Kagiso Rabada becomes South Africa’s second‑fastest bowler to claim 350 Test wickets

South Africa fast bowler Kagiso Rabada has reached a major milestone, becoming the second‑fastest Proteas bowler to take 350 Test wickets. The 31‑year‑old accomplished the feat on the fifth day of the deciding third Test against Australia at Newlands in Cape Town on Saturday, 31 October.

Rabada sealed his 350th Test wicket in his 75th match, removing Australia’s Travis Head for 14 runs in the second innings. Head was caught by Marco Jansen at fourth slip, marking a memorable moment for the South African speedster.

Rabada’s breakthrough came with a blistering opening spell in Australia’s fourth innings. He removed Matt Renshaw for a duck and then trapped Marnus Labuschagne leg‑before for four. The dismissal of Travis Head in the seventh over gave him his third wicket of the innings and pushed his career total to 350.

Dale Steyn remains South Africa’s fastest bowler to 350 Test wickets

Rabada now sits behind the legendary South African paceman Dale Steyn as the fastest Proteas bowlers to hit 350 Test wickets. Steyn reached the mark in 69 matches, six fewer than Rabada.

Former South African greats Shaun Pollock and Makhaya Ntini also eclipsed 350 wickets, doing so in 86 and 90 Tests respectively.

Globally, Sri Lanka’s spin great Muttiah Muralitharan and India’s Ravichandran Ashwin share the record for the fastest 350‑wicket haul, both achieving it in 66 matches.

Rabada moves closer to surpassing Steyn’s South African Test‑wicket record

The feat reinforces Rabada’s standing among South Africa’s premier fast bowlers. Dale Steyn still tops the national list with 439 Test wickets, followed by Shaun Pollock (421) and Makhaya Ntini (390).

Rabada also boasts a formidable record against Australia, having taken 64 wickets in 12 Tests before this series. Dale Steyn holds the national record for most Test wickets versus Australia with 70. Rabada’s latest milestone moves him closer to that benchmark as he continues to cement his legacy in world cricket.

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