The supremacy of South African bowlers has prevailed in test cricket for the last few decades. The team has some of the greatest pace bowlers who have taken wickets on every ground. Ever since the return of South Africa to international cricket in 1991, the team has produced many bowlers to go past 100+ test wickets with a good average. Let us look at the top 10 bowling averages from South African wicket-takers. Bowling average means how many runs a bowler gives to take a wicket.
1. Allan Donald
Allan Anthony Donald is a right-arm fast bowler. He started his career in 1992 against West Indies. The credit for making the South African team successful in the modern era goes to him. Donald played 72 matches and took 330 wickets in 129 innings with an average of 22.25. He passed 7344 runs in his bowling career. His career ended in 2002.
2. Vernon Philander
Vernon Darryl Philander is a right-arm fast-medium bowler. He started his career in 2011 against Australia. Philander played 64 matches, taking 224 wickets in 119 innings with an average of 22.32. The batsman gave 5000 runs in his bowling career. He retired in 2020.
3. Kagiso Rabada
Kagiso Rabada is a right-arm South African fast bowler. He started his career in 2015 against India. He is the only active cricketer in the top 10 test wicket-takers and regularly bowls at 140-150 kph. The batsman has played 47 matches taking 213 wickets in 86 innings with an average of 22.75. He has presently given 4846 runs in his bowling career.
4. Dale Steyn
Dale Willem Steyn is a right-arm fast bowler in the South African cricket team. He started his career in 2004 against England and took 439 wickets in 171 innings, playing 93 test matches with an outstanding 22.95 average. The batsman gave 10077 runs in his bowling career. He was the number one bowler for almost six years and later retired in 2019.
5. Shaun Pollock
Shaun Maclean Pollock is a right-arm fast bowler. He started his career in 1995 against England. Pollock became the captain of the team in 2000 and is among the few pace bowlers who have played 100 or more test matches. The batsman has played 108 test matches and has taken 421 wickets in 202 innings with an average of 23.11. He gave 9733 runs in his bowling career. He retired in 2008.
6. Hugh Tayfield
Hugh Joseph Tayfeild was a right-arm off-break bowler and started his career in 1949 against Australia. He is considered one of the greatest off-spinners that cricket has ever produced. Tayfield played 37 matches taking, 170 wickets in 61 innings with an average of 25.91. He gave 4405 runs in his bowling career and retired in 1960.
7. Morne Morkel
Morne Morkel is a right-arm fast bowler and played his debut match in 2006 against India. He was in the top 10 of all the ICC bowling rankings during 2011. He used to bowl at an average of 140 kph. The batsman played 86 matches, taking 309 wickets in 160 innings with an average of 27.66. He gave 8550 runs in his bowling career and retired in 2018.
8. Makhaya Ntini
Makhaya Ntini is a right-arm fast bowler. He started his career in 1998 against Sri Lanka. Ntini was the first to take ten wickets at Lord's in 2003. He played 101 matches, taking 390 wickets in 190 innings with an average of 28.82. The batsman gave 11242 runs in his bowling career and retired in 2009.
9. Hansie Cronje
Wessel Johannes Cronje was a right-arm medium pacer. He started his career in 1992 against West Indies. He was popularly known as Hanse Cronje and was involved in the match-fixing scandal. Cronje played 68 matches, taking 43 wickets at an average of 29.95. He gave 1288 runs in his bowling career and retired in 2000.
10. Adrian Neill
Andre Nel is a right-arm fast-medium bowler. He started his career in 2001 against Zimbabwe. Nel played 36 matches, taking 123 wickets at an average of 31.86. He gave 3919 runs in his bowling career and retired in 2008.
