The Eden Park Test began on Friday, and by then Conrad would have been aware of Kagiso Rabada‘s rib injury, which would have prevented him from playing. The fast bowler is so valuable to South Africa’s cause that, despite his colleagues warming up for the game, he was kept in the mix until he failed a fitness test.
He is the man who never leaves. Until he’s not. There are several players that rely on his slender, athletic body to bowl teams to victory. He doesn’t, however, sit and watch other people bowl. He was singled out by his coach this week as the team’s only star. However, the darkness of the dressing room prevents even stars from shining.
On Wednesday, Shukri Conrad stated, “We’re a team without any superstars,” but he later changed his mind. Perhaps one. The most noticeable is Kagiso Rabada.
How much would South Africa’s star be missed? The batting coach, Ashwell Prince, was sent to the post-play press conference, which was appropriate. Classy bowling on a difficult pitch dismissed his charges for 159 in three overs over two sessions. Prince was right to be questioned about Kagiso Rabada, though, given the lead story from South Africa focused on the man who wasn’t present.
“KG is a world class bowler, probably one of the top two or three seam bowlers in the world,” remarked Prince. “We’ve witnessed the devastation that one of the world’s top seam bowlers is capable of doing today. Since that surface is helping the quick bowlers, he will undoubtedly be missed.
Officially ranked as the world No. 1, Jasprit Bumrah is that other fast bowler. Kagiso Rabada trails only Pat Cummins and himself among the quicks. On Friday, it was easy to understand why Bumrah was at the top of the list.
His pearler, which straightened enough to beat Ryan Rickelton’s bat and nail his off stump, ruined South Africa’s well-planned opening stand of 57. After four deliveries, Bumrah produced a black mamba-like ball that jumped off a length and struck Aiden Markram’s bat shoulder before landing in the clutches of a jumping Rishabh Pant.
Because of this, the South Africans, who decided to bat, were unable to put themselves back together. The final five wickets were lost for 13 runs, and all ten were lost for 102 runs. After an unimpressive opening spell, Mohammad Siraj returned to trap Kyle Verreynne in front and bowl Marco Jansen in the same over. Kuldeep Yadav earned the valuable wickets of Temba Bavuma and Wiaan Mulder by making quick turns in both directions. Bumrah came back to finish off an incredible 5/27 haul.
“It was a sensational bowling display, particularly from Bumrah,” Prince commented. “There isn’t always much a batter can do to improve an excellent delivery. However, we must work hard. The game still has a long way to go, but maybe the second inning will see an improvement for us.
Hopefully so. With the wicket of Yashasvi Jaiswal and the steady and patient play of KL Rahul and Washington Sundar, India was 123 runs behind the lead when the game was forced to end early due to losing light.
The bowlers from the visitors will be hoping that the pitch will be as helpful as India’s was.
“In the first over [of South Africa’s innings] one ball rolled and went for four byes, then two or three balls reared up,” Prince explained. Because of the erratic bounce, I don’t think any of our batters gained confidence. An hour at the crease makes you less trusting of the surface than you should be.
“And when you face a quality attack they can more often than not get the ball into the danger area and it does too much for you.”
Tony de Zorzi, Rickelton, and Mulder all entered their 20s, while Markram looked amazing for his age of 31. Their combined score was about two-thirds of the total.
As he saw Bumrah ruin the innings in stuttering conditions, Kagiso Rabada must have wished he could be out there too. As if he were almost always.
Since making his debut for South Africa in a Twenty20 International match against Australia in Adelaide in November 2014, Kagiso Rabada has participated in 249 of the team’s 408 games. It is 61.03%. He has played in 106 of their 177 ODIs (59.89%), 73 of their 91 Tests (a staggering 80.22%), and precisely half of their 140 T20Is.
Compared to 293 of his 373 South African teammates who made it that far, Kagiso Rabada has missed less Test matches. Of the current squad’s 15 members, eight are part of their ranks.
He is the man who never leaves. Almost. Kagiso Rabada has bowled more test overs for South Africa than any other player in his career (2,239.2). Alternatively, he took more wickets than his 340 in that period. Or better than his average of 22.03 among those who have played at least 10 Test matches.
To realise that you are witnessing greatness as he glides towards the bowling crease, you don’t even need to be familiar with cricket or any of those metrics. There are some players that are overconfident. Many are talented at the international level, and even more likely possess the abilities needed to make their efforts matter. Those who possess all of that and can also bring Kagiso Rabada level of presence to a cricket ground or any other location he might grace are uncommon.
Among the black players in South Africa, he is unique in that he has never been made fun of for being black by being called a quota cricketer. There are far too many world-class bigots in our nation, which is a problem, but even they can spot a world-class fast bowler.
Bumrah is an ode to beautiful eccentricity, whereas Kagiso Rabada is as conventional in his approach to his craft as he could be without being lost in a coaching manual. It is extraordinary how he is able to disentangle his realistic portrayal of the Statue of Liberty as he rushes to the crease and bowls so brilliantly.
Bumrah’s career saw him take two more Test wickets for India, only surpassed by R Ashwin. Although he only has 15 caps, Axar Patel is the only player with an average higher than Bumrah’s 19.52. Bumrah is not India’s Kagiso Rabada , though.
Only 50 out of 102 Test matches, 89 out of 174 ODIs, and 80 out of 202 T20Is have seen him play. The corresponding percentages are 39.60, 51.15, and 49.02. or 45.82% in all forms. Unsurprisingly, given his spinning corkscrew of a movement, injuries have played a part.
Imagine the delight of being able to see more Bumrah. The converse is true at Eden Gardens, where Kagiso Rabada is not present to watch. Guwahati awaits with joy.
India
