Rabada Roars: Becomes 5th South African to Hit 600 International Wickets
Kagiso Rabada becomes the fifth South African to reach 600 international wickets and the fastest to 350 Test scalps during the Cape Town Test.
In a masterclass of pace and precision, South African speedster Kagiso Rabada has etched his name into the history books. During the high-stakes third Test against Australia in Cape Town, Rabada became only the fifth bowler from South Africa to claim 600 wickets in international cricket, further cementing his status as one of the most lethal pacers in the modern era.
The right-arm pacer now boasts a staggering tally of 601 wickets across 260 international appearances. With this achievement, he enters an exclusive circle of South African legends, though he still trails the towering record of Shaun Pollock, who leads with 823 wickets. Rabada now follows the likes of Dale Steyn (697), Makhaya Ntini (661), and Allan Donald (602).
A Historic Day in Cape Town
The milestones came during a devastating opening spell on Day 5 of the series decider. Australia, chasing a target of 288 runs for victory, found themselves in a nightmare scenario as Rabada tore through their top order. The carnage began in his very first over, where he dismissed Matthew Renshaw for a duck and trapped Marnus Labuschagne leg before wicket for just four runs.
The celebrations intensified when Rabada dismissed Travis Head for 14. This wicket was not just a blow to Australia, but a personal landmark for the pacer, marking his 350th wicket in Test cricket.
Rewriting the Record Books
While the 600-wicket international mark is a career-defining feat, Rabada's journey to 350 Test wickets is where he truly breaks new ground. He has now become the joint third-fastest pacer to reach 350 Test scalps in terms of matches, achieving the feat in just 75 Tests—sharing the spot with Malcolm Marshall.
However, it is in the efficiency of his bowling that Rabada truly reigns supreme. He is now the fastest bowler in history to reach 350 Test wickets in terms of deliveries bowled. Rabada reached the milestone in a mere 13,808 balls, surpassing the previous record held by Dale Steyn (14,719 balls). He now leads a list that includes Waqar Younis, Malcolm Marshall, and Mitchell Starc.
The Match Situation: Australia in Turmoil
Rabada's early onslaught left Australia reeling at 20/3. The misery continued for the visitors when Josh Inglis was run out for four after a mix-up with Cameron Green, leaving Australia struggling at 40/4 after 15.3 overs. With Green remaining unbeaten on 16, the visitors still faced a daunting mountain of 248 runs to win.
The Road to the Target
The match had seen significant swings in momentum. South Africa initially posted 329 in their first innings, but Australia responded strongly with 429, gaining a 100-run lead. The tide turned in South Africa's second innings, where they amassed 387 runs. This recovery was powered by two brilliant centuries: Ryan Rickelton scored 101 and Wiaan Mulder contributed 115, setting up the target of 288 that Rabada is now defending with clinical aggression.