Rabada back to add more sting
England to feel quickie’s fury after his one-match ban for swearing
London – The return of Kagiso Rababa means England’s faltering batsmen head into today’s third Test against South Africa at The Oval knowing they will face an even stronger attack than the one that ran through them at Trent Bridge.
Despite the absence of fast bowler Rabada, banned as a result of swearing at England all-rounder Ben Stokes in the series opener at Lord’s, South Africa’s attack bowled them out for just 133 in their second innings.
That sealed a crushing 340-run win in the second Test at the Nottingham ground earlier this month, as they levelled the fourmatch campaign at 1-1.
England will give a Test debut at number three to Essex batsman Tom Westley in their latest bid to take the pressure off captain Joe Root and former skipper Alastair Cook, a county colleague of the newcomer, at the top of their order.
The weakest link of an SA attack led by Vernon Philander and Morne Morkel at Trent Bridge was Duanne Olivier, but he will now give way to Rabada. At the age of 22, Rabada has already taken 77 wickets in 18 Tests at an average of under 25.
Proteas bowling coach Charl Langeveldt said Rabada would be “raring to go”.
Meanwhile, star batsman Hashim Amla added: “KG is a wonderful bowler. I’m sure he doesn’t want to get banned again ... The way he does it is entirely up to him.”
This match sees SA coach Russell Domingo back with the squad following the death of his mother.
One consolation for England is that, recently, they have rarely suffered heavy defeats in successive home Tests.