South Africa have produced many great bowlers in Test cricket, who have dominated with the ball all over the cricket world. While we are now going through the top five most Test wicket-takers for South Africa, all of them are known to disturb many great batting line-ups. 

5. Allan Donald – 330 wickets

Former Proteas right-arm fast bowler Allan Donald ended his Test career with 330 wickets in 72 matches with an average of 22.25. He recorded 20 five-wicket hauls and three ten-wicket hauls, including his best bowling figures in an innings of 8/71 and best bowling figures in a match of 12/139.

4. Kagiso Rabada – 332 wickets

The right-arm fast bowler Kagiso Rabada is one of the modern-day greats among fast bowlers. Till the end of the first innings of the 2025 ICC World Test Championship Final against Australia at Lord’s, he has already recorded 332 wickets in 71 Test matches with an average of 21.82. The fourth most Test wicket-taker for South Africa, Rabada, has recorded 17 fifers and four ten-wicket hauls. His best bowling figures in an innings were 7/112, and his best bowling figures in a match were 13/144. He is one of the three South African bowlers to record 13 wickets in a Test match.

[WATCH] WTC Final 2025: Kagiso Rabada double wicket sets tone in SA vs AUS

3. Makhaya Ntini – 390 wickets

Former right-arm fast bowler Makhaya Ntini is the third leading wicket-taker in South African Test cricket history with 390 wickets in 101 matches with an average of 28.82. He recorded 18 five-wicket hauls and four ten-wicket hauls in his Test career, including the best bowling figures record by a South African in a Test match – 13/132 vs West Indies in the 2005 Port of Spain Test. Meanwhile, Ntini’s best bowling figures record in a Test innings was 7/37.

2. Shaun Pollock – 421 wickets

Former South African fast bowling all-rounder and captain Shaun Pollock was the first South African to record 400 Test wickets. He retired from Test cricket after picking up 421 wickets in 108 Tests with an average of 23.11. The right-arm fast bowler recorded 16 five-wicket hauls and one ten-wicket haul (best bowling figures in an innings: 7/87; best bowling figures in a match: 10/147).

1. Dale Steyn – 439 wickets

Former right-arm fast bowler Dale Steyn was one of the most popular fast bowlers in world cricket. Steyn holds the record for the most Test wickets by a South African with 439 wickets in 93 Test matches with an average of 22.95. Steyn recorded 26 five-wicket hauls and five ten-wicket hauls in his Test career, including his best bowling figures in an innings of 7/51 and best bowling figures in a match of 11/60.