Warning on over-use of star bowler

WEST Indian legend Michael Holding has cautioned against the overuse of young pace spearhead Kagiso Rabada.

Rabada was in prime form in the second test where his 10-wicket haul sealed the series win.

“Kagiso Rabada is a player with an excellent future ahead of him and he needs to be managed properly‚” Holding said.

He was the keynote speaker at Wednesday’s annual Western Province Cricket Club New Year address. “He’s enthusiastic‚ he’s athletic. “He can run in and bowl fast all day, but we know you can’t do that the whole day.

“You have to make sure you manage him because he can’t manage himself.

“He’s not going to limit himself and you hope there will be someone who will limit him.

“If he’s going to last for 14 or 15 years‚ he can’t bowl 25 to 30 overs in a day on a regular basis.

“He’ll want to do it, but he needs to be told it’s OK to say no and not bowl regularly.”

While cooler conditions on day four allowed for Rabada to bowl the most overs in the attack‚ especially in the second innings‚ Kyle Abbott’s impending departure for Hampshire, and factors like Dale Steyn’s injury, mean that Rabada, 21, has to be monitored and managed closely.

Steyn is only likely to make a comeback from his broken shoulder in June, while Morne Morkel has struggled with fitness after a back injury that has kept him out of action for nearly a year.

Probably fuelled by the exuberance of youth‚ Rabada was not quite enamoured by the need to rest when the sun is shining for him.

He is aware of how important he is to the South African cause in the light of his senior fast bowlers having to look after their bodies.

“I think resting is when you’ve got time off, and when you’ve got time off‚ that’s when you should be resting‚” Rabada said.

“When you need to bowl is when you need to bowl because you have to get yourself to the highest level.

“It’s a broad topic, but I guess it comes with experience and knowing yourself, because you’ll know how to rest and control your rest.

“In time and with experience‚ you know when you need to rest.”

In time and with experience‚ you know when you need to rest