Red-hot Rabada keeps a cool head as he picks county skills over IPL flash
by Neil Manthorp,
2016-02-16 05:00:00.0
IT IS still not sinking in. Despite everything he has done and the records he has broken already, most of the country’s cricket lovers have failed to digest the potential impact Kagiso Rabada could have on the cricket landscape, locally and internationally.
Or perhaps it is because of all the records that many are grappling to come to terms with the reality.
It would be understandable if there were a mass outbreak of TGTBT (Too good to be true) scepticism.
Maybe it is because he doesn’t bowl jaw-dropping deliveries such as Dale Steyn’s pitching-leg-hitting-off away swinger, or because he doesn’t hit batsmen very often courtesy of a wrist and bowling action that allows them to watch the ball from the moment they lock eyes on it.
His skills are subtle but that often means they are more deadly than more obvious skills. It may look more exciting to swing the ball a foot and hit the helmet regularly, but swinging it three inches and hitting the stumps regularly earns far more wickets. A hat-trick on one-day international debut, part of the best bowling analysis on debut, had white-ball specialists around the world sitting up.
He has been on the radar of several Indian Premier League (IPL) teams since his six-wicket haul against Australia in the Under-19 World Cup two years ago. His outstanding performances against India in October last year when he dominated MS Dhoni meant it was almost time to stop watching and start talking. Then came the 13-wicket Test haul at Centurion.
If there were a single doubter left, they would have been convinced by the recently concluded one-day series against England in which he was the leading wicket taker and instrumental in the Proteas fightback from two-nil down. He did not play in the first game in Bloemfontein where SA suffered their heaviest defeat.
Not only did he take more wickets than anyone else, but he did so far cheaper than anyone on either side. Rabada’s economy rate was 4.73 runs per over. The next best was Kyle Abbott’s at 5.21.
No other bowler managed to concede fewer than 5.5 runs per over. KG knows what he is doing.
Rabada’s agent was informed by several IPL franchises that they would be prepared to surpass half a million dollars for her man should he enter his name in the auction.
The prospect of a bidding war loomed large — IPL owners don’t like backing down when they want something — and Rabada could easily have joined Chris Morris as a dollar millionaire playing in front of 45,000 twice a week.
Of course, he wants to play in the IPL. Just not yet, not until he is ready. Instead, he asked not to be entered into the action.
Having listened to the advice of several colleagues and teammates, he decided to pursue his career with a four-week spell of county cricket in England.
There was no shortage of takers but Rabada, it seems, has opted for the charming, leafy surrounds of Canterbury in Kent rather than the bright lights of the city.
Sure, the money will be nice but it won’t compare with what he could have been paid to play Twenty20 cricket in India. Instead, he will add to his learning in the second division of the county championship in front of a few hundred die-hard fans. And he still won’t be able to feel the tips of his fingers half the time despite wearing three sweaters.
But that is the path the StStithians graduate has chosen to continue his drive to become the best and most complete bowler he can be.
You don’t learn your trade by bowling four overs; you learn it by studying batsmen and bowling at them in different conditions.
He will change as a cricketer and a person. Those who say they hope he doesn’t change are being naive, perhaps even cruel. If he doesn’t change he will be ill-equipped to handle those who would form a sycophantic entourage and take advantage of him. He will develop a cynicism — we can only hope it is a healthy one.
There may be flash cars, a swanky bachelor pad and even flash girlfriends on his arm.
He should be forgiven the occasional indulgence, even burst of frustration and anger. Being a fast bowler is hard work and it is complicated further by being a celebrity fast bowler.
Dale Steyn has coped better than any other with the twin "burdens" and is keen to keep a metaphorical as well as literal arm around his successor-to-be as spearhead of the attack.
KG should be, and is, grateful for that.
Kagiso Rabada of the Proteas during day five of the second test match between SA and England at PPC Newlands on January 6 in Cape Town. Picture: CARL FOURIE/GALLO IMAGES
IT IS still not sinking in. Despite everything he has done and the records he has broken already, most of the country’s cricket lovers have failed to digest the potential impact Kagiso Rabada could have on the cricket landscape, locally and internationally.
Or perhaps it is because of all the records that many are grappling to come to terms with the reality.
It would be understandable if there were a mass outbreak of TGTBT (Too good to be true) scepticism.
Maybe it is because he doesn’t bowl jaw-dropping deliveries such as Dale Steyn’s pitching-leg-hitting-off away swinger, or because he doesn’t hit batsmen very often courtesy of a wrist and bowling action that allows them to watch the ball from the moment they lock eyes on it.
His skills are subtle but that often means they are more deadly than more obvious skills. It may look more exciting to swing the ball a foot and hit the helmet regularly, but swinging it three inches and hitting the stumps regularly earns far more wickets. A hat-trick on one-day international debut, part of the best bowling analysis on debut, had white-ball specialists around the world sitting up.
He has been on the radar of several Indian Premier League (IPL) teams since his six-wicket haul against Australia in the Under-19 World Cup two years ago. His outstanding performances against India in October last year when he dominated MS Dhoni meant it was almost time to stop watching and start talking. Then came the 13-wicket Test haul at Centurion.
If there were a single doubter left, they would have been convinced by the recently concluded one-day series against England in which he was the leading wicket taker and instrumental in the Proteas fightback from two-nil down. He did not play in the first game in Bloemfontein where SA suffered their heaviest defeat.
Not only did he take more wickets than anyone else, but he did so far cheaper than anyone on either side. Rabada’s economy rate was 4.73 runs per over. The next best was Kyle Abbott’s at 5.21.
No other bowler managed to concede fewer than 5.5 runs per over. KG knows what he is doing.
Rabada’s agent was informed by several IPL franchises that they would be prepared to surpass half a million dollars for her man should he enter his name in the auction.
The prospect of a bidding war loomed large — IPL owners don’t like backing down when they want something — and Rabada could easily have joined Chris Morris as a dollar millionaire playing in front of 45,000 twice a week.
Of course, he wants to play in the IPL. Just not yet, not until he is ready. Instead, he asked not to be entered into the action.
Having listened to the advice of several colleagues and teammates, he decided to pursue his career with a four-week spell of county cricket in England.
There was no shortage of takers but Rabada, it seems, has opted for the charming, leafy surrounds of Canterbury in Kent rather than the bright lights of the city.
Sure, the money will be nice but it won’t compare with what he could have been paid to play Twenty20 cricket in India. Instead, he will add to his learning in the second division of the county championship in front of a few hundred die-hard fans. And he still won’t be able to feel the tips of his fingers half the time despite wearing three sweaters.
But that is the path the StStithians graduate has chosen to continue his drive to become the best and most complete bowler he can be.
You don’t learn your trade by bowling four overs; you learn it by studying batsmen and bowling at them in different conditions.
He will change as a cricketer and a person. Those who say they hope he doesn’t change are being naive, perhaps even cruel. If he doesn’t change he will be ill-equipped to handle those who would form a sycophantic entourage and take advantage of him. He will develop a cynicism — we can only hope it is a healthy one.
There may be flash cars, a swanky bachelor pad and even flash girlfriends on his arm.
He should be forgiven the occasional indulgence, even burst of frustration and anger. Being a fast bowler is hard work and it is complicated further by being a celebrity fast bowler.
Dale Steyn has coped better than any other with the twin "burdens" and is keen to keep a metaphorical as well as literal arm around his successor-to-be as spearhead of the attack.
KG should be, and is, grateful for that.
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