Bowling is a crucial aspect of cricket, and List-A cricket is no exception. In this format, bowlers play a vital role in restricting the opposition and setting up victories for their teams. South Africa has produced some of the finest bowlers in the history of cricket, who have dominated List-A cricket with their skill and accuracy. In this article, we will take a look at the top 10 List-A bowlers for South Africa, based on their performances and impact on the game. These bowlers have not only taken wickets but have also controlled the flow of runs, making it difficult for batsmen to score freely. Their ability to adapt to different conditions and situations has made them indispensable for their teams, and they have helped South Africa to many memorable List-A victories over the years.
1. AA Donald
This elite list of bowlers begins with Aa Donald. Donald picked up 684 wickets in 594 matches. He had an economy rate of only 3.92 runs per over. In the 19 years of his List-A career, he scalped five wickets in an inning 12 times. He played a pivotal role in South Africa's successful campaign during the 1999 Cricket World Cup.
2. Shaun Pollock
On number two, we have Shaun Pollock with 573 wickets in 435 matches. Pollock picked up five or more wickets in an inning on 7 occasions which also includes his best bowling figures of 6/21. Besides this, he was also a useful lower-order batsman and was appointed as the captain of South Africa in 2000.
3. Clive Rice
The third spot in this list belongs to Clive Rice. Rice scalped 517 wickets with the best bowling figures of 6/18. He played 479 matches during 1970-1994 and was quite economical with the ball, leaking only 3.95 runs per over. Since he played for South Africa during the apartheid era, he was denied the opportunity to play international cricket for most of his career.
4. Makhaya Ntini
In the fourth position on this list, we have Makhaya Ntini with 388 wickets scalped in 275 matches. He was able to take 5 or more wickets in an inning on 6 different occasions. He was a right-arm fast bowler known for his raw pace, accuracy, and ability to extract bounce from the pitch.
5. Imran Tahir
With 369 wickets in only 239 matches, Imran Tahir stands tall in the fifth position of this list. His best bowling figures in List-A cricket were of 7/45 and he was able to get 5 or more batsmen out on 7 occasions. Tahir was quite famous for his energetic celebrations.
6. Andrew Hall
Next up on the list is Andrew Hall. Andrew has 365 wickets to his name in 318 matches. He bowled with an economy rate of 4.79. He was known for his ability to swing the ball both ways and for his accuracy. He was also a useful lower-order batsman.
7. Charl Langeveldt
Number 7 of this list belongs to Charl Langeveldt, who picked up 359 wickets in 233 matches. His best bowling figures were a phenomenal 5/7 and he leaked runs at an economy rate of 4.64 runs per over. He was also a part of South Africa's squad in the 2003 and 2007 Cricket World Cups and played a crucial role in the team's performance.
8. Jacques Kallis
Next bowler to make it to this list is Jacques Kallis. During his career, Jacques bagged 351 wickets in 424 matches. He was able to take 5 or more wickets in a inning thrice. Kallis is regarded as one of the greatest all-rounders in cricket history. He was a part of South Africa's squad in the 1999, 2003, 2007, and 2011 Cricket World Cups.
9. Lance Klusener
On the ninth spot, with 334 wickets, is Lance Klusener. He has the best bowling figures of 6/49 in List-A cricket and an economy rate of 4.69. He was known for his fast-medium bowling as well as aggressive batting, which made him a difficult player to face.
10. Nicky Boje
Last but not least, on the final spot of this list is Nicky Boje. Boje bagged 305 wickets in his List-A career of 321 matches. The left-arm spinner was known for his ability to flight the ball and for his accuracy, which made him a difficult bowler to face.
