Cape Town - The statistics suggest that Imran Tahir, who will retire from the format after the World Cup, is easily the best ODI spinner the Proteas have ever fielded.
Tahir still wants to play T20I cricket for South Africa, but he has very nearly reached the end of the road when it comes to ODIs.
Regardless of what happens between now and the end of the World Cup, Tahir will end his career as comfortably the highest wicket-taker in ODIs when it comes to spinners.
The numbers below show why he is considered one of the greatest South African cricket has ever seen.
SA spin bowlers in ODIs:
Imran Tahir: 156 wickets, 95 matches, 24.56 average, 4.65 economy
Nicky Boje: 95 wickets, 113 matches, 35.27 average, 4.51 economy
Robin Peterson: 75 wickets, 79 matches, 35.73 average, 4.90 economy
Pat Symcox: 72 wickets, 80 matches, 38.36 average, 4.15 economy
Johan Botha: 72 wickets, 76 matches, 39.11 average, 4.56 economy
When it comes to T20I cricket, Tahir has taken not only taken more wickets than any other spinner in South Africa but any other bowler, too.
He leads the way with 60 T20I wickets while Dale Steyn (58) is second and Morne Morkel (46) third.
SA spin bowlers in T20I cricket:
Imran Tahir: 60 wickets, 34 matches, 13.96 average, 6.60 economy
Johan Botha: 37 wickets, 40 matches, 22.24 average, 6.37 economy
Robin Peterson: 24 wickets, 21 matches, 18.79 average, 7.53 economy
JP Duminy: 21 wickets, 78 matches, 27.66 average, 7.62 economy
Aaron Phangiso: 20 wickets, 16 matches, 22.15 average, 7.77 economy
Test cricket would prove to be the most difficult format for Tahir, and it is the one form of the game where he does not leave with glowing numbers.
Still, he finds himself in the top five when it comes to the country's highest wicket-takers since readmission.
SA spin bowlers in Test cricket since readmission:
Paul Adams: 134 wickets, 45 matches, 32.87 average, 2.98 economy
Paul Harris: 103 wickets, 37 matches, 37.87 average, 2.65 economy
Nicky Boje: 100 wickets, 43 matches, 42.65 average, 2.96 economy
Keshav Maharaj: 94 wickets, 25 matches 28.44 average, 3.19 economy
Imran Tahir: 57 wickets, 20 matches, 40.24 average, 3.50 economy