78: Makhaya Ntini

101 matches. 390 wickets @ 28.83. Strike rate: 53.42. 18x 5wi.

11 years. 5x excellent. 2x outstanding.

The discussion

I’m not sure that many would have Makhaya Ntini at number 78 on their list of the greatest 100 Test cricketers of all-time. There are many South Africans who have a strong claim to inclusion, and a further cadre of figures, led the great by Barry Richards, that would have a strong case for inclusion had they played more Tests. So why Makhaya Ntini?

As a bowler, Makhaya Ntini was always at you. From wide of the crease, batters always felt like they had to play, and that the ball was always angling into the body from an awkward length. In addition, Ntini’s supreme physical fitness and endurance meant that batters were forced to play at that high percentage of deliveries for a long period of time. Even without the metronomic accuracy of Shaun Pollock, or out-and-out express pace like Allan Donald or Dale Steyn, Makhaya Ntini combined 85-90% of both of those two facets, which was more than enough to be ready to pounce when a batter made even the slightest mistake. For Ntini, the total package as a world-renowned fast bowler far exceeds the sum of the parts.

The statistical case is an interesting one. On the surface, there’s a lot to like. You don’t need to look very hard to find examples to demonstrate that Makhaya Ntini was an exceptional player. The statistics mirror his bowling style — lots of solid components that all add up together to produce results that wouldn’t be nearly as effective if just one were missing. Top 30 rankings in four categories are a solid foundation, and I am particularly interested in the number of series that feature elite-level averages and strike rates:

• 10 series with a strike rate under 41

• 6 series with a strike rate under 36

• 14 series with an average under 25

• 7 series with an average under 20

Those peak series you see in the bio aren’t three lone examples, there are quite the number of series where Makhaya Ntini dominated the opposition.[1] This bears fruit in his top 20 ranking in 10wm, with four in his 101 Tests. Yes, there is a little inconsistency when you scroll series by series, but if you look at calendar years, Ntini had seven years striking at better than 55, and four years averaging under 25 — it is there where we see a better reflection of his consistency over a long period of time.

Not only was Makhaya Ntini a great fast bowler, but he was also the first black South African Test cricketer. As such, his story forms an indelible part of the legacy of post-apartheid cricket in the Rainbow Nation. Following their resumption in 1992, Ntini’s selection in 1997/98 was a significant point in the history of South African cricket, and Ntini as a player paved the way for future generations of Xhosa and other black African cricketers.

The verdict

Keen observers will note that Nathan Lyon (not in the Hall of Fame) has more wickets at a similar average. So why Ntini, and not Lyon? The difference here is Ntini’s superior average and strike rate. Even small improvements can have a big impact on the rankings, especially when they combine with a top-20 ranking in both number of wickets (18th) and 10wm (19th). As mentioned earlier, Ntini finds himself in the top 30 in four key categories for bowlers.         

And, in addition to those stellar numbers, Ntini has an underrated (or perhaps underreported) role as a trailblazing figure for black African cricketers. From incredibly humble beginnings, Ntini showed that black Africans can make it to the biggest stage and, once there, dominate world cricket. Like other trailblazing characters, Ntini’s legacy is part numbers, part story. He may not be recognised everywhere alongside some of the iconic figures of the game, but Makhaya Ntini broke new ground, then brought a smile to the face of many all around the world on his journey to the Hall of Fame.

In one word

Trailblazer

<<< 79: Rangana Herath

Notes

[1] In fairness, Ntini also has six series where his strike rate was over 100, and two series where his bowling average was also over 100.

Bio

Record

Source: ESPN CricInfo

career peak

Sources: ESPN CricInfo