Kagiso Rabada made history on October 21, 2024, by becoming the fastest bowler to reach 300 wickets in Test cricket, achieving this milestone in just 11,817 balls during the first Test match against Bangladesh at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka.
This remarkable feat surpasses the previous record held by Pakistani legend Waqar Younis, who achieved the milestone in 12,602 balls.
Key Highlights of Rabada’s Achievement
- 300th Wicket: Rabada claimed his 300th wicket by clean bowling Mushfiqur Rahim for 11 runs during the 14th over of the match. He followed this up by dismissing Litton Das and Nayeem Hasan, completing the innings with figures of 3/26 and bringing his total to 302 Test wickets.
- Fastest in Terms of Balls Bowled: Rabada’s strike rate stands at 39.2, making him the only bowler in Test history with a strike rate below 40 while achieving 300 wickets. This is notably quicker than Dale Steyn’s rate of 42.3 and Waqar Younis’ rate of 43.4.
- Third-Fastest by Matches Played: Although Rabada is the fastest in terms of balls bowled, he is the third-fastest to reach 300 wickets based on matches played, achieving this in his 65th Test. Dale Steyn reached this mark in 61 Tests, while Allan Donald did so in 63 Tests.
Historical Context
Rabada’s achievement places him among an elite group of bowlers. He becomes the sixth South African to join the 300-wicket club, alongside legends like Dale Steyn (439 wickets), Shaun Pollock (421), Makhaya Ntini (390), Allan Donald (330), and Morne Morkel (309).
Impact on the Match
Rabada’s performance was instrumental in dismantling Bangladesh’s batting lineup, which was bowled out for a mere 106 runs, marking one of their lowest totals in a home Test match.
This performance not only highlighted Rabada’s skill but also underscored South Africa’s dominance in the match.
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