Ten South African Players With One Or Less Than 10-Wicket Haul In Test Cricket (Min 100 Wickets)

South Africa has produced some of cricket's most lethal and skilful test bowlers. These bowlers have been instrumental in the success of the South African cricket team, helping them achieve incredible feats in the international cricket arena. The phenomenal bowling performances of Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel, Makhaya Ntini and Vernon Philander played a crucial role in holding the number-one rank for 147 weeks, winning the Test series in Australia and many more. Despite this, it would be bizarre to learn that a few great bowlers of South Africa who achieved a remarkable feat of 100 test wickets have one or nil 10-wicket haul in their career. Here is the list of those players who trembled batsman with their skills but only achieved one or less than 10-wicket hauls in the history of test cricket.

1. Shaun Pollock

Shaun Pollock was inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of fame, recognising "the achievements of the legends of the game from cricket's long and illustrious history" in November 2021. He is joint 10th in all-time best-ever bowling ratings in ICC Ratings. Pollock is a right-arm medium bowler and one of the great all-rounders South Africa has ever produced. He played in 202 innings of 108 test matches, took 421 wickets and had a bowling average of 23.11. He took only one  10-wicket-haul with his best figure 10/147 against India in 2001.

2. Morne Morkel

Morkel was a towering fast bowler who could generate high levels of bounce and pace, making him a formidable opponent for any batsman. His test figures include 309 wickets in 86 matches at an average of 27.66. He played a vital role in South Africa's bowling attack for many years. He retired from international cricket in 2018 after a successful 12-year career that saw him become one of the world's most respected and admired fast bowlers. Morne Morkel has not had any 10-wicket haul in his 12-year career. His best figures were 9/110 against Australia in 2018.

3. Jacques Kallis

Jacques Kallis was a legendary all-rounder in cricket, and his bowling performance was just as remarkable as his batting. Kallis was a right-arm fast-medium bowler and also bowled occasional spin. He was particularly effective in Test cricket, where he took 291 wickets in 166 matches at an average of 32.65. Kallis, too, has no 10-wicket haul in his cricket career. His best figures were 9/92 against England in 2003.

4. Keshav Maharaj

Keshav Maharaj is a left-arm orthodox spin bowler who made his international debut in 2017. Maharaj became the fastest South African spinner to reach 100 Test wickets, achieving the feat in just 24 Test matches. He played 49 test matches taking 156 wickets with a bowling average of 32.37. Maharaj has taken only one 10-wicket haul. His best figures are 12/283 against Sri Lanka in 2018. With a few more years in his career, we can hope he achieves more 10-wicket hauls in test cricket.

5. Paul Reuben Adams

Paul Reuben Adams, commonly known as PR Adams, is a former South African cricketer who was a left-arm orthodox spin bowler. He played for South Africa in the late 1990s and early 2000s and was known for his ability to extract turn and bounce from the pitch. He played 45 tests for South Africa, taking 134 wickets at an average of 32.87. He had one 10-wicket haul against England in 1999. It remains one of the highlights of his career and is remembered as one of the great bowling performances by a South African bowler.

6. Trevor Goddard

Trevor Goddard, also known as TL Goddard, was a former South African cricketer who was a left-arm spin bowler and a left-handed batsman known for his all-around skills. He played for South Africa in the 1950s and 1960s. He played 41 tests for South Africa and took a total of 123 wickets at an average of 26.22. He has not taken any 10-wicket haul in his career. His figures in that game were 8/92.

7. Andre Nel

Andre Nel, commonly known as A Nel, is a former South African cricket player from 2001 to 2008. He was a right-arm fast bowler known for his aggressive and fiery temperament on the field. He has played 36 tests for South Africa and took 123 wickets, averaging 31.86. He has only one 10-wicket haul in his career. His best figures were 10/88 against England in 2008.

8. Peter Pollock

Peter Pollock, also known as PM Pollock, is a former South African cricketer who played for the national team from 1963 to 1973. He was a right-arm fast bowler known for his accuracy and ability to move the ball both ways. He played 28 tests for South Africa and took a total of 116 wickets at an average of 24.18. He has only one 10-wicket haul in his entire career. His best figures were 10/87 against Australia in 1970.

9. Neil Adcock

Neil Adcock, also popularly known as NAT Adcock, was a right-arm fast bowler known for his ability to swing the ball at a lively pace. He played 26 tests and took 104 wickets at an average of 21.10. He had only one 10-wicket haul in his entire career. His best figures were 8/87 against England in 1960.

10. Paul Harris

Paul Harris, commonly known as PL Harris, was a left-arm orthodox spinner known for his accuracy and ability to extract, turn and bounce from the surface. Harris was a master of flight and drift, and he used his variations in pace and length to outfox the batters. He played 37 Tests for South Africa and took 103 wickets at an average of 37.87. He doesn't have any 10-wicket hauls in his career. His best figures are against Australia, where he took 7/117.