Last Updated on 3 years by Charbel Coorey

Incredible Kagiso Rabada: The stats putting him among the best | The remarkable stats by Kagiso Rabada that places him among the best bowlers ever

Kagiso Rabada starred once again for South Africa as the Proteas executed a magnificent fightback to level the Test series 1-1 in New Zealand. His superb eight-wicket haul with the ball and contributions with the bat blew the Black Caps away, keeping South Africa’s record of never losing a Test series to New Zealand intact after an embarrassing first Test.

It was another chapter in the wonderful story that Kagiso Rabada’s Test career. He is now just seven wickets away from 250 Test wickets at 26 years of age, and he is showing no signs of stopping as he continues to take wickets for fun.

Remarkable Kagiso Rabada Test stats

Rabada’s incredible numbers put him on par with some of the best bowlers the game has ever seen. Below are some of his mind-boggling statistics that are worthy of applause.

1. Best strike rate in Test history (minimum 200 wickets)

Rabada’s strike rate of 40.7 is the best in history among bowlers with at least 200 Test wickets. He takes a wicket nearly two deliveries less on average than his fellow countryman Dale Steyn, who finished his career with a strike rate of 42.3 that is marvelled by many around the world to this day.

Also, Rabada’s strike rate is the fourth-best in history among all bowlers. However, none of the top three players on the list (George Lohmann 34.9, John Ferris 37.7 and Shane Bond 38.9) played 20 Tests. Rabada has played 52.

Among Rabada’s current rivals in the exciting, young pace-bowling core, Pat Cummins strikes every 45.9 deliveries, Shaheen Shah Afridi every 47.7 and Bumrah every 51.5.

2. Fourth-most wickets in Test history among pacers before 27th birthday

Rabada’s 243 wickets puts him fourth for most wickets among pace bowlers before turning 27. Kapil Dev (281), Waqar Younis (267) and Ian Botham (251) are ahead of him at this stage.

Rabada has more wickets at this stage than the likes of Wasim Akram (186 in 48 Tests) and Malcolm Marshall (171 in 38 Tests).

Should he not be available for a part of the IPL, Rabada is set to play two Tests at home to Bangladesh in late March and early April. So, he should cross Botham’s 251 before he turns 27 on May 25th.

3. Seventh-most wickets for South Africa

At just 26, Kagiso Rabada is already seventh on the list for most Test wickets for South Africa. Dale Steyn (439), Shaun Pollock (421), Makhaya Ntini (390), Allan Donald (330), Morne Morkel (309) and Jaques Kallis (291) are in his sights.

If Rabada continues on the same path (4.67 wickets per Test), he will overtake Dale Steyn’s record in around 42 Tests. Should he stay largely injury-free, the star pacer is every chance of finishing his career as South Africa’s most prolific Test bowler.