Kagiso Rabada made history in the opening Test against Bangladesh at The Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg on Sunday, November 15. The fast bowler dismissed debutant Mahfijul Islam for a golden duck off the first delivery of the match, becoming the first Proteas bowler since Dale Steyn in 2010 to achieve the feat.
Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto won the toss and elected to bat, hoping to make the most of the conditions. However, South Africa's pace attack put the visitors under pressure early in the first innings. Bangladesh had three wickets down for 37 runs after 13 overs, with Rabada claiming all three wickets.
Kagiso Rabada Joins Bert Vogler, Allan Donald and Dale Steyn in Rare Test Record
Kagiso Rabada picked up the wicket off the first ball. Mahfijul edged the delivery towards gully, where Marco Jansen completed the catch. The dismissal put Rabada in an exclusive group of South African bowlers who have taken a wicket with the first ball of a Test.
Bert Vogler was the first South African to achieve the feat. He dismissed England opener Tom Hayward for a golden duck at The Oval on August 19, 1907. Allan Donald joined the list in 2001, dismissing West Indies opener Leon Garrick with the first delivery of the Kingston Test on April 19.
Dale Steyn was the last South African to achieve the milestone before Rabada. He dismissed England captain Andrew Strauss with the first ball of the Johannesburg Test on January 14, 2010. Rabada has now ended a 16-year wait for another South African bowler to accomplish the feat.
South Africans to take a wicket off the first ball of a Test match
Bowler | Batter | Against | Venue | Start date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Bert Vogler | Tom Hayward | England | The Oval | August 19, 1907 |
Allan Donald | Leon Garrick | West Indies | Kingston | April 19, 2001 |
Dale Steyn | Andrew Strauss | England | Johannesburg | January 14, 2010 |
Kagiso Rabada | Mahfijul Islam | Bangladesh | Johannesburg | November 15, 2026 |
Kagiso Rabada's Three Wickets Leave Bangladesh Reeling in Johannesburg
Kagiso Rabada continued to trouble Bangladesh after dismissing Mahfijul. He struck again on the second ball of his second over, dismissing former Bangladesh captain Mominul Haque for a seven-ball duck.
Mominul edged the delivery behind, where wicketkeeper Ryan Rickelton completed the catch. The fast bowler then removed Shanto in the ninth over. The Bangladesh skipper scored 12 off 23 balls before Rabada beat him and knocked over his off-stump.
The three early dismissals left Bangladesh struggling at 22/3 in 8.5 overs. Tanzid Hasan offered some resistance at the other end. The opener remained unbeaten on 22 off 37 deliveries, while Towhid Hridoy was not out on two off 10 balls at the drinks break.
Kagiso Rabada Goes Past Allan Donald in South Africa's International Wickets List
Kagiso Rabada also took his international tally to 604, moving past Allan Donald's 602. The South African pacer reached the mark in his 261st international appearance, while Donald took 236 matches to claim 602 wickets between 1991 and 2003.
Rabada has taken 353 wickets in Test cricket and ranks fourth among South Africa's leading international wicket-takers. Only Shaun Pollock, Dale Steyn and Makhaya Ntini have claimed more wickets for the country across formats.
Most wickets for South Africa in international cricket
Player | Matches | Innings | Wickets | 5W/10W |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Shaun Pollock | 414 | 504 | 823 | 21/1 |
Dale Steyn | 263 | 340 | 697 | 29/5 |
Makhaya Ntini | 283 | 370 | 661 | 22/4 |
Kagiso Rabada | 261* | 322* | 604* | 19/4 |
Allan Donald | 236 | 291 | 602 | 22/3 |
Jacques Kallis | 513 | 568 | 572 | 7/0 |
Morne Morkel | 241 | 312 | 535 | 10/0 |
Keshav Maharaj | 175 | 219 | 354 | 13/1 |
Imran Tahir | 162 | 176 | 291 | 7/0 |
Lance Klusener | 220 | 248 | 272 | 7/0 |
