Still plenty of needle in series with or without Rabada, says Elgar
cape town — There will still be plenty of needle in the third Test between South Africa and Australia whether or not Kagiso Rabada wins his appeal against suspension, opener Dean Elgar said on Monday.
South Africa fast bowler Rabada is appealing against a ban handed down for brushing the shoulder of Australia captain Steve Smith in the hosts’ sixwicket victory in the second test in Port Elizabeth which levelled the four-match series at 1-1. The sanction of three demerit points took Rabada past the threshold of eight in the past 24 months to trigger an automatic two-match suspension.
Rabada’s appeal takes place on Monday and although Elgar says the side will cope whatever the outcome, having the number one ranked Test bowler in the team would be a huge lift for hosts South Africa.
“Having him in the side is massive for us, massive for the game and massive for the format, because KG is such a special cricketer,” Elgar told reporters on Monday. “But there are rules that are implemented for certain instances. As cricketers we respect that, if he is good to go for the third test it will be good for us and good for the game.”
Elgar does not expect the intensity in what has been an acrimonious series to drop off, especially after a social media comment by South African seamer Vernon Philander suggested Smith was equally at fault for the incident. Philander said his account was hacked, but Elgar thinks the all-rounder should expect plenty of chatter from the Australians in Cape Town. “There has been a lot of niggle from both sides, but it is what you expect when you play quality opposition,” Elgar said. “The intensity should be there, that is what makes this format so special in my eyes.” —