Last Updated on 7 years by Charbel Coorey
Kagiso Rabada has been cleared. Common sense has prevailed. The ongoing Test series between South Africa and Australia, beautifully poised at 1-1, no longer feels ruined.
The decision to overturn Kagiso Rabada’s ban is not only good for this series, but good for Test cricket. For me, as an Australian, it’s not just about this series – the bigger picture needs to be looked at.
Test cricket is battling like it has never battled before. It is plodding along, passing aimlessly in the passing eye of the younger generation and commercially-minded administrators. In the world of T20 and commercialization, Test cricket in the present is often ignored, and its future constantly questioned. What Test cricket needs is PASSION, and KG has it in spades, and the ICC wanted him banned over some send offs. KG has fans watching and talking about Test cricket, with the IPL just weeks away. Unthinkable, right?
I bet you that kids are running to stadiums and their TV screens to watch KG bowl. In the years ahead, more kids will want to be just like KG, dominating Test cricket, in the world of IPL, BBL and the like. KG is the fire that Test cricket needs to keep burning. He has people interested. Please, stop picking on him for things many other cricketers do.
 |
| Which of these predictions do you think will come true? |
I’m in no way condoning any bad behaviour, but intimidation and fire from a fast bowler should never be punished. The best fast bowlers in history all had fire in the belly. As a fast bowler, your job is not to be nice. Your job is to be aggressive, get in the face of the opposition, especially if the opposition are the masters at doing it themselves.
The best fast bowlers to ever play the game all had the aggression needed to succeed at Test level. Sure, things got out of hand at times, but overreactions like we’ve had with KG is not the solution. Dennis Lillee, one of the finest ever to play the game, had the intelligence, quality and belief, all stemming from his mindset that he is better than the batsman, thanks to his aggressive, in your face attitude. His fight with Javed Miandad was a hell of a lot worse than what KG is doing now, so perspective needs to be taken. The West Indian pace attack of the 1970s and 1980s was frightening – were they nice? Absolutely not. Were they in your face? Most certainly yes. It’s why they were so successful.
 |
| Surely the smallest, accidental shoulder nudge is not the same as this in 1981-82 |
Even the modern day greats fill the same quota. Glenn McGrath, a magnificent man off the field, was aggressive on the field, and the snowflake-like cricketing world today would have severely frowned upon him. And let’s not forget the great Dale Steyn. Those eyes. The aggression. I’m sure you can think of many others too. It’s Test cricket!
 |
| Glenn McGrath engages the great Sachin Tendulkar… |
Kevin Pietersen summed things up brilliantly in a recent tweet:
Test cricket is the toughest form of cricket, and I’m sorry, but Kagiso Rabada even getting charged for what he did is total rubbish. What Shakib Al Hasan and Bangladesh did last Friday against Sri Lanka was much worse, yet not much was spoken about it, and they got away with a slap of the wrist.
It’s time to stop picking on KG, and rather appreciate his brilliance and what he’s doing for our game. This kid has the potential to be an all-time great, as he is the burst of energy the flailing game of Test cricket needs. We can now focus properly on what matters – the third Test, which promises to be a beauty. KG is part of it, to the benefit of the beautiful game that is Test cricket!
Today is a good day.
—–
