'Tigers gave me a dream start'
Even if the likes of Dale Steyn and Vernon Philander were fit to play the first Test, the prospect of facing young South Africa fast bowler Kagiso Rabada would be a formidable one for the Bangladesh batsmen. They do not need to look too far back to remember what the 22-year-old right-arm fast bowler can do. In 2015, bowling his second over in international cricket in the first ODI in Mirpur, he bowled Tamim Iqbal, had Liton Das caught and trapped Mahmudullah Riyad leg-before to announce his arrival with a hattrick.
He went on to take six wickets in that match. Over two years later, Rabada still speaks fondly of that moment.
“I had a good experience playing there; I guess it was a dream start to international cricket,” Rabada told reporters after the South African squad arrived in Potchefstroom yesterday afternoon, ahead of the first Test against Bangladesh starting tomorrow.
Later in 2015, Rabada made his Test debut against India in Mohali.
“That tour [of Bangladesh] gave me the taste of Asian conditions, and it helped.”
Rabada has since become a star in all three formats, and has taken 87 wickets in 20 Tests at an excellent average of 24.56.
The young firebrand added that even though the home side are always at an advantage, they were not taking Bangladesh lightly because the Tigers have improved a lot in recent times.
Advantage or not, South Africa also have much to prove after a series loss in England, the fallout of which was a change in coaching personnel, with former West Indies fast bowler and ex-England bowling coach Otis Gibson taking over.
“It [the loss in England] is part of the game, but we are starting afresh under a new coach. It is not a big problem because we know how to win.”
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