Kagiso Rabada etched his name further into South African cricketing folklore during the ongoing World Test Championship (WTC) final against Australia at Lord's. The right-arm fast bowler surpassed the legendary Allan Donald to become the fourth-highest Test wicket-taker for South Africa, marking a significant milestone in his already illustrious career.
Rabada entered the WTC final needing just four wickets to overtake Donald's mark of 330 Test wickets. He achieved this feat in style, dismantling the Australian batting lineup on the first day of the match. Rabada's impressive performance helped South Africa bowl out Australia for a modest total of 212. He started with an opening burst, removing Usman Khawaja for a duck. The 30-year-old then picked up Cameron Green. Following the tea break, Rabada returned to pick up the crucial wicket of well-set Beau Webster to etch his name into history books.
With 332 wickets to his name, Rabada now trails only Dale Steyn (439 wickets), Shaun Pollock (421 wickets), and Makhaya Ntini (390 wickets) on the list of South Africa's all-time leading Test wicket-takers.
Adding another feather to his cap, Rabada also became only the second bowler to claim a five-wicket haul in a World Test Championship final. He finished with figures of 5/51 in 15.4 overs. The only other bowler to achieve this feat is New Zealand's Kyle Jamieson, who took 5/31 against India in the inaugural WTC final in 2021. Also, Rabada crossed the 50-wicket mark in Tests against Australia, reaching 54 wickets in just his 11th match against them.
Rabada's journey to this milestone has been nothing short of remarkable. He made his international debut in 2014 and quickly established himself as one of the most promising fast bowlers in the world. Known for his raw pace, accuracy, and ability to swing the ball, Rabada has consistently troubled batsmen across all formats of the game. In his Test career so far, Rabada has played 71 matches and taken 332 wickets at an average of 21.89, including 17 five-wicket hauls. He has also been a valuable asset in ODIs and T20Is, with 168 and 71 wickets, respectively.
Rabada's achievement has been met with widespread praise and admiration from the cricketing fraternity. He is not only a world-class bowler but also an inspiration to young cricketers in South Africa and around the world. As he continues his career, Rabada has the potential to break many more records and cement his place as one of the greatest fast bowlers of all time.
Beyond the wickets and milestones, Rabada's passion for the game and commitment to his team are evident in every performance. His contribution to South African cricket has been immense, and he remains a vital part of the Proteas' setup as they aim for success in future tournaments. This WTC final is also South Africa's maiden appearance, after topping the points table with an impressive 69.44% points percentage, a campaign that saw them win 8 out of 12 Tests.
