Test Match cricket is among the most challenging formats in World Cricket and one needs to be mentally strong and physically strong to counter the situations presented in the Test match. Playing Test match cricket is also a dream for many cricketers who wish to take up cricket as a professional career. In the rich cricketing history of Test match cricket, the South African team has been a force to reckon with as they have produced quality all-rounders throughout their regime in the international arena.
Let’s have a look at the top three bowling performances by South African players on their Test debut;
1. 11/112 vs England – Alf Hall at Cape Town in 1923
Alf Hall was a lethal fast bowler who made a hostile debut in the Test match arena. His First Test Match, which he played against F. T. Mann’s team at Cape Town in the year 1922-23, was certainly a dream debut for any fast bowler of South Africa. In the match, at one stage, England needed 173 to win, but Hall bowled was so lethal as he ended up picking seven wickets for 63 runs and four for 49 in the two innings which resulted in the match Hall registered a figure of 11 wickets for 112. After this valiant effort, he was even carried shoulder-high on the ground.
2. 11/196 vs New Zealand – Sydney Burke at Cape Town in 1962
In the year 1961–1962, Sydney Burke who was a right-arm fast-medium bowler, made a memorable debut at Cape Town against New Zealand, taking 11 for 196 in 81 overs. He was unexpectedly selected as the 12th man for the following Test before being dropped. Three years later, against England in Cape Town, he played his second and final Test, going wicketless. He was the manager of the 1967 England tour of the South African Universities team.
3. 9/68 vs Pakistan – Kyle Abbott at Centurion in 2013
Kyle Abbott was a big, powerful fast from Durban. What made him stand out was his ability to bowl quickly and create movement. He started his professional career in the 2008–09 campaign with the Kwa-Zulu Natal provincial team, and then he played for the Dolphins organization shortly after.
It was only in his debut match that Abbott went on to register 7 for 29 in the first innings against Pakistan in Centurion in 2013 was a demonstration of speed and swing on a spicy surface.