Rabada ranked No 1 test bowler after India efforts

PROTEAS fast bowler Kagiso “KG” Rabada has climbed to the summit of the ICC test bowler player rankings after he helped South Africa to an exciting 72-run victory in the first test against India at Newlands in Cape Town on Monday.

Rabada returned with five wickets in his two innings for 75 runs after 28.4 overs in the Proteas’ win over India.

South Africa started the match with a frightening four-pronged pace attack that included Dale Steyn‚ Morne Morkel and Vernon Philander. Rabada has collected five points for his impressive performances against India to overtake England’s James Anderson.

Anderson was perched at the summit going into the recent Ashes test which the Three Lions lost 4-0 to Australia.

“It’s special to be ranked as the No 1 test bowler in the world‚ it is a surreal feeling‚” Rabada said.

“It’s what you dream of achieving when you start playing the game.

“Cricket is ultimately a team sport and I am thankful for the support from my teammates. It’s a great start to the year personally and for us as a team.

“Hopefully we can continue putting in winning performances.”

Rabada‚ who helped win the U19 World Cup in the UAE in 2014‚ is the seventh South African bowler to top the bowling rankings after Aubrey Faulkner‚ Hugh Tayfield‚ Peter Pollock‚ Shaun Pollock‚ Dale Steyn and Vernon Philander.

Philander‚ who was named player of the match in Cape Town‚ has forced his way into the top 20 bracket to 12th place as a result of his match-winning figures of 9/75.

Philander’s key wicket was that of Virat Kohli‚ trapped in front for 28 by an inswinger after being gradually drawn across the crease by a steady diet of outswingers.

Another of Philander’s big scalps belonged to Ravichandran Ashwin‚ who stood firm with Bhuvneshwar Kumar in a stand of 49 for the eighth wicket‚ India’s biggest of the innings.

It was ended immediately after Quinton de Kock crouched snugly behind the stumps to Philander.

“You have to be open to those suggestions‚ but I’ll have to give this one to ‘Faffie’ [Faf du Plessis]‚” Philander said.

“Ashwin‚ at the time‚ was batting quite far out of his crease‚ and the wicket was a touch on the slow side and the ball was a bit older.

“I also felt that by pushing him back we could get all three dismissals into play.”

Ashwin slashed wildly at Philander’s first delivery of that over‚ and De Kock held a fine catch.

Three balls later‚ in which Philander had Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah caught at second slip‚ the match had been won.