Cricket world says same thing on South Africa star Kagiso Rabada

News.com.au

a day ago

Controversial South African quick Kagiso Rabada has ignited a gloomy start to the World Test Championship final against Australia at Lord's.
At lunch on the opening day in London, Australia is in trouble at 4/67, with the under pressure Marnus Labuschagne dismissed for 17 and Travis Head (11) falling on the final ball of the session, leaving Steve Smith (26 not out) at the crease.
Labuschagne showed some good signs in his experiment as an opener, facing 56 balls before falling to Marco Jansen, but Rabada (2/9) was the star of the opening session.
The 30-year-old is one of the biggest threats in world cricket, currently second behind India's Jasprit Bumrah in the ICC Test rankings, narrowly ahead of Australian duo Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood.
But Rabada became embroiled in controversy earlier this year over a positive test for a recreational drug that was initially unreported before the Proteas star was handed a light sentence.
Former Australian captain Tim Paine was among those slamming the process that allowed Rabada to serve a brief ban before being cleared to play this final at Lord's, with the Tasmanian declaring 'it stinks'.
Watch Kagiso Rabada's two wickets in the video player above
'Taking drugs – recreational or performance enhancing – is not a personal issue that can just be hidden for a month,' Paine said on SEN Radio last month.
'A guy can be taken out of the IPL, moved back to South Africa and we just let it slide under the rug. Then we will bring him back once he's already served his ban.
'If he is going to take drugs and be caught doing it, I think people deserve to know what he's taken, how long he is being rubbed out for and who sanctioned it (the suspension). People need to be held to account for stuff like that.'
The positive test was recorded during the South African T20 league in January, but Rabada went to India and played for Gujarat Titans before taking a 'provisional suspension' that ended early last month.
Under World Anti-Doping Authority regulations, a positive test is regarded as 'out of competition' if the player can prove the drug use took place before 11.59pm on the eve of competition and was not intended to enhance performance.
And Rabada has so far taken full advantage of his green light to face Australia, picking up Usman Khawaja for a duck and Cameron Green (4) in the space of four balls as South Africa made a strong start to this one-off Test.
'Another one, two in the over, South Africa are on fire!' Ian Smith said on Prime Video.
'Rabada has removed Green, just like that, two great slips catches in one over.'
The only surprise was that Rabada only bowled an initial six-over spell and didn't return to the attack.
While there were some cheeky comments on social media referencing Rabada's drugs ban, many more were using similar words to Smith to describe his impressive start at Lord's.
X was covered in fire emojis as cricket fans celebrated his opening spell against the reigning WTC champions.
'Kagiso Rabada ignites Lord's! Khawaja's duck and Green's 4 fall in one devastating over,' was one comment on X.
'Kagiso Rabada on fire,' wrote another.
'Kagiso Rabada lights up the WTC with two wickets in one over, pure pace precision and big match temperament on full display,' offered a third.
'Kagiso Rabada the man on fire, two quick wickets in WTCFinal 2025,' said a fourth.
A fifth added: 'Australia rocked early! Rabada breathing fire in the #WTCFinal as South Africa dream big.'
South Africa's big call after winning toss
South African captain Temba Bavuma made a huge decision after winning the toss, sending Australia in to bat in overcast conditions.
'We'll have a bowl first,' Bavuma said. 'Surface looks a good one, overhead conditions dictate that we'll bowl first, while we have the new ball we'll try to make some inroads in the Australian batting line-up.'
Cummins then said his side was quite pleased to be getting first crack with the bat.
'We're happy to bat first. Looks like a pretty good wicket, a few clouds but pretty normal for England,' he said.
'Looks pretty dry, might turn later in the match.'
The Aussie skipper was also asked about Labuschagne as he opened for the first time in Test cricket against a strong South African pace attack.
'He'll get straight into it. Preparation has been unreal, there's been 15 guys pushing for that final 11.
'All the guys in the team are ready to go.
'We've had a really good, about 10-day preparation and we're ready to go.'
Labuschagne looking good early on
Labuschagne looked in good touch early, playing his first two shots confidently off the middle of the bat, a defensive stroke and a more aggressive attempt that didn't beat the field.
The 30-year-old Queenslander was under an intense microscope as he became Khawaja's fifth opening partner since David Warner's retirement and was picked ahead of young tyro Sam Konstas.
Labuschagne started ticking the score over while Khawaja faced 20 balls without getting off the mark, getting a thick edge from Proteas danger man Rabada that was well taken by David Bedingham at first slip.
Four balls later, Australia's new No. 3 Green was also heading back to the pavilion.
The tall Aussie played a false stroke that flew to the slips cordon, with Aiden Markram taking a great catch.
Fans were quick to vent their feelings online towards South Africa's decision to bowl and the new look Australian top order.
X account Aus Cricket Fan wrote: 'If the opposition is bowling first and you have a very new looking top order, it really doesn't give you much confidence.'
Coach Lukas tweeted: 'That's a very strange decision to bowl first by South Africa. Maybe labushange opening and green at 3 they sense an opportunity.'