Dale Steyn Praises Kagiso Rabada's Stellar Performance in WTC Final

Rabada's Remarkable Five-Wicket Haul

London [UK], June 12: Renowned South African fast bowler Dale Steyn shared his thoughts on Kagiso Rabada's impressive five-wicket haul, emphasizing that Rabada always seizes opportunities to excel, calling his performance "outstanding."

Rabada's five wickets were the standout moment during a low-scoring first day of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final at Lord's, where South Africa faced Australia. This achievement brought Rabada's Test wicket tally to 332, allowing him to surpass Allan Donald and secure the position of the fourth-highest wicket-taker in Test history. His remarkable spell included dismissals of Usman Khawaja, Cameron Green, Beau Webster, Pat Cummins, and Mitchell Starc.

Steyn noted, "Rabada effectively swung the ball. It all began with Alex Carey playing a poor shot on his first ball to Keshav Maharaj, which he shouldn't have attempted. That dismissal opened up an end, allowing Rabada to capitalize and take wickets. Jansen also found swing and targeted the stumps, similar to Australia's approach later on. Rabada is a phenomenal bowler who goes for the kill when he senses an opportunity. His greatness will be fully appreciated once he retires, but he was exceptional on Day 1," remarked Steyn, a JioStar expert.

Steyn also commented on Mitchell Starc's fiery spell, where he took 2 wickets for just 10 runs in seven overs, which left South Africa struggling at 43/4 after early dismissals of Aiden Markram and Ryan Rickelton.

Discussing Starc's bowling, Steyn stated, "He bowls incredibly fast, often unsettling batsmen. When players are nervous and their footwork is off, like Aiden Markram, they can get caught in the crease, unsure whether to advance. Starc had already beaten him a few times, even getting close to the inside edge."

He added, "Rickelton then attempted to hit through the covers, but the best Test bowlers can subtly adjust their length. A batter might think they have it covered, but the ball can rise unexpectedly, finding the edge. That’s what Starc, Cummins, and Hazlewood have mastered over the years."

Steyn praised Starc's "big-match temperament," which he has consistently demonstrated over the years. "He has a history of performing well under pressure, and when he does, it becomes a habit. He builds a reputation and earns the trust of his captain. We know what to expect from him, and if you analyze his wickets, they often follow a similar pattern," he concluded.

As for the match, after South Africa opted to bowl first, Australia found themselves at 67/4 by the end of the first session. A partnership of 79 runs between Steve Smith (66 off 112 balls, including 10 fours) and Beau Webster (72 off 92 balls, with 11 fours) along with Webster's 46-run partnership with Alex Carey (23 off 31 balls, with four boundaries) helped Australia approach the 200-run mark. However, Kagiso Rabada (5/51) and Marco Jansen (3/49) maintained the pressure, restricting Australia to 212 runs.

South Africa had a disastrous start, losing four wickets for just 43 runs by the end of the day's play, with none of their batsmen scoring more than 20 runs. Mitchell Starc claimed two wickets, while Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood each took one. South Africa trails by 169 runs.