Kagiso Rabada Achieves Milestone with 200 Test Wickets at Home
Rabada Joins Elite Club with 200 Home Wickets
Kagiso Rabada, the South African fast bowler, has etched his name in history by becoming the fourth Proteas player to secure 200 Test wickets on home turf. This achievement comes after his return to competitive cricket following the IPL final, where he claimed the wickets of Nic Maddison and Mitchell Starc, finishing with impressive figures of 2/33 in 12 overs. Over 38 Tests played at home, Rabada has amassed 200 wickets at an average of 20.06, including 10 five-wicket hauls and four ten-wicket hauls, with his best bowling figures recorded at 7/112. He now joins the ranks of South African greats such as Dale Steyn (261 wickets), Makhaya Ntini (249), and Shaun Pollock.
In total, Rabada has taken 342 wickets across 74 Tests, maintaining an average of 22.01, which includes 17 five-wicket hauls and four ten-wicket hauls, with his best figures still standing at 7/112. He ranks as the fourth-highest wicket-taker for the Proteas in Test history.
Proteas Fightback in Gqeberha Test
In the ongoing match, the Proteas have mounted a significant comeback, enforcing a follow-on after the Australian team was dismissed for a mere 99 runs in their first innings. Steven Smith was the only Australian batsman to score above 20, managing 28 runs off 88 balls, while Marco Jansen (5/33), Rabada (2/33), and Wiaan Mulder (2/13) dismantled the Australian batting lineup.
Earlier in their first innings, the Proteas found themselves struggling at 110/6 on day three, with rain disrupting play for the first two days. However, captain Temba Bavuma played a crucial role, scoring 179 runs off 334 balls, supported by a 132-run partnership with Marco Jansen (85 runs off 100 balls) and a 183-run partnership with Simon Harmer (82 runs off 157 balls). This effort propelled the Proteas to a total of 425/9 declared, a remarkable turnaround considering Scott Boland's earlier performance (5/81) against them.
Currently, Australia leads the three-match series 1-0, but the Proteas have a strong opportunity to level the series with one day remaining in the Test.