With a hamstring injury putting Kagiso Rabada's fitness in doubt, South Africa faces the daunting prospect of taking on Australia without their premier paceman.
There is little dispute that Kagiso Rabada is one of the best — if not the absolute best — fast bowlers South Africa has ever produced. That is why news of his hamstring injury is deeply concerning with Australia's upcoming tour of South Africa rapidly approaching.
At present, Rabada has only been officially ruled out of the One-Day International (ODI) series, but he faces a race against time to be fit for the Tests. The ODI series begins on September 24, while the first Test is scheduled to start on October 9 in Durban.
Rabada suffered the injury on August 21, and Cricket South Africa (CSA) estimates a recovery period of at least four to five weeks.
Since making his international debut for the Proteas in 2015 as a 20-year-old, Rabada quickly established himself as the spearhead of the attack. It was a glorious sight to watch Dale Steyn in the twilight of his career bowling alongside the rising star. But since Steyn’s retirement in 2019, Rabada has unassailably been the leader of South Africa’s pace battery.
