Kagiso Rabada Plays Down 2018 Clash Ahead of St George's Park Return
South Africa speedster Kagiso Rabada insists there is no lingering bad blood with Australia's Steve Smith as he prepares to return to St George's Park.
South Africa speedster Kagiso Rabada has insisted there is no lingering bad blood with Australia as he prepares to return to the site of his controversial 2018 clash with Steve Smith. Rabada has been declared fit to return from a hamstring tear for the second Test at St George's Park, playing his first match since May.
The return comes at a crucial juncture for the hosts, who are fighting to stay alive in the series following a heavy 214-run defeat in Durban last week. It was at this very venue six years ago that Rabada was initially banned for two Tests following a collision with Smith while celebrating a wicket.
That shoulder bump and the subsequent appeal served as a major flash point before the ball-tampering scandal overshadowed the series. However, Rabada has played against Australia 23 times across all formats since then without issue and has even shared dressing rooms in franchise leagues.
Speaking to local media ahead of the match, the 31-year-old explained that his actions were simply driven by the heat of the moment. He noted that top-performing athletes carry plenty of testosterone to burn while playing within the rules.
“That is just the emotion of the game. It’s about playing within the rules,” Rabada said. “As an athlete you want to go out and express yourself. There’s no hate off the field or anything like that. It’s a bunch of top-performing athletes who’ve got testosterone to burn. It’s the heat of the moment.”
Rabada also acknowledged the regulatory role of the ICC in keeping the sport in a good light for viewers. “You need characters in sport. But you also need to play within the rules,” he added.
Captain Temba Bavuma expressed high confidence in his premier fast bowler ahead of the crucial encounter. Bavuma noted that the bowling attack feeds massively off Rabada's energy and leadership within the unit.
South Africa will finalize their playing XI on Sunday, with rain expected on the opening day and forced changes anticipated following the Durban loss.