Proteas are Champs Trophy favourites
Rabada is youngest bowler to top the world’s ODI rankings
THEY say that not everything is won on paper, but if it was, South Africa would be favourites for the Champions Trophy that starts tomorrow.
Going by the ICC rankings, South Africa have considerable firepower at their disposal, a fact emphasised by the ascension of Kagiso Rabada to the top of the one-day bowling pile, just ahead of his teammate, Imran Tahir.
At just 22, Rabada has not yet celebrated his two-year anniversary in international cricket, but he is already regarded as one of the leading lights in all formats. For South Africa, certainly, he has risen meteorically to become the spearhead of a team that has lost its fair share of experience in the fast-bowling department.
But, Rabada’s rise has previous little to do with the exit or injuries to others. He has grabbed the mantle as the leading man by sheer force of performance and personality, and his ice-cool temperament continues to impress at the highest level.
He leapt from fifth in the rankings to first, thanks to a seven-wicket haul in the recently concluded series against England, which he ended with four for 39 in his maiden appearance at the home of cricket, Lord’s.
Rabada becomes the youngest man to reach the summit since Saqlain Mushtaq of Pakistan, and he has shown signs of finding his best form, just in touch for the blue-ribbon event. Already, he has harvested 64 wickets at a rate of 24.90, at an economy rate that is a sliver over five an over.
The numbers alone are impressive, but Rabada’s real value in the side goes beyond the numbers. As skipper AB de Villiers seeks for the best balance between his specialists and his all-rounders, he knows he can chuck his lanky assassin the ball at any stage of the game, and he can strike.
Once Imran Tahir, the number two-ranked bowler in the world (and T20 international’s top bowler) returns, there will be a stronger presence about the Proteas’ attack, which has looked to be their biggest concern over the preparation games against England.
De Villiers, Faf du Plessis, Hashim Amla and Quinton de Kock are all in the top ten batting rankings, and the South African side itself is still top of the team standings. All these stats make impressive reading, and point to a team that is consistent over an extended period of time.
Indeed, the series loss to England was against the grain, after a considerable head of steam was built up at home, going back to a 3-2 win over England themselves in 2015-16.
In that period, Rabada rose through the ranks, gone from rookie to chief-destroyer, to the point that there is debate about when he should be rested and protected.
All the kid wants to do is play and, happily, there will be no rest for the wicket-grabber over the next three weeks.
Starting on Saturday, he will hope for English conditions to give him something to nibble at around offstump, because the door only needs to be slightly ajar for him to kick it down and cause havoc.
He initially came into the spotlight on the back of an ICC event, when he propelled the South Africa under-19 team to a World Cup title. Back then, there was a suspicion that he had what it takes, and it was only a matter of time before he graduated to the big boys.
Now, just 22 months into his international career, he has lived up to the promise on paper, and is recognised as one of the world’s great strike bowlers. Tellingly, he has shown from day one that he has another gear in his arsenal – for when he needs it.
South Africa, and millions back home, will hope the number one bowler in the one-day world slides into that slippery sixth gear when it matters most.
It may well be KG’s time.