WTC Final: How Does Rabada Seize Opportunities to Dominate?

London, June 12 (NationPress) Legendary South African fast bowler Dale Steyn praised Kagiso Rabada, the spearhead of the Proteas' bowling attack, for his outstanding performance on the first day of the World Test Championship (WTC) final against Australia at Lord's. Steyn highlighted that once the right-arm pacer detects an opportunity, he capitalizes on it effectively.

Rabada struck early, dismissing opener Usman Khawaja and Cameron Green in his initial spell before taking down Australian captain Pat Cummins, Beau Webster, and Mitchell Starc, achieving his 17th five-wicket haul in Test cricket.

At 30 years old, Rabada's impressive five-wicket haul brought his total to 332 Test wickets, surpassing Allan Donald to position him fourth on South Africa's all-time list. Only Steyn, Shaun Pollock, and Makhaya Ntini rank above him.

"He managed to swing the ball beautifully. It all began with Alex Carey playing an unnecessary shot to Keshav Maharaj on his first delivery, despite a fielder being present. This dismissal opened one end, allowing Rabada to come in and do what he excels at—taking wickets. Jansen also utilized swing and aggressively targeted the stumps, similar to Australia's approach later," Steyn remarked on Jio Hotstar.

Rabada's impressive bowling performance was pivotal in restricting Australia, the defending champions, to a total of 212 runs. Steyn noted, "Australia seemed to take a page out of South Africa's playbook. Once Rabada senses a chance, he attacks. He is an exceptional bowler. When he retires, we will truly evaluate his greatness, but on Day 1, he was phenomenal," he added.

However, Australia made a comeback during South Africa's first innings, with their fast bowlers making crucial breakthroughs towards the end of Day 1. Starc, Josh Hazlewood, and Cummins all claimed wickets, leaving the Proteas at 43/4.

Steyn reflected on Starc's bowling prowess, stating, "He has incredible speed through the air, often putting batsmen under pressure. When players are nervous and their footwork is off—like Aiden Markram, who was caught uncertain in his stance—Starc has already troubled him multiple times. Rickelton attempted to play through the covers, but the best Test bowlers know how to subtly adjust their lengths. A batsman might believe they have it under control, yet it rises unexpectedly, moves slightly more, and finds the edge. That’s the skill of Starc, Cummins, and Hazlewood over the years.

"Moreover, it's about performing in big matches. He has done it before and believes he can replicate it—turning it into a habit. He builds a reputation and earns the trust of his captain. We all know how he operates, and if you analyze his wickets, they share similarities."