Win Projections to be updated soon
The much-awaited series between India and South Africa is set to commence soon and the home side’s premier pacer Dale Steyn is just inches away from achieving something special. He is currently the second highest wicket-taker for South Africa in Test cricket and is only 4 wickets shy of becoming the leading wicket-taker.
The legendary fast bowler Shaun Pollock has 421 wickets to his credit and is currently occupying the pole position. Dale Steyn has accounted for 417 wickets so far and if he gets to feature in the Test series against India, he has a great chance to displace Pollock to top the chart.
Steyn has been one of the prolific contributors of South African cricket and his record proves that. He has picked up 417 wickets in just 85 matches as opposed to 421 in 108 of Pollock. The Proteas remained the No.1 Test side in the world for a long time and Steyn was one of the big reasons for that.
But his career of late has been heavily marred by injuries. The right-hander has been struggling with a shoulder injury since December 2015 and a year later, he tore 3 major muscles due to which he has been missing from the action. He last played a Test 14 months ago and otherwise, he would have surpassed Pollock by a long way.
He did make a comeback in the Test squad in the one-off Test against Zimbabwe at Port Elizabeth but couldn’t find a place in the playing XI. Now, it will be interesting to see whether he gets a look in against India given his tremendous record against the men in blue. If he does get in the XI, it will be a great sight to watch for all the cricket lovers.
Most wickets for South Africa in Tests
| Player | Matches | Innings | Wickets | BBI | Average | Economy | Strike Rate | 5W | 10W |
| Shaun Pollock | 108 | 202 | 421 | 87/7 | 23.11 | 2.39 | 57.8 | 16 | 1 |
| Dale Steyn | 85 | 156 | 417 | 51/7 | 22.3 | 3.22 | 41.4 | 26 | 5 |
| Makhaya Ntini | 101 | 190 | 390 | 37/7 | 28.82 | 3.23 | 53.4 | 18 | 4 |
| Alan Donald | 72 | 129 | 330 | 71/8 | 22.25 | 2.83 | 47 | 20 | 3 |
| Jacques Kallis | 165 | 270 | 291 | 54/6 | 32.63 | 2.82 | 69.3 | 5 | 0 |
| Morne Morkel | 80 | 148 | 281 | 23/6 | 28.45 | 3.12 | 54.6 | 7 | 0 |
| Vernon Philander | 47 | 87 | 173 | 44/6 | 22.37 | 2.71 | 49.4 | 11 | 2 |
| Hugh Tayfield | 37 | 61 | 170 | 113/9 | 25.91 | 1.94 | 79.8 | 14 | 2 |
| Paul Adams | 45 | 76 | 134 | 128/7 | 32.87 | 2.98 | 66 | 4 | 1 |
| Trevor Goddard | 41 | 75 | 123 | 53/6 | 26.22 | 1.64 | 95.4 | 5 | 0 |
-Stats as of January 2, 2018
Stay updated with all the action of India’s tour of South Africa. Follow Cricadium on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
