South African star pacer Makhaya Ntini turned 46 today, and while glancing back at his successful career, the right-arm seamer went on to establish himself as one of the most brilliant bowlers to represent South Africa at the highest level of cricket. The great pacer had featured for South Africa in 101 matches of Test cricket and 173 one-day internationals over the span of his 11-year international career. A whole generation of cricketers has been impressed by the former bowler, who amassed 390 Test and 266 ODI wickets in his cricketing tenure. He also played in 10 T20 International matches, during which he took six wickets.
The 46-year-old cricketer played with legends like Lance Klusener, Jacques Kallis, Mark Boucher, and Shaun Pollock. The senior Proteas pacer had concluded his career in international cricket as South Africa’s second-most Test wicket-taker with 390 wickets.
Makhaya Ntini had also joined an elite list with legends like Shaun Pollock and Allan Donald
As a legend cherishes his special day, we reflect on his accomplishments. The right-arm pacer’s primary breakthrough came in 2003 at Lord’s, when he grabbed 10 wickets and remained the first South African to accomplish this kind of record. Furthermore, the veteran pacer had trounced a strong Australian side in an ODI in 2006 with the best figures of any South African bowler, 6-22. Notably, the former seamer had also joined an elite list with legends like Shaun Pollock and Allan Donald, making him the third South African bowler to collect 300 test wickets.
While looking back on his retirement, the former bowler announced his retirement from international cricket in 2009 after playing his final Test against the English side and an ODI match against the Australians. Moreover, in 2011, he met India in his last T20I match. On top of that, he was appointed Zimbabwe’s interim head coach in 2016, following the right-handed batter Dav Whatmore’s removal owing to poor performances in major tournaments. In January 2018, he also left his role as head coach.