Whispering Death II: Kagiso Rabada, fast and climbing
: For the second time this year, Kagiso Rabada displaced England’s seasoned paceman and master of swing, James Anderson from the top of ICC rankings list. With Dale Steyn not looking good to continue for long in international cricket due to frequent injuries, Rabada’s elevation to the top probably signals the beginning of a new era in fast bowling.
The South Africa pacer on Monday dismantled the Australians on a sluggish Port Elizabeth with top class fast bowling to pick his fourth 10-wicket haul in his 28th Test. This is just one less than compatriot Dale Steyn who achieved his five in as many as 86 Tests.
The recent performances also put a burden of expectations on him ---whether the 22-year-old, already with 135 wickets, will become the highest wicket-taker among pacers in Test cricket. Among the most successful pace bowlers in Test cricket, the top five wickettakers, no one has more wickets than him in 28 Test matches (see box). This fact is enough to build hopes. However, even as batsmen have been trying to fend off his searing pace, one man who has been continuously facing questions on Rabada throughout this South African summer, wants to keep things in perspective.
Former West Indies paceman Michael Holding, who is now commentating in South Africa was asked by ESPNcricinfo.com if Rabada will get to 500 wickets. He responded, “He is taking 4.5 wickets per Test (4.82). Although it is easier to play 100 Tests these days, he is bowling at very high speeds. Will he be able to sustain it for that long?”
It is easy to find out where Holding is coming from. Rabada’s senior compatriot Dale Steyn had five more wickets than Rabada at this stage of his career. Steyn, however, began facing severe injury issues after crossing the 400-wicket mark.
Holding would know the effort that goes into Rabada’s bowling as the young right-arm pacer’s effortless action is often compared to that of the Caribbean legend.
For his ability to float through his run-up, whip up pace and take wickets, Holding was called the ‘Whispering Death’. Like Holding, who took 249 wickets in 60 Tests in heyday of Caribbean pace bowling, Rabada too is supported with a battery of pacers around him.
Experts have been praising the ease of his action. The smooth action allows Rabada to produce the deceptive pace. With such an easy action, the bowler tends to mature quickly and learning becomes quicker. It is easy to implement what the mind thinks. Likewise, Steyn’s action is uncomplicated too. However, one thing that Rabada seems ahead of his senior pro is bowling to lefthanders.
Former South Africa paceman Fanie De Villiers had earlier spoken of how Dale Steyn has struggled against left-handers. “If he had bowled better to left-handers, he could have had 80-100 more extra wickets. Even if he improves his bowling to lefthanders now, he can finish among the top wickettakers,” De Villiers had said four years back. Unfortunately, Steyn hasn’t.
In contrast, Rabada seems better. Four of his second innings victims in Port Elizabeth Test were left-handers and all were beaten by pace and/or movement. The deliveries were on the money. In the first innings, he got two lefties out of five.
The difference is evident in numbers too. Rabada has removed left-handers at about the same average as he has righthanders --- averaging 20.18 (91 wickets) against right-handers to 20.43 (44 wickets) against lefthanders. Steyn averages 23.48 (124 wickets) against left-handers but averages an outstanding 17.75 against right-handers (295 wickets).
The real test for Rabada should come in the sub-continent, most specifically in India where reverse swing is key. He showed the skills at Port Elizabeth but the likes of Anderson and especially Steyn have earned their legendary status for what they’ve done away from home, especially with the old ball in India.