Bowling Best Career Bowling Average

Best averages for South Africa in Tests

Best averages

Player	Span	Mat	Overs	Mdns	Balls	Runs	Wkts	BBI	Ave	Econ	SR	4	5	10
MD Marshall (WI)	1978-1991	81	2930.4	614	17584	7876	376	7/22	20.94	2.68	46.76	19	22	4
J Garner (WI)	1977-1987	58	2194.5	576	13169	5433	259	6/56	20.97	2.47	50.84	18	7	-
CEL Ambrose (WI)	1988-2000	98	3683.5	1001	22103	8501	405	8/45	20.99	2.30	54.57	21	22	3
NAT Adcock (SA)	1953-1962	26	-	218	6391	2195	104	6/43	21.10	2.06	61.45	5	5	-
K Rabada (SA)	2015-2025	71	2183.2	433	13100	7306	336	7/112	21.74	3.34	38.98	15	17	4
M Jansen (SA)	2021-2025	18	488.1	86	2929	1696	77	7/13	22.02	3.47	38.03	5	3	1
AE Hall (SA)	1923-1931	7	393.3	107	2361	886	40	7/63	22.15	2.25	59.02	3	3	1
AA Donald (SA)	1992-2002	72	2586.3	661	15519	7344	330	8/71	22.25	2.83	47.02	11	20	3
VD Philander (SA)	2011-2020	64	1898.3	507	11391	5000	224	6/21	22.32	2.63	50.85	8	13	2
JNT Seales (WI)	2021-2025	21	577.2	117	3464	1965	88	6/61	22.32	3.40	39.36	4	3	-
KJ Abbott (SA)	2013-2017	11	346.5	95	2081	886	39	7/29	22.71	2.55	53.35	-	3	-
AEE Vogler (SA)	1906-1911	15	460.4	96	2764	1455	64	7/94	22.73	3.15	43.18	3	5	1
DW Steyn (SA)	2004-2019	93	3101.2	660	18608	10077	439	7/51	22.95	3.24	42.38	27	26	5
SM Pollock (SA)	1995-2008	108	4058.5	1222	24353	9733	421	7/87	23.11	2.39	57.84	23	16	1
CEH Croft (WI)	1977-1982	27	1027.3	211	6165	2913	125	8/29	23.30	2.83	49.32	7	3	-
L Ngidi (SA)	2018-2025	20	429.4	100	2578	1356	58	6/39	23.37	3.15	44.44	1	3	-
MA Holding (WI)	1975-1987	60	-	459	12680	5898	249	8/92	23.68	2.79	50.92	11	13	2
PM Pollock (SA)	1961-1970	28	-	270	6522	2806	116	6/38	24.18	2.58	56.22	1	9	1
PS de Villiers (SA)	1993-1998	18	800.5	221	4805	2063	85	6/23	24.27	2.57	56.52	6	5	2
D Olivier (SA)	2017-2024	16	382.0	64	2292	1432	59	6/37	24.27	3.74	38.84	1	3	1
IR Bishop (WI)	1989-1998	43	1401.1	288	8407	3909	161	6/40	24.27	2.78	52.21	6	6	-
CA Walsh (WI)	1984-2001	132	5003.1	1144	30019	12688	519	7/37	24.44	2.53	57.84	32	22	3
PS Heine (SA)	1955-1962	14	-	106	3890	1455	58	6/58	25.08	2.24	67.06	2	4	-
AME Roberts (WI)	1974-1983	47	-	382	11135	5174	202	7/54	25.61	2.78	55.12	8	11	2
RO Schwarz (SA)	1906-1912	20	439.5	66	2639	1417	55	6/47	25.76	3.22	47.98	4	2	-
HJ Tayfield (SA)	1949-1960	37	-	602	13568	4405	170	9/113	25.91	1.94	79.81	5	14	2
TL Goddard (SA)	1955-1970	41	-	706	11736	3226	123	6/53	26.22	1.64	95.41	2	5	-
WW Hall (WI)	1958-1969	48	-	312	10421	5066	192	7/69	26.38	2.91	54.27	11	9	1
GA Faulkner (SA)	1906-1924	25	704.3	124	4227	2180	82	7/84	26.58	3.09	51.54	4	4	-
R Gilchrist (WI)	1957-1959	13	537.5	124	3227	1521	57	6/55	26.68	2.82	56.61	5	1	-
A Nortje (SA)	2019-2023	19	509.3	81	3057	1870	70	6/56	26.71	3.67	43.67	1	4	-
WKM Benjamin (WI)	1987-1995	21	615.4	136	3694	1648	61	4/46	27.01	2.67	60.55	2	-	-
KAJ Roach (WI)	2009-2025	85	2490.4	540	14944	7729	284	6/48	27.21	3.10	52.61	14	11	1
GE Gomez (WI)	1939-1954	29	-	289	5236	1590	58	7/55	27.41	1.82	90.27	1	1	1
SR Harmer (SA)	2015-2023	10	350.5	68	2105	1075	39	4/61	27.56	3.06	53.97	4	-	-
M Morkel (SA)	2006-2018	86	2749.4	605	16498	8550	309	6/23	27.66	3.10	53.39	18	8	-
ST Clarke (WI)	1978-1982	11	412.5	81	2477	1170	42	5/126	27.85	2.83	58.97	3	1	-
RA Harper (WI)	1983-1993	25	602.3	183	3615	1291	46	6/57	28.06	2.14	78.58	2	1	-
JC Watkins (SA)	1949-1957	15	-	134	2805	816	29	4/22	28.13	1.74	96.72	3	-	-
HC Griffith (WI)	1928-1933	13	443.5	89	2663	1243	44	6/103	28.25	2.80	60.52	2	2	-
JA Warrican (WI)	2015-2025	21	679.2	100	4076	2063	73	7/32	28.26	3.03	55.83	6	2	1
CC Griffith (WI)	1960-1969	28	-	177	5631	2683	94	6/36	28.54	2.85	59.90	2	5	-
M Ntini (SA)	1998-2009	101	3472.2	759	20834	11242	390	7/37	28.82	3.23	53.42	19	18	4
CR Matthews (SA)	1992-1995	18	663.2	231	3980	1502	52	5/42	28.88	2.26	76.53	1	2	-
S Ramadhin (WI)	1950-1961	43	-	813	13939	4579	158	7/49	28.98	1.97	88.22	6	10	1
LR Gibbs (WI)	1958-1976	79	-	1313	27115	8989	309	8/38	29.09	1.98	87.75	11	18	2
CB Llewellyn (SA)	1896-1912	15	-	55	2292	1421	48	6/92	29.60	3.71	47.75	2	4	1
JJC Lawson (WI)	2002-2005	13	394.0	55	2364	1512	51	7/78	29.64	3.83	46.35	3	2	-
M Hayward (SA)	1999-2004	16	470.1	90	2821	1609	54	5/56	29.79	3.42	52.24	1	1	-
KA Maharaj (SA)	2016-2025	59	1944.2	367	11666	6055	203	9/129	29.82	3.11	57.46	6	11	1
WJ Cronje (SA)	1992-2000	68	633.2	243	3800	1288	43	3/14	29.95	2.03	88.37	-	-	-
KD Boyce (WI)	1971-1976	21	-	99	3501	1801	60	6/77	30.01	3.08	58.35	3	2	1
LN Constantine (WI)	1928-1939	18	-	125	3583	1746	58	5/75	30.10	2.92	61.77	4	2	-
KCG Benjamin (WI)	1992-1998	26	855.2	158	5132	2785	92	6/66	30.27	3.25	55.78	4	4	1
JM Blanckenberg (SA)	1913-1924	18	648.0	132	3888	1817	60	6/76	30.28	2.80	64.80	1	4	-
AL Valentine (WI)	1950-1962	36	-	789	12953	4215	139	8/104	30.32	1.95	93.18	7	8	2
JO Holder (WI)	2014-2024	69	1884.1	485	11305	4924	162	6/42	30.39	2.61	69.78	4	8	1
D Ramnarine (WI)	1998-2002	12	582.3	169	3495	1383	45	5/78	30.73	2.37	77.66	2	1	-
FA Rose (WI)	1997-2000	19	520.4	101	3124	1637	53	7/84	30.88	3.14	58.94	2	2	-
BP Patterson (WI)	1986-1992	28	804.5	109	4829	2874	93	5/24	30.90	3.57	51.92	4	5	-
JT Partridge (SA)	1963-1965	11	-	136	3684	1373	44	7/91	31.20	2.23	83.72	3	3	-
CL Vincent (SA)	1927-1935	25	975.1	194	5851	2631	84	6/51	31.32	2.69	69.65	5	3	-
JH Sinclair (SA)	1896-1911	25	-	110	3598	1996	63	6/26	31.68	3.32	57.11	4	1	-
JDC Goddard (WI)	1948-1957	27	-	148	2931	1050	33	5/31	31.81	2.14	88.81	1	1	-
A Nel (SA)	2001-2008	36	1271.4	280	7630	3919	123	6/32	31.86	3.08	62.03	4	3	1
ST Gabriel (WI)	2012-2023	59	1563.1	269	9379	5348	166	8/62	32.21	3.42	56.50	5	6	1
CD Collymore (WI)	1999-2007	30	1056.1	245	6337	3004	93	7/57	32.30	2.84	68.13	3	4	1
JH Kallis (SA)	1995-2013	165	3362.0	846	20172	9497	291	6/54	32.63	2.82	69.31	7	5	-
AJ Bell (SA)	1929-1935	16	557.0	89	3342	1567	48	6/99	32.64	2.81	69.62	1	4	-
RD King (WI)	1999-2005	19	573.4	119	3442	1733	53	5/51	32.69	3.02	64.94	5	1	-
WW Davis (WI)	1983-1988	15	462.1	53	2773	1472	45	4/19	32.71	3.18	61.62	2	-	-
NA Quinn (SA)	1929-1932	12	487.0	103	2922	1145	35	6/92	32.71	2.35	83.48	2	1	-
PR Adams (SA)	1995-2004	45	1475.0	339	8850	4405	134	7/128	32.87	2.98	66.04	5	4	1
NBF Mann (SA)	1947-1951	19	-	260	5796	1920	58	6/59	33.10	1.98	99.93	5	1	-
VA Holder (WI)	1969-1979	40	-	367	9095	3627	109	6/28	33.27	2.39	83.44	6	3	-
SJ Pegler (SA)	1910-1924	16	498.1	84	2989	1572	47	7/65	33.44	3.15	63.59	3	2	-
AS Joseph (WI)	2016-2025	40	1123.4	173	6742	4150	124	5/27	33.46	3.69	54.37	3	2	-
M Dillon (WI)	1997-2004	38	1450.4	268	8704	4398	131	5/71	33.57	3.03	66.44	7	2	-
BM McMillan (SA)	1992-1998	38	1008.0	255	6048	2537	75	4/65	33.82	2.51	80.64	2	-	-
CE Cuffy (WI)	1994-2002	15	561.0	145	3366	1455	43	4/82	33.83	2.59	78.27	1	-	-
OG Smith (WI)	1955-1959	26	738.3	229	4431	1625	48	5/90	33.85	2.20	92.31	2	1	-
GS Sobers (WI)	1954-1974	93	-	974	21599	7999	235	6/73	34.03	2.22	91.91	8	6	-
EJ Barlow (SA)	1961-1970	30	-	115	3021	1362	40	5/85	34.05	2.70	75.52	-	1	-
W Ferguson (WI)	1948-1954	8	428.0	83	2568	1165	34	6/92	34.26	2.72	75.52	1	3	1
JE Taylor (WI)	2003-2016	46	1292.5	258	7757	4480	130	6/47	34.46	3.46	59.66	5	4	-
Q McMillan (SA)	1929-1932	13	336.5	38	2021	1243	36	5/66	34.52	3.69	56.13	2	2	-
S Shillingford (WI)	2010-2014	16	782.2	122	4694	2419	70	6/49	34.55	3.09	67.05	3	6	2
PT Collins (WI)	1999-2006	32	1160.4	221	6964	3671	106	6/53	34.63	3.16	65.69	7	3	-
R Rampaul (WI)	2009-2012	18	573.2	111	3440	1705	49	4/48	34.79	2.97	70.20	1	-	-
DS Atkinson (WI)	1948-1958	22	-	311	5201	1647	47	7/53	35.04	1.90	110.65	-	3	-
AH McKinnon (SA)	1960-1967	8	424.2	153	2546	925	26	4/128	35.57	2.17	97.92	1	-	-
EP Nupen (SA)	1921-1936	17	693.1	133	4159	1788	50	6/46	35.76	2.57	83.18	1	5	1
DJG Sammy (WI)	2007-2013	38	1035.5	216	6215	3007	84	7/66	35.79	2.90	73.98	1	4	-
AJ Hall (SA)	2002-2007	21	500.1	95	3001	1617	45	3/1	35.93	3.23	66.68	-	-	-
D Bishoo (WI)	2011-2018	36	1344.3	174	8067	4350	117	8/49	37.17	3.23	68.94	8	4	1
RJ Peterson (SA)	2003-2014	15	419.1	85	2515	1416	38	5/33	37.26	3.37	66.18	1	1	-
BD Julien (WI)	1973-1977	24	-	192	4542	1868	50	5/57	37.36	2.46	90.84	-	1	-
RRS Cornwall (WI)	2019-2023	10	460.1	84	2761	1316	35	7/75	37.60	2.85	78.88	1	2	1
FH Edwards (WI)	2003-2012	55	1600.2	183	9602	6249	165	7/87	37.87	3.90	58.19	3	12	-
PL Harris (SA)	2007-2011	37	1468.1	336	8809	3901	103	6/127	37.87	2.65	85.52	3	3	-
AW Nourse (SA)	1902-1924	45	539.0	120	3234	1553	41	4/25	37.87	2.88	78.87	2	-	-
L Klusener (SA)	1996-2004	49	1147.5	318	6887	3033	80	8/64	37.91	2.64	86.08	2	1	-
JP Duminy (SA)	2008-2017	46	450.3	48	2703	1601	42	4/47	38.11	3.55	64.35	2	-	-
V Permaul (WI)	2012-2022	9	352.2	46	2114	1183	31	5/35	38.16	3.35	68.19	-	1	-
AMB Rowan (SA)	1947-1951	15	-	136	5193	2084	54	5/68	38.59	2.40	96.16	2	4	-
FMM Worrell (WI)	1948-1963	51	-	274	7141	2672	69	7/70	38.72	2.24	103.49	2	2	-
SJ Benn (WI)	2008-2015	26	1220.1	229	7321	3402	87	6/81	39.10	2.78	84.14	2	6	-
RR Jumadeen (WI)	1972-1979	12	523.2	140	3140	1141	29	4/72	39.34	2.18	108.27	1	-	-
DAJ Holford (WI)	1966-1977	24	-	164	4816	2009	51	5/23	39.39	2.50	94.43	2	1	-
ARA Murray (SA)	1952-1954	10	-	111	2374	710	18	4/169	39.44	1.79	131.88	1	-	-
DJ Bravo (WI)	2004-2010	40	1077.4	213	6466	3426	86	6/55	39.83	3.17	75.18	6	2	-
FM King (WI)	1953-1956	14	478.1	140	2869	1159	29	5/74	39.96	2.42	98.93	-	1	-
TL Best (WI)	2003-2013	25	619.2	80	3716	2291	57	6/40	40.19	3.69	65.19	2	2	-
Imran Tahir (SA)	2011-2015	20	654.1	86	3925	2294	57	5/32	40.24	3.50	68.85	1	2	-
DL Piedt (SA)	2014-2024	12	404.3	57	2427	1521	37	5/89	41.10	3.76	65.59	3	2	-
VC Drakes (WI)	2002-2004	12	436.1	65	2617	1362	33	5/93	41.27	3.12	79.30	2	1	-
CN McCarthy (SA)	1948-1951	15	-	64	3499	1510	36	6/43	41.94	2.58	97.19	2	2	-
NAM McLean (WI)	1998-2001	19	549.5	85	3299	1873	44	3/53	42.56	3.40	74.97	-	-	-
N Boje (SA)	2000-2006	43	1436.4	293	8620	4265	100	5/62	42.65	2.96	86.20	9	3	-
CH Gayle (WI)	2000-2014	103	1184.5	230	7109	3120	73	5/34	42.73	2.63	97.38	2	2	-
PL Symcox (SA)	1993-1998	20	593.3	135	3561	1603	37	4/69	43.32	2.70	96.24	1	-	-
A Sanford (WI)	2002-2004	11	369.3	69	2217	1316	30	4/132	43.86	3.56	73.90	1	-	-
ACB Langton (SA)	1935-1939	15	-	104	4199	1827	40	5/58	45.67	2.61	104.97	4	1	-
RL Chase (WI)	2016-2025	52	1150.1	131	6901	3980	86	8/60	46.27	3.46	80.24	4	4	-
Inshan Ali (WI)	1971-1977	12	-	137	3718	1621	34	5/59	47.67	2.61	109.35	-	1	-
DBL Powell (WI)	2002-2009	37	1179.3	219	7077	4068	85	5/25	47.85	3.44	83.25	1	1	-
OAC Banks (WI)	2003-2005	10	400.1	62	2401	1367	28	4/87	48.82	3.41	85.75	1	-	-
CL Hooper (WI)	1987-2002	102	2299.0	531	13794	5635	114	5/26	49.42	2.45	121.00	1	4	-
JC Adams (WI)	1992-2001	54	475.3	96	2853	1336	27	5/17	49.48	2.80	105.66	1	1	-
RR Sarwan (WI)	2000-2011	87	337.0	33	2022	1163	23	4/37	50.56	3.45	87.91	1	-	-
B Mitchell (SA)	1929-1949	42	-	26	2525	1380	27	5/87	51.11	3.27	93.51	1	1	-
L Tuckett (SA)	1947-1949	9	-	47	2104	980	19	5/68	51.57	2.79	110.73	1	2	-
KC Brathwaite (WI)	2011-2025	100	468.1	35	2809	1558	29	6/29	53.72	3.32	96.86	-	1	-
MN Samuels (WI)	2000-2016	71	732.0	79	4392	2445	41	4/13	59.63	3.34	107.12	1	-	-
IVA Richards (WI)	1974-1991	121	-	203	5170	1964	32	2/17	61.37	2.27	161.56	-	-	-
HA Gomes (WI)	1976-1987	60	400.1	79	2401	930	15	2/20	62.00	2.32	160.06	-	-	-

Adjust:Most recentPast weekPast MonthPast year4 years10 years25 years

Minimum of 2000 balls

Records includes the following current or recent matches:

Yorkshire vs Somerset at York, One-Day Cup Group B, Aug 14, 2025 [List A]

Glamorgan vs Surrey at The Oval, One-Day Cup Group A, Aug 13, 2025 [List A]

North West Warriors vs Northern Knights at Bready, Cricket Ireland Inter-Provincial Limited Over Cup 8th Match, Aug 13, 2025 [List A]