Australia’s chances of tasting victory in October’s Test series with South Africa have received a significant boost with star Proteas fast bowler Kagiso Rabada set to miss the entire series.
Rabada is one of Test cricket’s most dangerous bowlers, capable of tearing opposition batting orders apart in a matter of overs and has created a strong bowling partnership with left-arm giant Marco Jansen.
But the 31-year-old will not add to his 340 Test wickets against Australia after sustaining a hamstring injury while training.
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After being sent for scans, Rababa’s domestic bowling coach and former South African champion Allan Donald revealed the injury was worse than first feared, a grade three tear of his right hamstring set to cost him at least two months on the sidelines.
It means he is very unlikely to be available for selection against Australia in their first return to South Africa since the infamous Sandpaper gate scandal in 2018, with the first Test starting on October 9 and the final day of the series scheduled for October 31.
“He’s going to be out for all the Aussie Tests,” Donald said.
While South Africa boasts strong fast-bowling stocks regardless, Australia’s fragile top order will breathe a sigh of relief with Rabada having a remarkable record of wreaking havoc on Aussie batters.
He has taken 58 wickets at an average of 21.39 in 11 Tests against Australia, with many of them coming away from home.
Kagiso Rabada. Credit: Albert Perez/Getty Images
Australia will be out for redemption in two facets when they arrive in South Africa after a whirlwind white-ball tour of African neighbours Zimbabwe.
As well as the sandpaper scandal that saw then-captain Steve Smith, David Warner and Cam Bancroft banned from the Test arena, the Proteas are the current World Test Champions after taking the crown from Australia in the final last year.
Rabada took nine scalps in that Test as South Africa completed a stunning upset at The Oval in London.
Australia and South Africa remain the top contenders for the next World Test Championship final as well, with both teams facing a massive 12 months.
Australia play three Tests against the Proteas in Durban, Gqeberha and Cape Town before a home series against the Kiwis, which precedes a five-Test tour of India and then the World Test final and the Ashes in England.
Meanwhile, the South Africans host Bangladesh and England after the Aussies, after not playing any Test cricket at home last summer, before finishing the cycle in Sri Lanka.
