There has never been a shortage of South African fast bowlers.

While the era or Dale Steyn & Morne Morkel has ended, the era of Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Lungi Ngidi, and Gerald Coetzee is beginning to rise.

Today we explore who the greatest South African fast bowler of all-time was, including the era of 1970-1992, the lost generation due to South Africa’s global isolation.

Let’s dive straight in.

Table of Contents

• Which South African Fast Bowlers have taken the most wickets across formats?
• Top 25 South African Fast Bowlers of All-Time (Ranked)
• South African Bowling Attack in Each ODI & T20 World Cup
• Final Thoughts
• Frequently Asked Questions

By the Numbers: Which South African Fast Bowlers Have Taken the Most Wickets Across Formats?

Across formats, fast bowlers Shaun Pollock (829), Dale Steyn (699), Makhaya Ntini (662), Allan Donald (602), Jacques Kallis (577), Morne Morkel (544), and Kagiso Rabada (495) took the most wickets for South Africa.

List of the Most Wickets by South African Fast Bowlers Across Formats

Player	Wickets
Shaun Pollock	829
Dale Steyn	699
Makhaya Ntini	662
Allan Donald	602
Jacques Kallis	577
Morne Morkel	544
Kagiso Rabada	495
Lance Klusener	272
Vernon Philander	269
Andre Nel	231
Lungi Ngidi	199
Fanie de Villiers	180
Wayne Parnell	173
Hansie Cronje	157
Andile Phehlukwayo	146
Brian McMillian	145
Anrich Nortje	144
Andrew Hall	143
Charles Langeveldt	133
Craig Matthews	131
Trevor Goddard	123
Lonwabo Tsotsobe	121
Peter Pollock	116
Neil Adcock	104
Kyle Abbott	99
Ryan McLaren	97
Chris Morris	94
Marco Jansen	85
Dwaine Pretorius	77
Nantie Hayward	75
Albie Morkel	74
Jimmy Sinclair	63
Richard Snell	63
Duanne Olivier	62
Jimmy Blanckenberg	60
Peter Heine	58
Roger Telemachus	58
Buster Nupen	50

Others: Gerald Coetzee (46), Eddie Barlow (40)

*Note: This includes wickets taken for World XI teams as well.

Also Read:

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• Top 43 Pakistan Fast Bowlers List (The Complete Guide) | Greatest Pakistani Fast Bowler of All Time (Updated 2023)
• Top 21 West Indian Fast Bowlers List (The Complete Guide) | Greatest West Indies Fast Bowler of All Time (Updated 2024)
• 155 Greatest Cricketers of All Time (Men’s): Who Is the King of Cricket? (Updated 2023)

Top 25 Greatest South African Bowlers of All-Time (Ranked)

We considered multiple aspects while ranking these pacers: (1) Longevity, (2) Stories from opposition batters, (3) Test wickets, (4) World Cup Performances (both ODI/T20I), and (4) Pace/Talent/Swing.

It was a bit difficult to incorporate the talent lost from the 1970s-1990s since these bowlers had great first-class stats without international experience to back them up. We ranked out-and-out fast bowlers with higher Test match pedigree (ex: Steyn, Donald, Morne Morkel, Rabada) higher than some of these great first-class bowlers (like Mike Procter and Vince van der Bijl). We also considered one day internationals and T20Is for more recent players.

Lots of great South African pace bowling all-rounders in this list as well. If you haven’t read the 55 greatest all-rounders of all-time article, I would suggest you check that article out as well. Clive Rice, Jacques Kallis, Mike Procter, Eddie Barlow, Lance Klusener, and Brian McMillan make both of these lists.

Here we go!

Honorable Mentions: Vincent Barnese, Trevor Goddard, Adrian Kuiper, Gerald Coetzee, Duanne Olivier, Albie Morkel

25. Jimmy Blanckenberg – 60 Wickets

• Years Played: 1913-1924
• Matches: 18 (Test)
• Wickets: 60
• Best Figures in Innings: 6/76
• 4w/5w hauls: 1/4

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24. Kyle Abbott – 99 Wickets

• Years Played: 2013-2017
• Matches: 11 (Test), 28 (ODI), 21 (T20I)
• Wickets (Test/ODI/T20I): 39/34/26
• Best Figures in Innings: 7/29 (Test), 4/21 (ODI), 3/20 (T20I)
• 4w/5w hauls: 0/3 (Test), 2/0 (ODI)

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23. Brian McMillan – 145 Wickets

• Years Played: 1991-1998
• Matches: 38 (Test), 78 (ODI)
• Wickets (Test/ODI): 75/70
• Best Figures in Innings: 4/65 (Test), 4/32 (ODI)
• 4w/5w hauls: 2/0 (Test), 1/0 (ODI)

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22. Eddie Barlow – 40 Wickets

• Years Played: 1961-1970
• Matches: 30 (Test), 283 (FC)
• Wickets (Test/FC): 40/571
• Best Figures in Innings: 5/85 (Test), 7/24 (FC)
• 4w/5w hauls: 0/1, 16 – 5 wicket hauls (FC)

21. Charl Langeveldt – 133 Wickets

• Years Played: 2001-2010
• Matches: 6 (Test), 72 (ODI), 9 (T20I)
• Wickets (Test/ODI/T20I): 16/100/17
• Best Figures in Innings: 5/46 (Test), 5/39 (ODI), 4/19 (T20I)
• 4w/5w hauls: 0/1 (Test), 1/2 (ODI), 1/0 (T20I)

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20. Lungi Ngidi – 199 Wickets

• Years Played: 2017-
• Matches: 17 (Test), 56 (ODI), 40 (T20I)
• Wickets (Test/ODI/T20I): 51/88/60
• Best Figures in Innings: 6/39 (Test), 6/58 (ODI), 5/39
• 4w/5w hauls: 1/3 (Test), 4/1 (ODI), 2/1 (T20I)

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19. Peter Heine – 58 Wickets

• Years Played: 1955-1862
• Matches: 14 (Test)
• Wickets: 58
• Best Figures in Innings: 6/58
• 4w/5w hauls: 2/4

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18. Wayne Parnell – 173 Wickets

• Years Played: 2009-
• Matches: 6 (Test), 73 (ODI), 56 (T20I)
• Wickets (Test/ODI/T20I): 15/99/59
• Best Figures in Innings: 4/51 (Test), 5/48 (ODI), 5/30
• 4w/5w hauls: 1/0 (Test), 3/2 (ODI), 1/1 (T20I)

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17. Lance Klusener – 272 Wickets

• Years Played: 1996-2004
• Matches: 49 (Test), 171 (ODI)
• Wickets (Test/ODI): 80/192
• Best Figures in Innings: 8/64 (Test), 6/49 (ODI)
• 4w/5w hauls): 2/1 (Test), 1/6 (ODI)

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16. Anrich Nortje – 144 Wickets

• Years Played: 2019-
• Matches: 19 (Test), 22 (ODI), 31 (T20I)
• Wickets (Test/ODI/T20I): 70/36/38
• Best Figures in Innings: 6/56 (Test), 4/51 (ODI), 4/10 (T20I)
• 4w/5w hauls: 1/4 (Test), 3/0 (ODI), 2/0 (T20I)

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15. Garth Le Roux – 838 First Class Wickets

• Years Played: 1976-1989 (his entire career fell amidst South Africa’s global isolation)
• Matches: 239 (First Class), 250 (List A)
• Wickets (FC/List A): 838/378
• Best Figures in Innings: 8/107 (FC), 6/21 (List A)
• 4w/5w hauls: 35 – 5w hauls (FC), 16/5 (List A)

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14. Fanie de Villiers – 180 Wickets

• Years Played: 1992-1998
• Matches: 18 (Test), 83 (ODI)
• Wickets (Test/ODI): 85/95
• Best Figures in Innings: 6/23 (Test), 4/27 (ODI)
• 4w/5w hauls: 6/5 (Test), 2/0 (ODI)

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13. Neil Adcock – 104 Wickets

• Years Played: 1953-1962
• Matches: 26 (Test)
• Wickets: 104
• Best Figures in Innings: 6/43
• 4w/5w hauls: 5/5

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12. Peter Pollock – 116 Wickets

• Years Played: 1961-1970
• Matches: 28 (Test)
• Wickets: 116
• Best Figures in Innings: 6/38
• 4w/5w hauls: 1/9

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11. Clive Rice – 930 First Class Wickets

• Years Played: 1969-1994
• Matches: 3 (ODI), 482 (FC), 479 (List A)
• Wickets (ODI/FC/List A): 2/930/517
• Best Figures in Innings: 1/46, 7/62, 6/18
• 4w/5w hauls: 23 – 5 wicket hauls (FC), 19/6 (List A)

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10. Jacques Kallis – 577 Wickets

• Years Played: 1995-2014
• Matches: 166 (Test), 328 (ODI), 25 (T20I)
• Wickets (Test/ODI/T20I): 292/273/12
• Best Figures in Innings: 6/54 (Test), 5/30 (ODI), 4/15 (T20I)
• 4w/5w hauls: 7/5 (Test), 2/2 (ODI), 1/0 (T20I)

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9. Mike Procter – 41 Wickets

• Years Played: 1967-1970
• Matches: 7 (Test), 401 (First Class)
• Wickets (Test/FC): 41/1417
• Best Figures in Innings: 6/73 (Test), 9/71 (FC)
• 4w/5w hauls: 3/1 (Test), 70 – 5 wicket hauls (FC)

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8. Vince van der Bijl – 767 First Class Wickets

According to ESPNCricinfo, van der Bijl was “one of the best bowlers to not play Test cricket.”

• Years Played: 1967-1983
• Matches: 156 (FC), 92 (List A)
• Wickets (FC/List A): 767/132
• Best Figures in Innings: 8/35 (FC), 5/12 (List A)
• 4w/5w hauls: 46 – 5 wicket hauls (FC), 2/4 (List A)

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7. Vernon Philander – 269 Wickets

• Years Played: 2007-2020
• Matches: 64 (Test), 30 (ODI), 7 (T20I)
• Wickets (Test/ODI/T20I): 224/41/4
• Best Figures in Innings: 6/21 (Test), 4/12 (ODI), 2/23 (T20I)
• 4w/5w hauls: 8/13 (Test), 2/0 (ODI)

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6. Kagiso Rabada – 495 Wickets

• Years Played: 2004-
• Matches: 60 (Test), 101 (ODI), 56 (T20I)
• Wickets (Test/ODI/T20I): 280/157/58
• Best Figures in Innings: 7/112 (Test), 6/16 (ODI), 3/20 (T20I)
• 4w/5w hauls: 14/13 (Test), 6/2 (ODI)

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5. Morne Morkel – 544 Wickets

• Years Played: 2006-2018
• Matches: 86 (Test), 117 (ODI), 44 (T20I)
• Wickets (Test/ODI/T20I): 309/188/47
• Best Figures in Innings: 6/23 (Test), 5/21 (ODI), 4/17 (T20I)
• 4w/5w hauls: 18/8 (Test), 7/2 (ODI), 2/0 (T20I)

Also Read: Top 11 Cricketers Who Retired Too Early – The Lost Generation of Alastair Cook, Kevin Pietersen, AB De Villiers, Hashim Amla, and Michael Clarke

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4. Makhaya Ntini – 662 Wickets

• Years Played: 1998-2011
• Matches: 101 (Test), 173 (ODI), 10 (T20I)
• Wickets (Test/ODI/T20I): 390/266/6
• Best Figures in Innings: 7/37 (Test), 6/22 (ODI), 2/22 (T20I)
• 4w/5w hauls: 19/18 (Test), 8/4 (ODI)

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3. Shaun Pollock – 829 Wickets

• Years Played: 1995-2008
• Matches: 108 (Test), 303 (ODI), 12 (T20I)
• Wickets (Test/ODI/T20I): 421/393/15
• Best Figures in Innings: 7/87 (Test), 6/35 (ODI), 3/28
• 4w/5w hauls: 23/16 (Test), 12/5 (ODI)

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2. Allan Donald – 602 Wickets

• Years Played: 1991-2003
• Matches: 72 (Test), 164 (ODI)
• Wickets (Test/ODI): 330/272
• Best Figures in Innings: 8/71 (Test), 6/23 (ODI)
• 4w/5w hauls: 11/20 (Test), 11/2 (ODI)

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1. Dale Steyn – 699 Wickets

• Years Played: 2004-2020
• Matches: 93 (Test), 125 (ODI), 47 (T20I)
• Wickets (Test/ODI/T20I): 439/196/64
• Best Figures in Innings: 7/51 (Test), 6/39 (ODI), 4/9
• 4w/5w hauls: 27/26 (Test), 4/3 (ODI), 2/0 (T20I)

Dale Steyn’s Cape Town spell against Sachin Tendulkar is one of the greatest spells in Test cricket’s history.

Also Read: Dale Steyn, The Embodiment of Simplicity and Intensity, Retires—The Greatest Fast Bowler of Them All

Watch: Dale Steyn vs Australia

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South African Bowling Attack in Each World Cup

ODI World Cup

• 1992 ODI WC: Allan Donald, Brian McMillan, Meyrick Pringle, Adrian Kuiper, Hansie Cronje, Richard Snell
• 1996 ODI WC: Allan Donald, Shaun Pollock, Fanie de Villiers, Jacques Kallis, Brian McMillan, Craig Matthews
• 1999 ODI WC: Allan Donald, Shaun Pollock, Jacques Kallis, Lance Klusener, Steve Elworthy, Dale Benkenstein, Alan Dawson
• 2003 ODI WC: Allan Donald, Shaun Pollock, Andrew Hall, Jacques Kallis, Lance Klusener, Charl Langeveldt, Makhaya Ntini, Mode Zondeki
• 2007 ODI WC: Shaun Pollock, Charl Langeveldt, Andre Nel, Makhaya Ntini, Jacques Kallis, Justin Kemp, Roger Telemachus
• 2011 ODI WC: Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel, Jacques Kallis, Wayne Parnell, Lonwabo Tsotsobe
• 2015 ODI WC: Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel, Kyle Abbott, Vernon Philander, Farhaan Behardien, Wayne Parnell
• 2019 ODI WC: Dale Steyn, Chris Morris, Lungi Ngidi, Kagiso Rabada, Dwaine Pretorius, Andile Phehlukwayo, Anrich Nortje* (withdrawn)
• 2023 ODI WC: Gerald Coetzee, Marco Jansen, Lungi Ngidi, Kagiso Rabada, Lizaad Williams, Anrich Nortje*, Sisanda Magala* (withdrawn)

T20 World Cup

• 2007 T20 WC: Shaun Pollock, Makhaya Ntini, Andre Nel, Morne Morkel, Albie Morkel, Justin Kemp, Johan van der Wath, Vernon Philander
• 2009 T20 WC: Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel, Yusuf Abdulla, Jacques Kallis, Wayne Parnell
• 2010 T20 WC: Juan Theron, Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel, Albie Morkel, Charl Langelveldt, Rory Kleinveldt
• 2012 T20 WC: Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel, Lonwabo Tsotsobe, Wayne Parnell, Albie Morkel, Jacques Kallis, Farhaan Behardien
• 2014 T20 WC: Dale Styen, Lonwabo Tsotsobe, Wayne Parnell, Morne Morkel, Albie Morkel, Farhaan Behardien
• 2016 T20 WC: Dale Steyn, Kagiso Rabada, Chris Morris, Kyle Abbott, David Wiese, Farhaan Behardien
• 2021 T20 WC: Kagiso Rabada, Dwaine Pretorius, Anrich Nortje, Lungi Ngidi, Wiaan Mulder, Lizaad Williams*, Andile Phelukwayo* (Reserves)
• 2022 T20 WC: Kagiso Rabada, Wayne Parnell, Anrich Nortje, Lungi Ngidi, Marco Jansen, Lizaad Williams*, Andile Phelukwayo* (Reserves), Dwaine Pretorius** (Withdrawn)

Final Thoughts

One of my favorite memories growing up in the 2000s was watching the South African fast bowlers.

Dale Steyn’s energy, Shaun Pollock’s accuracy, Vernon Philander’s swing, the beauty in Makhaya Ntini’s action, and the tireless nature of Morne Morkel hitting the deck. The Australia Test series wins in recent times were largely based on the back of these bowlers.

The next generation of South African fast bowlers have not disappointed either. Kagiso Rabada has taken the mantle from Dale Steyn, Anrich Nortje is a star, Marco Jansen continues to impress, Lungi Ngidi keeps the bowling unit together, and Gerald Coetzee’s celebrations are a sight to behold.

Anyway, who was your favorite South Africa fast bowler?

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) – Greatest South African Fast Bowlers

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