Dodgy KG knee aside, pace ace boosts SA

South Africa’s attack lacked a cutting edge without Rabada’s special talent at the Hagley Oval, which resulted in the visitors surrendering a 12-match unbeaten streak.

Although Wayne Parnell was impressive with the new ball and Dwaine Pretorius during the middle-overs, there was a lack of execution at the back-end of the innings where Rabada’s exquisite yorkers regularly come to the fore.

“He has been a stalwart for us for a while now,” Duminy said.

“He has been our main strike bowler in most formats and it’s always a great strength for us to have him in our attack.”

However, for all the skills Rabada brings to the South African bowling unit, and the desire to utilise them in every international match across all formats, the Proteas’ management have to be mindful of managing the young fast bowler’s workload.

Rabada’s New Delhi coach Paddy Upton provided some sort of comfort this week in an exclusive interview from Dubai with Independent Newspapers that he will be wary of overexerting Rabada during the seven-week IPL season, but the big question remains whether the youngster will get through a packed international schedule without incurring a major injury.

The Proteas have a threematch Test series following these one-dayers and Rabada will undoubtedly lead the attack in the longer format. He then flies off to India for the IPL before joining his Proteas teammates in the United Kingdom for the ICC Champions Trophy and a full tour of England that stretches into August.

Although scans on Rabada’s “sore knee” were clear this week, the workload of delivering the most overs by a South African bowler last year – a mammoth 431 overs – seems to be taking its toll as he did not bowl in the nets in the lead-up to the third ODI.

Alongside his trusted bowling coach Charl Langeveldt, Rabada bowled alone in the middle of the field with his left knee strapped up.

South Africa can ill-afford for Rabada to break down with a long-term injury. Their fast bowling stocks have already been depleted over the course of this international summer.

Dale Steyn is set to be out of action for a considerable period after freakishly injuring his shoulder in the first Test against Australia at the Waca in Perth last November. Steyn is still nowhere close to being bowling fit yet and is only scheduled to return to the game in July.

Fellow veterans Vernon Philander and Morné Morkel are also making their way back from injury via the on-going domestic Momentum One-Day Cup. Philander’s ankle ailment was only a minor niggle, but Morkel’s back struggles were far more serious.

Experts told the lanky paceman that he “would never be able to play cricket again” which had the 32-year-old seriously considering his future in the game.

However, he is now back in action for the Titans and working his way back to fitness and should be ready for a return to international action at the Champions Trophy in May.

Promising Titans fast bowler Lungi Ngidi, 20, is on the comeback trail, too.