5 records created by South Africa across formats in 2021

The Proteas side made a impressive start in 2021 as they won the home Test series against Sri Lanka 2-0. Dean Elgar was declared the Player of the series for scoring 253 runs in two Tests. The South African team then toured Pakistan only to lose both the Test series 2-0 and the T20I series 2-1. It was then time for the reverse series as the Men in Green arrived in South Africa for the limited-overs tour. Pakistan won both the series as the African team was thumped in their own backyard.

South Africa then visited the Caribbean shores as they were victorious in both the Test and T20I series. Shockingly, Ireland beat the Proteas in an ODI and the series was drawn 1-1 as the Rainbow nation then bounced back to clinch the T20I series 3-0 against the Irish. Before heading into the T20 World Cup, South African again beat Sri Lanka by the same 3-0 margin in the T20I series but lost ODIs 2-1. Then came the big disappointment as the Proteas were knocked out of the T20 World Cup just based on the less net run rate they had compared to Australia. Even after winning the same number of matches (4) as that of England and Australia, Africa had to pack their bags only because of less NRR.

Meanwhile, here are the records created by South Africa across formats in 2021:

1. Kagiso Rabada became the youngest non-Asian bowler to pick 200 Test wickets

During Proteas tour of Pakistan early in the year, Kagiso Rabada became the youngest Non-Asian bowler to achieve 200 wickets in Tests. At 25 years 248 days, Rabada is the fourth youngest with Asian legends Waqar Younis (24 years 26 days), Kapil Dev (24 years 68 days) and Harbhajan Singh (25 years 74 days) ahead of him. In terms of deliveries, only Waqar Younis and his countryman Dale Steyn are ahead of him as Pakistani great took only 7730 and Steyn gun 7848 deliveries to reach to the 200 wickets milestone compared to Rabada’s 8154. KG has been an integral part of the South African team in all three formats ever since his debut.

2.Janneman Malan has most runs after first ten ODI innings for South Africa

The 25-year opening batter Janneman Malan has announced himself in style in the 50-overs format as he notched up most runs for any South African batter after playing first ten innings. He has 661 runs to his name with three centuries and 82.62 average which is enough to go past Peter Kirsten’s 494 runs who is second in the list. The promising opener even has a good strike-rate of 91.93 and also a big hundred (177*) which he scored against the Irish.

3.Aiden Markram has scored most runs for South Africa in a calendar year

Another stylish batter for the Proteas Aiden Markram has amassed 570 runs in T20Is this year. He is above wicketkeeper batter Quinton de Kock who has 524 runs to his name. With a terrific strike-rate of 148.82, Markram has smashed six half-centuries compared to Q de Kock’s five. Interestingly, top five in this list have all scored their most runs in a calendar year in 2021 itself. After impressing in the longest format of the game, Markram has certainly turned the corner in the T20Is as well becoming a crucial no.four batter after Q de Kock and Rassie van der Dussen in the line-up.

4.Tabraiz Shamsi is the joint highest wicket-taker in T20Is in a calendar year

The left-arm Chinaman bowler Tabraiz Shamsi has accumulated 36 scalps in T20Is this year along with Sri Lanka’s Wanindu Hasaranga (36). He is the joint highest wicket-taker in the shortest international format in a calendar year with Lankan leg-spinner Hasaranga. With an average of just 11.63 and best bowling figures of 4/9, Shamsi has been just sublime in T20Is which also earned him a contract for Rajasthan Royals in the IPL. His rich vein of form will keep him on joint-top with Hasaranga as neither South Africa nor Sri Lanka are scheduled to play any more T20Is in 2021.

5.The Proteas team recorded their most wins in T20Is in a calendar year

With 15 victories, South Africa achieved their most number of T20I wins in a calendar year. Previously they had won eight matches in the years 2009, 2010 and 2012 respectively. They have won their last three consecutive bilateral T20I series and all of them have come away from home in West Indies, Ireland and Sri Lanka. The Proteas continued their form in the T20 World Cup as well as they won four out five matches but where fell short by net run-rate and got knocked out of the mega event.