South Africa has a long tradition of cricket success, and their bowlers have been instrumental in that success. South Africa has consistently produced top-quality bowlers who have made their mark in the One-Day International (ODI) format, whether at home or abroad.
These bowlers have not only left a lasting legacy but have also greatly contributed to South Africa’s reputation as one of the top ODI sides in the world. Their ability to consistently take wickets has been a crucial aspect of the team’s success throughout the years. Shaun Pollock, Allan Donald, and Dale Steyn are names that will go down in cricket history as three of the game’s finest fast bowlers.
Now, let’s look at the list of the top 10 bowlers with the most wickets for South Africa in ODI cricket.
Most Wickets for South Africa in ODI
| Player | Innings | Wickets | BBI | Avg | 5W |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shaun Pollock | 291 | 387 | 6/35 | 24.31 | 5 |
| Allan Donald | 162 | 272 | 6/23 | 21.78 | 2 |
| Jacques Kallis | 279 | 269 | 5/30 | 31.85 | 2 |
| Makhaya Ntini | 170 | 265 | 6/22 | 24.53 | 4 |
| Dale Steyn | 122 | 194 | 6/39 | 26.00 | 3 |
| Lance Klusener | 164 | 192 | 6/49 | 29.95 | 6 |
| Morne Morkel | 111 | 180 | 5/21 | 25.52 | 2 |
| Imran Tahir | 104 | 173 | 7/45 | 24.83 | 3 |
| Kagiso Rabada | 99 | 157 | 6/16 | 27.77 | 2 |
| Hansie Cronje | 153 | 114 | 5/32 | 34.78 | 1 |
Key insights
387: The number of wickets taken by Shaun Pollock in 291 ODI innings, including 5 five-fers. This is the most wickets taken by a South African bowler in ODIs.
6 & 12: Lance Klusener has picked up the most five-wicket hauls for South Africa, with 6 five-fers to his name. While Shaun Pollock holds the massive achievement of having 12 four-wicket hauls in his career, the most among Proteas bowlers.
269: Jacques Kallis scored 11579 runs and grabbed 269 wickets in ODIs for South Africa, demonstrating his all-round ability. And he is one of the two players who have scored 10000-plus runs and picked up 250-plus wickets in the 50-over format.
Also Read | Players with 5000 Runs and 500 Wickets in International Cricket
6/16: In 2015, a young Kagiso Rabada scalped 6 wickets in 8 overs against Bangladesh on his ODI debut. Rabada broke Allan Donald’s 24-year-old record of having the best bowling figures on debut by a South African bowler. Donald took 5/29 on his debut against India in November 1991.
12: Over 12 South African bowlers have taken 100 or more wickets in ODI format.
1: Imran Tahir is the only South African spinner who has picked up more than 100 wickets in the 50-over format.
