KG is worth his weight in gold - Faf

Port Elizabeth – Swinging the ball both ways at pace and not delivering many bad balls – that’s what makes Kagiso Rabada special according to Proteas captain Faf du Plessis, who was loving his fast bowler even more than usual after he spearheaded South Africa’s six-wicket win over Australia in the second Test at St George’s Park yesterday.

Rabada ensured there would be no fightback from Australia on the fourth morning, bowling Mitchell Marsh for 45 in the first over of the day, and then claiming two more wickets in quick succession as the visitors went from their overnight score of 180/5 to 239 all out. Rabada took 6/54 in 22 overs in the second innings, giving him match figures of 11/150, the second-best by a South African bowler against Australia, behind off-spinner Hugh Tayfield’s 13/165 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in 1952/53.

His heroics meant the Proteas had to score just 101 in their second innings to win and, some minor hiccups aside, they got there with four wickets down as Aiden Markram (21), Hashim Amla (27) and AB de Villiers (28) all chipped in well.

“KG has had an amazing rise, he has the best strike-rate of any bowler playing today and you don’t have to say much more about him. But it’s a huge pleasure as captain to have him and his skill at making the ball talk in both directions. To be able to move the ball both ways at pace, and not bowl a lot of bad balls, that’s what makes him so special,” Du Plessis said after levelling the series at 1-1.

With the verbal battles and send-offs – Rabada has been suspended for two Tests – still dominating conversation at another gripping Test match, Du Plessis was happy to pardon the sort of blue language that was clearly being used out in the middle.

“Our style is not to swear or chirp all the time but things have changed so much in terms of what is not allowed over the last year or two that there have been a lot more incidents. Where the game is going, every single thing is being monitored.

“But our biggest concern is that we just ask for consistency.”