Marco Jansen scripts South Africa history with 10-wkt haul in Durban

Marco Jansen has gone into the history books following his maiden 10-wicket haul in Tests in the first match of the two-Test series against Sri Lanka, becoming the first ever South African to take a 10-fer at Kingsmead, Durban.

Prior to the first Test, three bowlers had taken 10-fers in Durban but all were from the opposition: Clarrie Grimmett (AUS) in 1936, Venkatesh Prasad (IND) in 1996 and Muttiah Muralitharan (SL) in 2000. But after dismissing Kusal Mendis in Sri Lanka’s second innings on Day 4, Jansen became the first ever Proteas man to achieve the special feat. He rounded it off with the wicket of Asitha Fernando to make it 11/86, his best ever figures in Tests.

Jansen also joined a special list, becoming only the fifth ever South Africa bowler to take a 10-wkt haul in Tests before turning 25.

South African bowlers to take a 10-wkt haul in Tests before turning 25

Hugh Tayfield

Peter Pollock

Kagiso Rabada

Dale Steyn

Marco Jansen*

By taking 11, he registered the third-best ever figures by a South African bowler at home this century.

Best bowling figures for a South African at home since 2000

Kagiso Rabada 13/144 vs ENG in Centurion, 2016

Dale Steyn 11/60 vs PAK in Johannesburg, 2013

Marco Jansen 11/86 vs SL in Durban, 2024*

South Africa won the first Test by 233 runs and it was Jansen’s spell in the first innings that set-up the victory. An astonishing spell of fast bowling saw the left-armer finish with figures of 7/13 in just 6.5 overs. It was the joint-quickest seven-fer in Test history, with Jansen needing only 41 balls to achieve the feat.

The 24-year-old has now taken 60 wickets in 14 Tests at an average of 20.05 and strike rate of 35.8. He averages 16.52 with the ball at home, taking 38 wickets in 14 innings.

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