Rabada to ease the Steyn pain
BARRY RICHARDS: KAGISO’S ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC
South Africa great Barry Richards believes the rise of Kagiso Rabada has “lessened the pain” of Dale Steyn’s absence ahead of a Test series in England. Steyn, perhaps the best fast bowler of his generation, has been ruled out of the four-Test campaign with a longstanding shoulder problem that has sidelined him since the end of last year.
But Rabada has helped fill the gap, the 22-year-old quick taking 71 wickets in 17 Tests at an impressively low average of 23.69 since making his debut against India at Mohali in November 2015.
“I think a lot of people were really wobbly about Steyn and the injuries he’s had, the age group, he’s in,” said Richards, the outstanding opening batsman of the early 1970s, in London this week.
“Then Rabada popped out of the woodwork and he’s been absolutely fantastic. He bowls at a good pace, nice, easy action. If conditions are right, he’ll swing it which is a real asset for a fast bowler,” he added.
“From a South African point of view, he’s been fantastic for us and really lessened the pain of Dale Steyn not being in the set-up.
“But I think our fast-bowling stocks are pretty good. (Chris) Morris as an all-rounder, and then (Morne) Morkel – he always looks like he should do well but he always bowls that yard too short for me, so even when his good ball beats the bat it goes over the stumps.”
Renowned swing bowler Vernon Philander missed the Proteas’ three-day warm-up match against the second-string England Lions that started Thursday with an ankle injury suffered while playing for English county side Sussex a fortnight ago and Richards said: “Vernon is a worry for us for this coming series because he’s been in and out of injury.
“He’s fantastic when he’s on song, but he needs to keep his pace above 128km/h).
If his pace falls below that, he doesn’t become as effective because it doesn’t nip as quick you can adjust,’’ he added.
The first Test starts at Lord’s on Thursday. – AFP