ICC WTC 2023-25 final: "We also know how to beat Australia," Kagiso Rabada fires first verbal shots

Kagiso Rabada took 47 wickets in 10 tests in the ICC WTC 2023-25 cycle.

South Africa’s spearhead pacer Kagiso Rabada is stoked to take part in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25 final against defending champions Australia. The summit clash will take place in June at the Mecca of Cricket, the iconic Lord’s stadium in England.

Despite losing a series in New Zealand in February with a second-string squad, South Africa made it to their maiden ICC WTC final on the back of victories over West Indies, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Pakistan.

The Proteas have won their last seven test matches, the second-longest winning streak in their test history. South Africa’s bowlers and batsmen all have been emphatic in their march to the WTC final.

Kagiso Rabada has been a key cog in South Africa’s success, taking 47 wickets in 10 matches in this cycle at an average of 19.9 with three five-fors.

South Africa versus Australia has always been an intense rivalry: Kagiso Rabada

Over the past decade, Rabada has been part of a couple of South Africa’s most memorable test series wins over Australia – in Australia in 2016 and at home in 2018.

Rabada says his side understands how hard Australia are going to come at them, but they know their ways around to beat Pat Cummins’ team.

“It’s actually quite some distance away, but a big occasion like the World Test Championship final gets you up for it,” Rabada said in an interview with SuperSport.

“South Africa versus Australia has always been an intense rivalry because we play cricket quite similarly. We play hard – and they’re going to come hard at us, and we know that. But we also know how to beat them. One hundred per cent, Test cricket is still alive. It’s our best format that we’ve been playing right now.”

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