Let the WTC Rabada Party Continue...
Memories will bond for a lifetime.
The party may be over but this is no time to start clearing up. There are still glasses on the table with champagne in them and every drop of satisfaction and celebration must be inhaled. The time for analysis of South Africa’s ‘World Test Champions’ status can come later, although it has already started in earnest amongst those the neutrals.
The dramatic and emotional five-wicket victory against Australia will be remembered, as most sports contests are, for what happened at the end. Aiden Markram delivered one of the best innings in SA Test history to earn the player-of-the-match award with the Proteas equalling the second highest run-chase (282) at Lord’s.
Kagiso Rabada, however, had every bit as much to do with the triumph with an equally remarkable match-haul of 9-110 giving his country a chance and allowing Markram to play the innings he did. The difference between them, perhaps, is that Rabada is the only universally acknowledged ‘superstar’ in the SA team. A huge contribution from him would be essential if the underdogs were to win, that was fact.
“To be honest, I don't see myself as a star. I see myself as someone who's willing to give my blood for this team and continue working hard and improving. That's me as a cricketer,” Rabada told us in the moments after victory had been secured.
“Every game that I play, I'm looking to get wickets. I'm not going to go into the game thinking, man, I need to get seven or eight wickets for us to win. I look at it as, okay, this is an opportunity for me to get as many wickets as I can and make an impact for the team. But I know that I'm not going to do it alone. And I back all my team mates. You’re playing for South Africa for a reason, it's not by chance,” Rabada said before reflecting on the enormity of the team’s achievement.
“It’s hard to sum up, it’ll take a while to sink in. It was so lovely to have our families here, just walking around and seeing all the supporters. They were really behind us and we felt all of their energy, they were just fantastic. This was truly special. I can't really describe it.”
But did he really believe the team could win after they were bowled out for just 138 to concede a first innings deficit of 74 runs?
“Well, when you're in the final, you have to think that way. There are normally two voices in your head, the one that doubts and the one that believes. That's the one that we keep feeding, especially in big moments like this, the World Test Championship final. And that's why you saw the performances you saw, it’s a testament to our team this season,” Rabada said.
“We've been working hard. I've been working extremely hard. Those second innings spells, those are the ones that count more. You’re a bit tired, you’re behind the game…but it was just about staying calm and looking at what's in front of us. And then all mayhem broke loose when we got five wickets in just a few overs, that was just crazy. It's just a funny game, cricket.
“I'll never forget this in my life. None of the boys will forget this in their lives. Playing against Australia, they're well accustomed to winning, but they are a bit of an ageing team - with all due respect. Some of those guys were playing when we were still in high school. It’s just so special.”
For those of you wondering, the answer is no. Nobody asked him about the positive rec-drug test 30 minutes after winning the most impactful Test match in his life and his country’s post-isolation history. Would you have? It wasn’t ‘decorum’, more the dazzling irrelevance of it. Just bowled 34 overs of sensational pace, seam and bounce. Anything other than rhino horn wouldn’t bother me when KG wants to relax after a hard day pounding the crease.
Today was the final day in London. The Proteas spent it, mostly, fulfilling three different sponsor and broadcast commitments, a pain-the-arse day which they completed with smiles and jocularity. They fly home on Tuesday evening arriving Wednesday morning.
They will disperse to various commitments in various formats for different teams but there will be no sense of anti-climax because, as Rabada said, they will be joined by that match for the rest of their lives. As will the thousands of us who were there.
*Many thanks to those who have contributed to my wonderful journey. If you’ve enjoyed the experience with me, I won’t even ask you for a ‘coffee’ because, as you can see, they’re too expensive here! But I’ll find somewhere less expensive. Remember, the price of a monthly subscription is just £4, the same as a coffee. Chat soon…
