Rabada surpasses Dale Steyn to become quickest to 350 Test wickets

Cape Town: South African fast bowler Kagiso Rabada scripted history during the second innings of the third Test against Australia at Newlands on Saturday by completing 350 wickets in Test cricket on Day 5 of the Cape Town Test. He became the quickest bowler to reach the milestone in terms of balls bowled.

The Proteas speedster achieved the feat when he took the prized wicket of Australian star Travis Head while defending a target of 288 runs in the series-deciding Test. He lured Head into playing a drive with a fuller delivery outside off. The Australian opener went for the shot but edged the ball behind, where Marco Jansen took the catch at gully as the Proteas celebrated.

The scalp helped Rabada complete his 350th wicket in the format, making him the quickest bowler to reach the milestone in terms of balls bowled. The Proteas speedster took 13,808 balls to claim 350 Test wickets, surpassing the previous record-holder, compatriot Dale Steyn.

Fewest balls to 350 Test wickets:

13,808 – Kagiso Rabada*

14,719 – Dale Steyn

14,905 – Waqar Younis

16,285 – Malcolm Marshall

16,908 – Mitchell Starc

Meanwhile, Rabada achieved the feat in 75 Test matches, the joint fourth-fewest among fast bowlers, alongside West Indies legend Malcolm Marshall. The record is jointly held by Richard Hadlee and Steyn, both of whom reached the milestone in 69 Tests.

Quickest fast bowlers to 350 Test wickets (by matches):

69 – Richard Hadlee / Dale Steyn

70 – Dennis Lillee

74 – Glenn McGrath

75 – Malcolm Marshall / Kagiso Rabada

78 – Waqar Younis

79 – Imran Khan

Rabada gave the Proteas a rollicking start with the ball on Day 5, dismissing Matt Renshaw and Marnus Labuschagne in the very first over. He had Renshaw caught behind on the third ball of the innings as the Australian opener attempted to guide the delivery towards the leg side but edged it to Ryan Rickelton, who took the catch behind the stumps.

Three balls later, Rabada trapped Labuschagne leg before wicket (LBW) as the Australian No. 3 left an inswinging delivery. The ball struck him just above the knee roll. Labuschagne reviewed the decision, but the ball was projected to hit the stumps on umpire’s call, leaving him disappointed as he walked back.