How does Rabada feel about surpassing Allan Donald?

Synopsis
Kagiso Rabada expresses pride in surpassing Allan Donald as the fourth-highest wicket-taker for South Africa in Tests. His achievement comes after a stellar performance against Australia in the World Test Championship final, where he claimed a five-wicket haul, placing him among cricketing legends. Discover his thoughts and reflections on this significant milestone.
Key Takeaways
- Kagiso Rabada has surpassed Allan Donald in Test cricket wickets.
- Rabada's current tally stands at 332 Test wickets.
- He achieved this milestone during the World Test Championship final.
- Rabada is now the fourth-highest wicket-taker for South Africa in Tests.
- He believes the team could have had Australia at 160 runs but managed only 212.
London, June 12 (NationPress) South Africa’s pace spearhead Kagiso Rabada expressed his pride after surpassing the legendary Allan Donald to become the fourth-highest wicket-taker for the Proteas in Test cricket. Rabada achieved this feat during the World Test Championship final at Lord’s, taking a remarkable five-wicket haul against Australia. With this, he now holds 332 Test wickets, moving past Donald in South Africa's all-time rankings, leaving only Dale Steyn, Shaun Pollock, and Makhaya Ntini ahead of him.
“To be recognized among such an esteemed group of bowlers is truly special. Growing up as a player representing South Africa, I have drawn inspiration from those who paved the way and witnessed their accomplishments on the grand stage. Being included in this list is a significant milestone, and I hope to continue this journey,” Rabada shared regarding his achievement.
The experienced bowler claimed the wickets of opener Usman Khawaja and Cameron Green early in his spell, followed by dismissing Pat Cummins, Beau Webster, and Mitchell Starc, marking his 17th five-wicket haul in Test cricket. His impressive performance was pivotal in restricting the defending champions to just 212 runs.
Rabada noted that the Proteas could have dismissed the Australian batting order even sooner. “We’re satisfied with 212, but we felt we could have them at around 160. However, that’s the unpredictable nature of the game,” he told reporters after Day 1 at Lord's.
While Rabada was the standout bowler for South Africa, Australian pacers also made significant impacts, with Starc, Josh Hazlewood, and Cummins making early breakthroughs, leaving South Africa at 43/4 by the end of the day.
“The ball has been moving quite a bit, particularly off the slope. Nonetheless, I believe batters can settle in. If we focus on consistently placing balls in the right areas, we will create opportunities. Although we ended the day at 43/4, there is still plenty of cricket left in this Test match, and we are determined to push forward,” he emphasized.