AB: Whole team impressed with Rabada
South Africa skipper AB de Villiers feels paceman Kagiso Rabada put on one of the best bowling performances he's seen, and was at a loss for words to describe his young colleague.
Rabada took 13/144 in the fourth Test against England in Centurion, seven in the first innings, and this helped the side to a 280-run win. It saved the Proteas from losing the series three-nil.
The captain struggled to find the superlatives to describe Rabada’s record-breaking performance, but feels it is one of the highlights of his career to be the captain of such a dominant performance.
De Villiers said: "What more is there to say about the man sitting next to me. Every time I asked him to come out and perform for us he did. He showed the maturity of a guy that has played a 100 Test matches with the pace of a guy that has played one or two.
"It’s difficult to find the compliments and to say the right things but he has impressed us all. He has to be looked after really well, it’s up to us and the management to manage him well and to make sure he is always fresh when he walks out on the cricket field, that’s important.
"He is the future, he along with a few other guys. Having guys like him coming through excites the captain and coach, I'm very happy with what he has achieved this series."
Rabada himself was still basking in all of the glory of the morning’s events, and gave credit to a team effort for his first taste of a Test win.
He said: "It’s amazing. It’s been a while since we have won, we have been losing a lot, but we have stuck together as a team. AB touched on being positive in every game that we play and I think it showed here.
"Everyone played magnificently well, it was a real team effort. I'm happy that we won and that I contributed.
"The ball was coming out really nicely. I felt good rhythm as the match went on, when I first started it was okay but as the match went on I felt more rhythm and better.
"What I focus on is doing the basics right, if that gets me wickets its gets me wickets. I can only control the controllables, I don't look at stats too much. The key is to do it for 15 years, not one game."
Latest
-
NewsSam Curran relishing responsibility in England T20 side
The Surrey all-rounder opened the bowling before partnering Jonny Bairstow across the winning line.
-
NewsOn This Day 2012: Ashley Giles takes over as England limited-overs head coach
Team director and Test boss Andy Flower was keen to reduce his own workload and Giles seized the opportunity.
-
NewsJonny Bairstow happy to put experience to good use after move down England order
Bairstow hit a wonderful 86 not out as England won the first Twenty20 international in South Africa.
-
NewsDefiant Jonny Bairstow powers England to win over South Africa
The Yorkshire batsman hit 86 not out from 48 balls in a five-wicket win.
-
NewsEngland chasing 180 to win Cape Town clash as Faf Du Plessis makes half-century
Sam and Tom Curran experienced mixed fortunes in the first innings of the opening Twenty20 against South Africa.
-
NewsKohli disappointed to see heads go down in Sydney
India were pummeled by Australia in the first ODI going down by 66 runs after a poor effort in the field.
-
NewsLeicestershire boss: Foxes won’t stand for being county cricket “also rans”
Chief executive Sean Jarvis has big plans for the county.
-
NewsEngland unsure of best T20 side as foreign fixtures resume
Selectors have a full strength squad to choose from in England’s first away match since the start of the pandemic.
-
NewsKohli promises opportunities for India young guns
Virat Kohli’s India will be looking to blood the next generation of stars Downunder.
-
NewsSouth Africa on high alert after Ben Stokes’ IPL form
The South Africa captain saw Stokes smash a sensational hundred last month.