Kagiso Rabada

[SeamUp]

Number of balls bowled in Tests by age of 22 yrs 291 days:
Ambrose: 0
Donald: 0
McGrath: 0
Steyn: 601
Ntini: 752
Pollock: 899
Walsh: 1028
Hadlee: 1409
Anderson: 2034
Marshall: 2094
Holding: 2910
Wasim: 4975
*RABADA: 5254*

Serious Company for someone so young

 

[Dendarii]

Rabada has now played 28 matches:
I: 51
W: 135
BBI: 7/112
BBM: 13/144
Ave: 21.45
E/R: 3.30
S/R: 38.9
5w: 9
10w: 4

Steyn after 28 matches had the following:
I: 52
W: 140
BBI: 6/49
BBM: 10/91
Ave: 23.18
E/R: 3.63
S/R: 38.2
5w: 9
10w: 2

Obviously Steyn has gone on to play another 58 matches and take 279 more wickets, so Rabada has a long way to go to come anywhere near to matching Steyn's exploits. But if he can keep it up (and very importantly if his body can hold up), could he end up being better than Steyn? A couple of years ago it would be ridiculous to consider any doing that, but it's not beyond the realms of possibility.

 

[Arachnodouche]

Has Michael Holding waxed effusively over Rabada yet? Something kindred between those two.

 

[vcs]

Rabada has now played 28 matches:
I: 51
W: 135
BBI: 7/112
BBM: 13/144
Ave: 21.45
E/R: 3.30
S/R: 38.9
5w: 9
10w: 4

Steyn after 28 matches had the following:
I: 52
W: 140
BBI: 6/49
BBM: 10/91
Ave: 23.18
E/R: 3.63
S/R: 38.2
5w: 9
10w: 2

Obviously Steyn has gone on to play another 58 matches and take 279 more wickets, so Rabada has a long way to go to come anywhere near to matching Steyn's exploits. But if he can keep it up (and very importantly if his body can hold up), could he end up being better than Steyn? A couple of years ago it would be ridiculous to consider any doing that, but it's not beyond the realms of possibility.

Brilliant stuff, especially the SRs.

 

[Stefan9]

Amazing bowler. Great we found another one after Dale.

 

[stephen]

Rabada could potentially become the best fast bowler in history at this rate. He's a beast and it sucks we won't see him in the next two tests.

 

[Arachnodouche]

Rabada could potentially become the best fast bowler in history at this rate. He's a beast and it sucks we won't see him in the next two tests.

Physical specimen too. Very proportionate and athletic.

 

[Slifer]

Physical specimen too. Very proportionate and athletic.

And he could bowl anything: swing, full, short, cutters etc. Just needs to improve his away record imo and he'll be just fine. Was moderate in UK, awesome in Oz and woeful in NZ.

 

[SeamUp]

Back to world number one and broke the magical 900 point mark.

 

[Spikey]

Fairly sure it is m8.

top cat's right you know

 

[StephenZA]

Back to world number one and broke the magical 900 point mark.

He is also the #1 bad boy of world cricket... having effectively got the most number of demerits since the new systems inception. Move over Ben Stokes....

 

[burr]

His numbers are mind boggling. I think he has surpassed Ben Stokes as number one exciting talent in world (test) cricket. Much more likeable too.

 

[Starfighter]

He puts a tremendous amount of thought into his bowling for someone his age. Doesn't seem to leave much left for other things though.

 

[Larwood's_boots]

More career ten-fours than Glenn McGrath already (at age 22 for crying out loud), feels like we're seeing the start of something seriously special. 300 easily and wouldn't be at all surprised if he ended up as the all time leading pace man for wickets. and as pointed out above, seems like a cool dude.

 

[Top_Cat]

Not disagreeing with his insane performances of Rabada but on McG, that has to be put in some context because he had Warne at the other end bashing his way through 700+ wickets and double the number of overs at the other end for his entire career. Rabada’s not had to share his wickets in quite the same way. No Steyn for most of his Tests and Philander, whilst keeping his average down, has, I think, only been taking about 3 per Test in that time.

Which is no criticism of Rabada. Quite the opposite, really. Someone has had to set up and take the wickets on offer and he’s done a ****ing brilliant job. Such a top bowler to watch too, ridiculous skills.

 

[Flem274*]

he's one of those guys you just hope stays fit and in form despite knowing he's going to break your heart by dismantling your team at some point.

 

[Larwood's_boots]

Not disagreeing with his insane performances of Rabada but on McG, that has to be put in some context because he had Warne at the other end bashing his way through 700+ wickets and double the number of overs at the other end for his entire career. Rabada’s not had to share his wickets in quite the same way. No Steyn for most of his Tests and Philander, whilst keeping his average down, has, I think, only been taking about 3 per Test in that time.

Which is no criticism of Rabada. Quite the opposite, really. Someone has had to set up and take the wickets on offer and he’s done a ****ing brilliant job. Such a top bowler to watch too, ridiculous skills.

I always maintained that Warne was better than Murali despite the fewer wickets on the same grounds (having to share them with McG), so you're absolutely right- I'm not saying he's better than McGrath overall but could easily end up with better numbers. He certainly won't win as many games, and that's basically what it's all about at the end of the day isn't it.

 

[StephenZA]

Still in love with the man.
'When you play with emotion, that's when you become dangerous' | The Cricket Monthly | ESPN Cricinfo

 

[Daemon]

Lovely read

 

[PlayerComparisons]

9 years later, he’s done it!