South Africa pacer Kagiso Rabada on Thursday became the third-fastest bowler to scalp 200 wickets in Test cricket. He achieved the feat in the first Test between Pakistan and South Africa in Karachi’s National Stadium.
Kagiso Rabada became the third-fastest and fourth-youngest bowler to take 200 Test wickets.
Rabada reached the milestone on Thursday after he clean bowled Hasan Ali.
Only Waqar Younis (7725 balls) and Dale Steyn (7848 balls) needed fewer deliveries than Rabada (8154 balls) to reach the landmark, while only Waqar, Kapil Dev, and Harbhajan Singh were younger than Rabada. Of all of them, Rabada has the best strike rate of 40.8.
“It’s a massive feat to be included among a list of such names. When you start playing you don’t ever think you will be on such a list and have such statistics,” Rabada said.
Rabada is now the eighth-highest wicket-taker for the Proteas. Veteran fast bowler Dale Steyn is the leading wicket-taker for South Africa in Test cricket.
Test cricket never gets old and it never gets any easier. You are constantly challenged,” Rabada said. “It’s my first time playing Pakistan.
That’s quite amazing. It’s the only place I haven’t played at and I’m glad I could get the opportunity to play here. It’s been hard work, like any Test match, especially in the subcontinent where you have to be a lot more patient.
It tests you mentally, it tests you physically. I just got reminded of how Test cricket can impact you.
Overall, Sri Lanka legend Muttiah Muralitharan holds the record for being the leading wicket-taker in Test cricket.
Muralitharan has 800 wickets to his name and is followed by Shane Warne (708), Anil Kumble (619), James Anderson (606), and Glenn McGrath (563).
