Anrich Nortje’s Test Stats: A Closer Look At His Record Before South Africa Return Vs Australia

Anrich Nortje for South Africa in Tests (Source: AFP Photos)

Often plagued by injuries, Anrich Nortje last played a Test match for South Africa back in March 2023, against New Zealand in Centurion. Almost three and a half years later, he is set to return to South Africa’s playing XI in red-ball cricket when they face Australia in a different format next month.

As of now, South Africa have a preliminary squad for the first Test against Australia, scheduled to take place at Kingsmead, Durban, from October 9 onwards.

Alongside Nortje, Gerald Coetzee, Marco Jansen, Wiaan Mulder, Corbin Bosch, and a half-fit Kagiso Rabada make up South Africa’s fast-bowling attack for the Durban Test.

Time will tell whether Nortje makes the cut in the South Africa vs Australia 1st Test, but let’s look at his overall Test numbers.

Anrich Nortje's Test Record In South Africa

There was not a single innings in which Nortje bowled in a Test match in South Africa and left the field without taking a wicket. That alone shows how lethal he can be when playing a Test match at home. However, in between, he had plenty of injury setbacks.

[Anrich Nortje's Test Numbers In South Africa, Updated Till September 29, 2026]

Nortje has played 19 Tests so far, seven of which are at home. He has four five-wicket hauls in Tests, and three of them came in South Africa alone.

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The greatest spell bowled by Nortje came in 2021 when he was in Johannesburg, bowling to Sri Lanka. He returned figures of 6/56, his best-ever bowling figures in the format.

Anrich Nortje's Test Record Outside South Africa

Not only in South Africa, Nortje, a fast bowler known for sheer pace, did extremely well in Tests in other parts of the world as well.

Among them, England were his most favourable nation, having got a strike rate of 31.8 there in Tests. On the other hand, he struggled miserably while bowling in India during two Tests, in Pune and in Ranchi.

Nonetheless, in terms of bowling average, Nortje improved his numbers in the West Indies more than anywhere else.

[Anrich Nortje's Test Numbers Outside South Africa]

Anrich Nortje's Overall Test Record

Barring that India tour, Anrich Nortje performed consistently well in Tests earlier in his career, so his overall Test numbers remain impressive.

[Anrich Nortje's Test Numbers Overall, Updated Till September 29, 2026]

However, he had a subpar start to his career, averaging 47 (Six wickets in 4 innings) in 2019 and 32.5 (16 wickets in seven innings) the following year. After that, he did not stop from doing wonderful things.

So, South Africa should not keep Nortje on the bench, given that he took 19 wickets in 10 matches in the recently concluded ETPL 2026. It would always be interesting to see how Nortje 2.0 will perform, that too when the stakes are high.

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