A key characteristic of South Africa’s World Test Championship final triumph was two players who are considered their best delivering when it mattered. Aiden Makram scored a colossal century in the second innings that all but saw South Africa home before which Kagiso Rabada took nine wickets – five in Australia’s first innings and four in the second.
Rabada is considered one of the best bowlers in the world and arguably the biggest name among the current lot of South African cricketers but the pacer doesn’t see himself that way. “I don’t see myself as a star,” he told reporters at Lord’s.
“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, always wanting to improve and playing for the badge with a lot of pride. I’ve been working extremely hard, and those second-innings spells, those are the ones that count more, when you’re a bit tired. You could be behind the game, or you could be ahead of the game. This time, we’re behind the game. But I think it was just about staying calm and looking at what’s in front of us. That’s the way I see myself.”
Rabada said that the South Africans ignored the part of their minds that were doubting their chances. The victory marked an end to a nearly three-decade long title drought in which generations upon generations of Proteas players had suffered heartbreak in the big tournament.
“There are normally two voices in your head, the one that doubts and the one that believes. The second is the one that we keep feeding, especially in big moments like this, the World Test Championship final. That’s why you saw the performances you saw. It’s a testament to our team this season,” said Rabada.
