Kagiso Rabada

[Gob]

Yeah honestly they have had great quicks since readmission. They've probably consistently had the best fast bowling attack in world cricket over the 25 years or so that they've been back. From Donald-Pollock-De Villiers to Donald-Pollock-Kallis to Pollock-Steyn-Ntini to Steyn-Philander-Morkel and now to Rabada-Philander-Morkel. They've had a couple of poorer third bowlers over the years, but there's generally been one or two ATG quicks backed up by an ATVG or two.

Ranking them:

Steyn
Donald
Pollock
Philander
De Villiers
Ntini
Rabada*
Morkel
Nel and the rest.

*will probably rise above Pollock.

By comparison, in that time the WI have had:

Ambrose
Walsh
Bishop

Pakistan:

Wasim
Waqar
Akhtar
Asif
Aamir

And Australia:

McGrath
Hazlewood
Gillespie
Johnson
Clark
Starc
Cummins
Lee/Kasper/Bichel

No other teams have had anywhere near the quality of quicks come through. But on the whole I'd rate South Africa's quicks as being consistently better than Australia's. The West Indies had some ATG bowlers in the 90s and nothing since. Pakistan have had some greats but a lot of mediocre bowlers and Australia have generally had a great first bowler, a very good second and a rubbish third quick. Australia's attack has been helped over the time by Warne and Lyon.

Ryno Harris???

 

[MediumFast]

McGrath
Hazlewood
Gillespie
Harris
Johnson
Clark
Starc
Cummins * should go up in the rankings like Rabada
Lee/Kasper/Bichel

 

[Gob]

More like the best after McGrath for me

 

[stephen]

Yeah Harris #2. I feel utterly ashamed. Was just reading about how Harris had been fined for tweeting the truth the other night. Harris was an absolute legend of Australian cricket.

 

[MediumFast]

SA will probably end up with Steyn, Rabada & Donald as the all-time best trio. On a genuine green top replace any two with a young Pollock and Vern.

 

[Flem274*]

it's pretty frightening that you could soon make a case for Pollock/Donald missing out on SAs best team since readmission, let alone all time side.

I tend to think Pollock is a bit forgotten and unfairly put in Donalds shadow, but then Vernon Philander is running amok in the same role and arguably doing a better job.

If they could produce a consistent top six for more than a short period (rather than relying on 2-3 geniuses) they would be immense.

 

[MediumFast]

After 50 test matches Pollock was at 210 wickets at 19.86. He really was sensational until that point.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Pollock might get picked ahead of one of the others for his batting if you were picking the side properly. Been some very very good bowlers from SA over the years since they returned. Amazing that all bar de Villers have had long careers and taken loads of wickets.

 

[oblongballs]

Rabada, Hasan, Shadab and QDK are the most exciting young cricketers around today and I hope they all develop into world class, cross format stand outs.

 

[stephen]

Cummins is a fair shout for being the best all round cricketer of the lot. He's only 23 remember.

 

[Daemon]

I'm personally very excited about Afridi. Young lad with almost 400 ODI wickets already. Great prospect.

 

[Dendarii]

Pollock might get picked ahead of one of the others for his batting if you were picking the side properly. Been some very very good bowlers from SA over the years since they returned. Amazing that all bar de Villers have had long careers and taken loads of wickets.

De Villiers definitely should have played more than the 18 tests he did. And there are a few more very good South African bowlers who didn't make it - Brett Schultz and Mfuneko Ngam both had very promising careers cut short by injury, and Kyle Abbott would probably walk into any other country's test team. That is one heck of a production line of quick men.

 

[SeamUp]

De Villiers definitely should have played more than the 18 tests he did. And there are a few more very good South African bowlers who didn't make it - Brett Schultz and Mfuneko Ngam both had very promising careers cut short by injury, and Kyle Abbott would probably walk into any other country's test team. That is one heck of a production line of quick men.

Did you rate Craig Matthews? Thought he was our stock bowler before our later stock bowlers since re-admission.

Was very skilful, tall and accurate and never let SA down as well as being a crucial vice-captain.

Also was constantly the most frugal bowler in the Currie Cup late 80s going into 90s. Taking wickets at silly figures.

 

[Dendarii]

Did you rate Craig Matthews? Thought he was our stock bowler before our later stock bowlers since re-admission.

Was very skilful, tall and accurate and never let SA down as well as being a crucial vice-captain.

Also was constantly the most frugal bowler in the Currie Cup late 80s going into 90s. Taking wickets at silly figures.

I'm slightly biased when it comes to Craig Matthews because he's an old boy of both my primary and high school. But educational institution loyalty aside, he was definitely an important part of the bowling attack following readmission, and very much an unsung hero who might not necessarily have run through a side but didn't give much away. Readmission possibly came just a little bit too late for him, as if he'd had the opportunity for a longer test career then he may very well have made it onto the list of South Africa's ATVGs.

 

[Gob]

ATVG yesss

 

[Wizard]

Rabada definitely has the potential to become an ATG. So much time left too. Should be able to end up in the league of Donald and Steyn.

 

[burr]

Rabada, Hasan, Shadab and QDK are the most exciting young cricketers around today and I hope they all develop into world class, cross format stand outs.

They consistently produce players you'd pay to watch. When you think how fewer resources they have compared to the big 3 the rest of the cricketing world is bl**dy lucky to have them. Long may it continue, please do not go the way of the WIs.

 

[Rasimione]

De Villiers definitely should have played more than the 18 tests he did. And there are a few more very good South African bowlers who didn't make it - Brett Schultz and Mfuneko Ngam both had very promising careers cut short by injury, and Kyle Abbott would probably walk into any other country's test team. That is one heck of a production line of quick men.

Brett Schultz and Donald would have been frightening.

 

[CricAddict]

Yeah honestly they have had great quicks since readmission. They've probably consistently had the best fast bowling attack in world cricket over the 25 years or so that they've been back. From Donald-Pollock-De Villiers to Donald-Pollock-Kallis to Pollock-Steyn-Ntini to Steyn-Philander-Morkel and now to Rabada-Philander-Morkel. They've had a couple of poorer third bowlers over the years, but there's generally been one or two ATG quicks backed up by an ATVG or two.
.

Next line already in place with Philander-Rabada-Lungi.

 

[Dendarii]

Next line already in place with Philander-Rabada-Lungi.

Philander is ten years older than the other two, so that trio probably won't last too long and the next great South African trio is more likely to be Rabada, Ngidi, and someone else.

Although I do think people are getting ahead of themselves with Ngidi. He's definitely looked good so far, but this is his first test match, so it's a little premature to be talking about him in such definite terms as the next ATVG (or even ATG) South African bowler.