Wife: Micaela Nortje, Daughter: Amelia
Anrich Nortje is a fearsome South African fast bowler who combines raw pace with late swing, making him one of the most intimidating quicks in world cricket. The 32-year-old from Uitenhage, who idolized Dale Steyn, announced himself with a blistering 2018-19 Mzansi Super League campaign before earning his ODI and Test debuts in 2019. His ability to consistently clock speeds above 150kph has made him a standout performer across formats, with memorable spells including a four-wicket haul against Bangladesh in the 2022 T20 World Cup and a stunning 155kph rocket that dismantled Jos Buttler’s stumps in the IPL. Despite battling frequent injuries, including stress fractures that sidelined him from the 2023 ODI World Cup, Nortje has remained a strike force for South Africa and a prized asset in franchise cricket. Having represented multiple IPL teams, he was picked up by the Lucknow Super Giants for INR 2 crore in the 2026 auction, continuing his journey as one of the game’s most electrifying pace bowlers.
| Bowling | |||||||||||||
| Format | Mat | Inns | Balls | Runs | Wkts | BBI | BBM | Ave | Econ | SR | 4w | 5w | 10w |
| Tests | 19 | 32 | 3057 | 1870 | 70 | 6/56 | 8/120 | 26.71 | 3.67 | 43.6 | 1 | 4 | 0 |
| ODIs | 22 | 21 | 1006 | 982 | 36 | 4/51 | 4/51 | 27.27 | 5.85 | 27.9 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| T20Is | 47 | 46 | 977 | 1187 | 56 | 4/7 | 4/7 | 21.19 | 7.28 | 17.4 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| FC | 67 | 115 | 11064 | 6124 | 234 | 6/44 | 9/98 | 26.17 | 3.32 | 47.2 | 12 | 9 | 0 |
| List A | 56 | 54 | 2658 | 2296 | 89 | 4/46 | 4/46 | 25.79 | 5.18 | 29.8 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| T20s | 171 | 168 | 3723 | 4872 | 213 | 4/7 | 4/7 | 22.87 | 7.85 | 17.4 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Batting & Fielding | |||||||||||||
| Format | Mat | Inns | NO | Runs | HS | Ave | BF | SR | 100s | 50s | 4s | 6s | Ct |
| Tests | 19 | 33 | 9 | 187 | 40 | 7.79 | 618 | 30.25 | 0 | 0 | 27 | 0 | 6 |
| ODIs | 22 | 7 | 1 | 40 | 10 | 6.66 | 59 | 67.79 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| T20Is | 47 | 14 | 6 | 30 | 12 | 3.75 | 50 | 60.00 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 10 |
| FC | 67 | 93 | 25 | 906 | 79* | 13.32 | 2046 | 44.28 | 0 | 4 | 109 | 12 | 15 |
| List A | 56 | 23 | 5 | 150 | 17 | 8.33 | 229 | 65.50 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 12 |
| T20s | 171 | 54 | 27 | 216 | 25 | 8.00 | 205 | 105.36 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 6 | 43 |
He is a right-arm fast bowler who generates extreme pace and late swing, making him a formidable strike bowler in any format of the game.
He was picked up by the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) for INR 2 crore at the IPL 2026 auction.
In IPL 2020 for Delhi Capitals, he finished with 22 wickets, the fourth-highest that season, consistently bowling above 155kph. He also had an excellent second half of IPL 2021, taking 12 wickets in eight games with an economy of 6.16.
He made his ODI debut in March 2019 and his Test debut later that year in India, where his ability to generate pace on docile tracks stood out.
In the 2021 T20 World Cup, he took nine wickets at an economy of 5.3. In the 2022 edition in Australia, he was the fifth-highest wicket-taker with 11 dismissals in five games, including a stunning 4 for 10 against Bangladesh, again maintaining an economy of 5.3.
He has played for the Kolkata Knight Riders, Delhi Capitals, and Lucknow Super Giants in the IPL.
He regularly clocks speeds above 150kph and has been recorded at 156kph in the IPL, making him one of the fastest bowlers in the world.
Yes, he was named the men's cricketer of the year at Cricket South Africa's awards in both 2021 and July 2023.
He was schooled at Brandwag High in Uitenhage, north of Port Elizabeth, and completed a degree in financial planning at Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University.
He was born on November 16, 1993, making him 32 years old.
