‘KG’ swats Aussies off the park and gets banned
Star bowler helps SA to level series
Proteas paceman will miss rest of series
A contrite Kagiso Rabada admits he has let his team down after his two-test suspension significantly weakened South Africa’s chances of winning their home test series against Australia.
The firebrand fastbowler recorded figures of 11-150 to help South Africa win the second test in Port Elizabeth yesterday and level the series at 11.
“It’s going to have to stop. I can’t keep doing this because I am letting the team down and I am letting myself down,” Rabada told reporters yesterday.
“I have to see it as a big learning curve and not repeat the same mistake.”
After being found guilty of making contact with Australia captain Steve Smith and being overzealous in his sendoff of David Warner in the second test, he now has nine demerit points, and they triggered the automatic two-game suspension.
The 22-year-old was fined 50% of his match fee.
“There are a lot of grey areas but rules are rules.
“The reason why we went for a hearing [on the Smith charge] was because we be- lieve that there’s not a lot of consistency,” Rabada said.
Cricket SA said it was seeking legal counsel about a possible appeal that could potentially make Rabada available for the next test in Cape Town, which starts on March 22.
Rabada said after being named man-of-the-match: “Australia were never going to give in easily so you had to go to the reserve tank and give of your best.”
The tourists lost Mitchell Marsh (45) in the first over as Rabada uprooted his middle stump before Pat Cummins (5) was well-caught in the gully by De Bruyn.
Rabada got his third in quick succession as Mitchell Starc (1) edged a drive to wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock.
Fellow fast bowler Lungi Ngidi (2-24) had Nathan Lyon (5) caught by De Kock, before Tim Paine and Josh Hazlewood added 28 for the final wicket