'I can give my blood for this team': Kagiso Rabada after historic WTC title win
Kagiso Rabada (Image credit: ICC)
South African fast bowler
Kagiso Rabada
said that winning the World Test Championship (WTC) title was even more memorable given the team's "fairly inexperienced" status, yet they managed to secure a remarkable victory against a star-studded Australian side.
Led by skipper Temba Bavuma, the Proteas ended a 27-year-long wait for an ICC trophy by defeating Australia in the WTC final at Lord's, with Rabada playing a crucial role by taking nine wickets in the match.
"We are a fairly inexperienced team who got together about a year ago, we have not been with each other for a long time, and we have gone on and produced this. I'll never forget this in my life, none of the boys will forget this," Rabada told the ICC.
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Rabada, a key figure in South Africa's pace attack, said the win felt even more special considering the quality of the opposition — players his younger teammates had looked up to growing up.
"Australia are a well accustomed team and with all due respect, a bit of an aging team. Some of those guys were playing when we were still in high school. If you put into perspective for the younger players what that's like. It is special, it hasn't sunk in.
"This has given us confidence we can do it again," added Rabada, who surpassed Allan Donald to move into fourth place on South Africa's list of all-time Test wicket-takers.
Despite his match-winning performance, Rabada said he prefers to view himself as a hard-working team player.
"I don't see myself as a star. I see myself as someone willing to work, give my blood for this team and continue working hard and improving.
That's me as a cricketer, always wanting to improve and playing for the badge with a lot of pride. That's the way I'd like to see everyone play.
"Every game I play, I'm looking to get wickets. I'm not going to go into the game thinking 'I need to get seven wickets for us to win', I look at it as an opportunity to get as many wickets as I can to help the team," he added. Rabada currently holds the best strike rate (38.9) among bowlers with more than 150 Test wickets.
Rabada, who picked up a five-wicket haul in the first innings and continued to trouble batters in the second, admitted that the latter spells were tougher, but he focused on staying composed.
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"I've been working extremely hard, those second innings spells are the ones that count a lot more -- when you are a bit tired and behind in the game.
"It was just about staying calm and looking at what was in front of us. All mayhem broke loose, we got five wickets in I don't know how many overs, it was a crazy game of cricket.
"There are normally two voices in your head - one that doubts and one that believes. That is the one we keep feeding, especially in big moments like this, the World Test Championship final. That is why you saw the performances you saw. It is testament to our team this season."
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