The Proteas dominated Day 1 of the opening Test against Bangladesh in Dhaka on Monday, but the major talking point was Kagiso Rabada reaching the 300-wicket club.
A stunning delivery saw him clean bowl Mushfiqur Rahim to reach the 300 Test wicket mark, the fastest to do so in terms of balls bowled (11 817), beating out the likes of Waqar Younis (12 602) and Dale Steyn (12 605).
It was another reminder of Rabada’s class, with the 29-year-old increasing cementing himself as one of the greatest fast bowlers in the history of the game.
The only unfortunate aspect of his career to date is the fact that the Proteas have generally been limited to two-Test series, with the lopsided power dynamic in the ICC generally seeing the likes of India, Australia and England afforded the most appetising red ball fixtures.
At the lunch interval, CSA posted a special message to Rabada, stating: “Congratulations to Kagiso Rabada on reaching a monumental milestone, delivered at 13.5 overs in today’s Test against Bangladesh! Your dedication to the craft and game-changing pace continues to inspire the nation.”
Rabada become just the sixth South African bowler to take 300 Test wickets.
While his economy rate is the worst among the five bowlers to have done so previously, he does boast the best strike rate.
Up next for Rabada in the list is Morne Morkel with seven more Test scalps.
Dale Steyn leads the way … for now.
| Player | Tests | Wickets | BBI | Economy | Strike rate |
| Dale Steyn | 93 | 439 | 7/51 | 3.24 | 42.38 |
| Shaun Pollock | 108 | 421 | 7/87 | 2.39 | 57.84 |
| Makhaya Ntini | 101 | 390 | 7/37 | 3.23 | 53.42 |
| Allan Donald | 72 | 330 | 8/71 | 2.83 | 47.02 |
| Morne Morkel | 86 | 309 | 6/23 | 3.10 | 53.39 |
| Kagiso Rabada | 65* | 302 | 7/112 | 3.35 | 39.25 |
You can reflect on the special milestone for Kagiso Rabada below:
Proteas Test squad against Bangladesh
Temba Bavuma (captain, Lions), David Bedingham (Western Province), Matthew Breetzke (Warriors), Dewald Brevis (Titans), Tony de Zorzi (Western Province), Keshav Maharaj (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Aiden Markram (Titans), Wiaan Mulder (Lions), Senuran Muthusamy (Warriors), Lungi Ngidi (Titans), Dane Paterson (Western Province), Dane Piedt (Knights), Kagiso Rabada (Lions), Tristan Stubbs (Warriors), Ryan Rickelton (Lions), and Kyle Verreynne (Western Province)
Test series (times local)
21 – 25 October at 10:00
Bangladesh vs South Africa – Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Dhaka
29 October – 2 November at 10:00
Bangladesh vs South Africa – Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, Chattogra
Where does Kagiso Rabada rank among the Proteas’ greats?
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