Transitions do not only have to come after a golden age is over. They also don’t need to be awfully bumpy. South Africa are eyeing one where they fast-track talent into the team while the seasoned players are still around. The mix of young and experienced South Africans will play three T20Is and as many ODIs against Australia in Darwin, starting Sunday. Kagiso Rabada, who returns to the side for the first time after ravaging through the Australian lineup in the World Test Championship (WTC) final, thinks it will be an opportunity ‘to get a feel for one another as team-mates’.
“These games [against Australia] would be just to get a feel for one another as team-mates, how we’re going to go about it. And really, it’s just a work in process, there’s no fear of winning or losing. Although we play to win 100%, it is the main thing, but it’s a process and it’s a process of evaluation,” Rabada said on Thursday.
Rabada has been a mainstay in South Africa’s pace attack for years now. He made his debut in the T20I format in 2014, and in ODIs the next year. Since then, he has featured in 65 shortest-format games and 106 ODIs in a career that is now over a decade old. He said he understands the ‘fearless’ mindset of youngsters at the start of their careers, which helps them give their best for the side.
“You were talking earlier about when I came here for the first time, that kind of reminds me of the space that they’re in,” Rabada said. “I’m sure they just want to do their best. They’ve got no fear. When you’re young, you’ve got no fear at all. And yeah, I mean, I’m excited to see how they’re going to go in their careers.”
It’s been a while since the Proteas started regularly including youngsters in their squads. Players like Kwena Maphaka, Lhuan-dre Pretorious, and Dewald Brevis have already started exhibiting signs of, if all goes well, promising careers. South Africa’s captain Aiden Markram also echoed Rabada’s view of the youngsters, saying it’s very exciting to see new talent coming onto the big stage.
“You know how it is to be 19-20 again and there aren’t many worries in the world at that age and it reflects in when they train and how you see them operate. So, very exciting…each country has their own youngsters coming through and we got a handful of them this tour and it’s an exciting and great opportunity for us to see what they’re about and allow them to entertain people.”
Maphaka, particularly, is a subject of major interest for Rabada, who deems it his responsibility to show the youngster the way forward. He has been introduced to South Africa’s all-format set-up, having played eight T20Is, two ODIs, and as many Tests in a career that isn’t even a year old yet. He has already featured in two Indian Premier League (IPL) seasons, and all that has happened for him owing to his barely believable outing in the U-19 World Cup last year, where he was adjudged the Player of the Tournament for grabbing 21 wickets. He seems set for greater things, and Rabada is ready to aid in smoothing his rough edges.
“Because of the fact that he’s a bowler as well, you know, kind of makes it more, from my point of view, that I’m obliged to almost take him under extra care,” Rabada said. “But I think he’s going to learn, you know, from his own experiences as well and from his own journey. And we’re just there to be a sounding board, you know, not necessarily get involved into their careers too much, but be sounding boards.”
