WTC Final, AUS vs SA: Kagiso Rabada becomes only second player to achieve this unique feat in Lord's 141-year history
Rabada claimed a total of 9 wickets against AUS, including a fifer in the first innings (Image via AP /Kirsty Wigglesworth)
South African fast bowler
Kagiso Rabada
has etched his name alongside West Indies legend Gordon Greenidge as the only two players in the 141-year history of Lord's to appear on the iconic honours boards in both the home and away dressing rooms.
Rabada
's latest feat came during the World Test Championship (WTC) final against Australia at the historic ground. The 30-year-old delivered a masterclass, claiming 5 for 51 in the first innings and following it up with another four wickets in the second, helping South Africa stay competitive against a strong Australian side.
In Test cricket, players who score a century or take a five-wicket haul at Lord's earn the privilege of having their name inscribed in gold lettering on the famous honours boards - an accolade revered by cricketers worldwide.
Before Rabada, this rare distinction belonged solely to Gordon Greenidge. The legendary opener's scores of 214 not out and 103 for the West Indies against England in 1984 and 1988 are immortalised on the away honours board. Lesser known, however, is Greenidge's appearance on the home board — a result of his 122 while playing for the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) against the Rest of the World in 1987.
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Rabada, too, was already on the away board for his five-wicket haul (5 for 52) against England in 2022.
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But this time, a unique twist added to the story. As South Africa were assigned the home dressing room for the WTC final, Rabada's first-innings five-for earned him a place on the home board as well — making him only the second player in Lord's history to achieve this honour.
A piece of sticky batting tape with Rabada's name written on it has been temporarily attached to the board for his figures of 5-51, as tradition dictates during the match.
The gold lettering will follow soon, reported the BBC.
Poll
Do you believe Rabada's doping ban affected his performance?
Yes
No, he has fully recovered
Rabada's achievement is even more poignant given his recent redemption arc, bouncing back strongly after serving a doping ban for using a recreational drug — an incident Australian captain Pat Cummins confirmed his side would not exploit as a sledging tactic. 'That's not our style. I doubt that will come up,' Cummins said before the final.
Cricket greats have not held back in their praise. Former Australia skipper Ricky Ponting likened Rabada's prowess at Lord's to that of Glenn McGrath, who famously exploited the unique slope at the ground to devastating effect. 'Glenn McGrath was exactly the same at Lord's. He loved bowling there and mastered the slope from both ends — something not talked about as much as it should be,' Ponting told the ICC. 'These big games are about big-name players standing up, and Rabada did exactly that.
'
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Reflecting on his name appearing in both dressing rooms, Rabada called the achievement 'cool', underlining the personal significance of joining such a niche club in cricket's spiritual home.
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