Everyone would agree that Test Cricket is the most significant and most challenging format of cricket. The players who have played 100+ test matches are considered the greatest cricketers of all time. The article talks about the top 10 South African players who have played the highest number of Test matches.

1. JH Kallis

Jacques Henry Kallis is a former all-rounder with a bowling style of right-arm fast-medium. He is a right-hand batsman who made his test debut on 14 December 1995 against England. The batsman played 165 matches and scored 13206 runs and  also took 291 wickets in his career. Kallis played his last test on 30 December 2013 against India at Durban.

2. MV Boucher

Mark Verdon Boucher is a former wicket-keeper and right-hand batsman.He made his test debut on 17 October 1997 against Pakistan at Sheikhupura. Boucher played 146 matches and scored 5498 runs. His record of 555 dismissals in test matches is the only such record till now.The batsman played his last test on 27 March 2012 against New Zealand at Wellington.

3. HM Amla

Hashim Mohamed Amla played in the South African cricket team as a right-hand batsman. He played most of the time as a top-order batsman. Amla made his test debut on 28 November 2002 against India at Kolkata. The batsman played 124 matches and scored 9282 runs. He played his last test on 23 February 2019 against Sri Lanka at Port Elizabeth.

4. GC Smith

Greame Craig Smith is a former left-hand batsman. He played as an opener for his team throughout his career. He made his debut in 2002 against Australia on the grounds of Cape town and holds the record of playing most test matches as a captain. He has played 109 test matches as a Captain of the team. The batsman played a total of 116 games and scored 9253 runs. He played his last test against Australia in Cape Town on 5 march 2014.

5. AB De Villiers

Abraham Benjamin de Villers made his test debut on 17 December 2004. AB De Villiers is famous as Mr. 360 degree for his unorthodox shots. He has also been the wicket-keeper and holds the record of maximum dismissals in a single test that was 11. The batsman played 114 matches and scored 8765 runs. He played his last test on 3 April 2018 against Australia at Johannesburg.

6. SM Pollock

Shaun Maclean Pollock is a right-arm fast bowler in the current South African Cricket Team. He made his test debut on 16 November 1995 against England at Centurion. Pollock served as the captain of the team in 2000. He has played 108 test matches and has taken 421 wickets in 202 innings. His average was 23.11. On 12 January 2008, the batsman played his last test against West Indies.

7. G Kirsten

On the grounds of Melbourne, Gary Kirsten made his test debut in 1993 against Australia. Kirsten coached the Indian team in the 2011 World Cup. The batsman played 101 test matches and scored 7289 runs. He played his last test match on 30 March 2004 against New Zealand at Wellington. Kirsten does not play now. He is a former left-hand South African batsman.

8. M Ntini

Makhaya Ntini is a former right-arm fast bowler. He played his debut match on 19 March 1998 against Sri Lanka. Ntini was the first to take ten wickets at Lord's in 2003. He played 101 games and took 390 wickets in 190 innings with an average of 28.82. The batsman played his last test on 26 December 2009 against England at Durban.

9. DW Steyn

Dale Willem Steyn made his test debut on 17 December 2004 against England at Port Elizabeth. This day marks the beginning of Steyn’s career as one of the greatest bowlers of all time. He took 439 wickets in 171 innings,  playing 93 test matches with an outstanding average of 22.95. The batsman is referred to as Steyn-Gun because of his pace. He was the number one bowler for almost six years and played his last test on 23 February 2019 against Sri Lanka at Port Elizabeth.

10. HH Gibbs

Herschelle Herman Gibbs is a former right-hand batsman. On the grounds of Kolkata, he made his test debut in 1996 against India. Gibbs is known for his explosive batting; he has smashed six sixes in an over in ODI. The batsman played 90 test matches and scored 6167 runs. He played his last test on 12 January 2008 against West Indies at Durban.