Ravindra Jadeja quickest left-arm bowler to 200 Test wickets

The spinner reaches the landmark on the third day of the first Test against South Africa in Visakhapatnam.

Ravindra Jadeja exults after getting rid of Dean Elgar. Photo: AP

India's Ravindra Jadeja dismissed South Africa's opener Dean Elgar to become the fastest left-arm bowler to claim 200 Test wickets, on the third day of the first Test in Visakhapatnam.

Elgar, who was batting on 160,  was caught by Cheteshwar Pujara at square leg after getting a top edge from an attempted sweep shot.

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Jadeja is now the second-fastest to 200 Test wickets among Indian spinners, after team-mate Ravinchandran Ashwin. Ashwin had taken just 36 Tests to get to the mark; on the other hand, Jadeja had to wait until his 44th Test.

Among Indians, the three fastest to 200 wickets after Jadeja are all spinners. Harbhajan Singh got there in his 46th Test, against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo in 2005; Anil Kumble in his 47th Test, against Zimbabwe in Harare in 1998; and B. S. Chandrasekhar in his 48th Test, against Australia in Melbourne in 1977. Kapil Dev comes next; he took 50 Tests to get there.

The fastest bowler to take 200 Test wickets is Pakistan's Yasir Shah — 33 Tests. Ashwin is third in the list.

Among left-arm bowlers, Sri Lanka's Rangana Herath is second, after Jadeja. Herath took 47 Tests to get there while Australian speedster Mitchell Johnson is third in the list with 49 Tests above fellow Australian Mitchell Starc has took 50 Tests to get to the landmark.