with the most Test wickets on home soil features some of the country’s greatest bowling legends.
| Bowler | Test Wickets at Home |
|---|---|
| Dale Steyn | 261 |
| Makhaya Ntini | 249 |
| Shaun Pollock | 235 |
| Kagiso Rabada | 200 |
Rabada will now aim to move further up the list and challenge the records set by South Africa’s legendary fast bowlers.
Kagiso Rabada’s Overall Test Wicket Record
Rabada has taken 344 wickets in Test cricket so far and continues to be one of South Africa’s most important fast bowlers.
Among active fast bowlers, he ranks second for the most Test wickets, behind Australia’s Mitchell Starc, who has taken 451 wickets. Rabada has also become South Africa’s fourth-highest wicket-taker in Test cricket.
His pace, accuracy and ability to take wickets in different conditions have made him a key figure in South Africa’s Test setup.
SA vs AUS 2nd Test Day 4 Report: Australia Struggle to Avoid Defeat
While Rabada celebrated his historic achievement, Australia remained under immense pressure in the second Test.
South Africa declared their first innings at 425 runs in the rain-affected match. Australia then suffered a major batting collapse, getting bowled out for just 99 runs in their first innings.
By the end of Day 4, Australia had reached 156/4 in their second innings but still trailed South Africa by 170 runs. The visitors needed another 170 runs to avoid an innings defeat.
South Africa will look to finish the match strongly on the final day, while Australia must produce a determined batting performance to stay in the contest.
Rabada’s milestone has added another significant chapter to his Test career, even as South Africa remain in a strong position to secure victory.
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