South African spearhead Kagiso Rabada has stopped short of echoing captain Dean Elgar’s bold call that the Proteas have opened up Australians scars but promised the tourists will fire back at the MCG.
After a six-wicket defeat to Australia on a Gabba pitch that has been widely criticised, Elgar was proud of his team’s energy and execution at the end of the match.
Australia needed just 34 runs for victory but lost four wickets. David Warner, who made a golden duck in the first innings, finds himself under immense pressure after adding just three runs on Sunday afternoon before edging Rabada to Sarel Erwee at third slip.
Usman Khawaja (2), Steve Smith (6) and Travis Head (golden duck) all failed in the run-chase.
“[We wanted] to try and open some old scars, to bring in our intensity and maybe get them three or four down so those batters go to Melbourne with maybe less confidence,” Elgar said. “It worked out nicely.”
Rabada and his pace cartel bowled with venom rarely seen on these shores.
Kasigo Rabada celebrates the wicket of David Warner at the Gabba.Credit:AP
The right-armer, who finished with 4-13 in the second innings off four overs, wants to inflict more misery on Australia’s batters and was asked whether he felt he’d opened up scars among the hosts late on day two.
“No comment,” Rabada said with a smile.
“I thought we bowled really well in bits then we bowled quite poorly in bits. I think when we were on top of our game it definitely made a huge impression.”
Players from both teams will have an extra three days of rest before heading to Melbourne for the second match of a three-Test series that has roared to life following a barely believable two days in which 34 wickets fell.
Australia have lost their past two home series against South Africa.
“The one thing we possess as South Africans … is that we will never go down without a fight,” Rabada said. “Although Australia needed 34 runs [and we were] getting a whole lot of stick from the crowd, we have come out here to play. It doesn’t matter what the situation is. We’ll always go down fighting.”
Fast bowlers are never going to turn down the opportunity to bowl on a lively pitch but even Rabada could sympathise with batters from both teams who had to navigate significant sideways movement and steep bounce.
“It looked quite bad out there for the batters. Balls were absolutely doing heaps,” Rabada said.
Pat Cummins celebrates a wicket at the Gabba.Credit:AP
“As a bowler you always want something in the wicket, most definitely, but that’s out of our control. Let’s see what we’re dealt [in Melbourne]. We have to embrace whatever we’re given.”
The pitch aside, South Africa’s brittle top order, which has been the subject of much debate, will need to show more fight to give their impressive quicks something to bowl at.
“It can get frustrating,” Rabada said. “When I say frustrating I don’t mean to single out the batters, I mean it’s frustrating as a team. You almost have to understand that this is what happens in a re-building phase.
“Although I have played in a team with a star-studded line-up where you are literally playing with greats of the game.
“There’s a whole lot of players who have come in and have the ability but need to get used to the international circuit. There needs to be an element of patience and understanding.
“At the same time you can’t be advocating for bad performances. However, we’re quite positive.”
