South African fast bowler Kagiso Rabada has etched his name into cricket history after becoming the fastest bowler ever to reach 350 Test wickets by the number of balls bowled.

Kagiso achieved the remarkable milestone in just 13,808 deliveries, surpassing the previous record held by fellow South African cricket legend Dale Steyn.

The achievement marks another significant moment in Kagiso’s career and further strengthens his place among the leading fast bowlers in international cricket.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Rado (@rado)

Kagiso Rabada surpasses Dale Steyn’s record

Reaching 350 Test wickets is a major achievement for any bowler, but Kagiso’s record-breaking feat makes it even more special.

The previous record belonged to former Proteas fast bowler Dale, who needed 14,719 deliveries to reach 350 Test wickets. Kagiso achieved the same milestone in just 13,808 balls, beating Steyn’s record by 911 deliveries.

Pakistan’s Waqar Younis occupies third place on the list, having taken 14,905 deliveries to reach the landmark. West Indies legend Malcolm Marshall follows with 16,285 deliveries, while Australia’s Mitchell Starc completes the top five with 16,908 deliveries.

Kagiso’s achievement is particularly significant for South African cricket, as he has now surpassed one of the country’s most celebrated fast bowlers in the record books.

The record also highlights Kagiso’s ability to consistently trouble opposition batters and take wickets at the highest level of the game.

A milestone sealed against Australia

Kagiso reached the milestone during the third and deciding Test against Australia at Newlands in Cape Town on Saturday, 31 October 2026. He achieved the feat by dismissing Australian batter Travis Head on the fifth day as South Africa defended a target of 288 runs, reported Reuters.

South Africa secures series victory

Kagiso’s record-breaking performance came as South Africa secured a memorable 176-run victory over Australia at Newlands.

Australia were bowled out for 111 while chasing 288, with spinner Simon Harmer taking six wickets for 16 runs. The result gave South Africa a 2-1 series victory after losing the opening Test and winning the following two matches.

The Proteas also moved to the top of the Test world rankings following the series triumph.

Kagiso’s latest achievement adds to an already impressive Test career. He previously became the fastest bowler to reach 300 Test wickets by deliveries bowled in October 2024.

At 30, the South African fast bowler continues to add his name to the country’s rich cricket history, following in the footsteps of legends such as Steyn, Shaun Pollock and Makhaya Ntini.