Life moves on for Kagiso Rabada, but now calls on Proteas batters to combat Aussie speedsters

LONDON: Kagiso Rabada has already delivered a special bowling performance. He may now have to double up with the bat on Thursday for the Proteas to keep going toe-to-toe with Australia in this fast-moving World Test Championship Final at Lord’s.

The opening two sessions belonged to Rabada and the Proteas. They had the large number of Proteas fans in the stands chanting traditional South African songs as the Aussies were blown away. 

“It felt like a home game,” Rabada said. But he also admitted that the eventual Australian may have been a few too many. 

“212, you'll take that. But we thought probably 160 is what we should have had them at,” he said. 

The fact that it was that much was largely due to a non-review by the Proteas when Rabada wrapped Australia’s top-scorer Beau Webster (72) on the pads when he had just eight. 

“Yeah, Corbin Bosch came down to find leg and he said it was out. And I was like, oh man! Rabada sighed. 

“Yeah, it was a bit annoying. He didn't start off too well there. It looked like he was going to get out any ball. But I guess his positive intent got him through. Cricket's a funny game.”

It was no laughing matter, though, when Rabada’s hard work was undone in the final session when the Australian seamers ran through the Proteas’ top-order to leave Shukri Conrad’s team at 43/4 when the stumps were drawn. 

Unlike Webster, and Steve Smith’s (66) counter-attacking approach at the crease, the Proteas batters never threw a punch in anger as the Australian attack landed one left hook after the other. 

Southpaw Mitchell Starc was particularly impressive with figures of 2/10. But unlike Rabada that operated primarily in solo fashion, Starc had Pat Cummins (1/14) and Josh Hazlewood (1/10) for support. 

“The ball was nipping quite a bit and at times moving off the slope quite a lot. But I still felt like batters could get in,” Rabada said. 

“If you just bowled well and got more balls in the right area for a long period of time, then that's when you could create chances. They didn't miss their lengths and they bowled really well. So, we're going to have to combat that tomorrow (Thursday).”

The Proteas’ chances may have nose-dived in that final hour, but it remained a day to remember for Rabada for so many reasons. 

The fast bowler has been in the spotlight since testing for a banned substance and the spotlight was firmly on the 30-year-old to see how he would respond to the scrutiny.

A second five-wicket haul at the Home of Cricket on the opening day of the WTC Final was an emphatic response. At the same time, Rabada confirmed his status in the pantheon of South Africa’s fast bowling legends by passing ICC Hall of Famer Allan Donald’s 330 Test wickets. 

“Yeah, obviously it wasn't my best moment, as I've alluded to,” Rabada said. “Now, life moves on. I think every game that I play for South Africa, I try to do my best, so I didn't try to give any more or any less effort than I usually do in all the games that I play for South Africa, so that's all I tried to do today.

“I guess to be named in that list of bowlers is special. As a player growing up and representing South Africa, I've been inspired by those who've come before and seen what they've done on the big stage. 

“As a kid, I was inspired to want to do the same thing. So I guess to be listed in that list of names is something special and long may it continue.”