Kagiso Rabada lives for the big moments, and there’s arguably no bigger than a World Test Championship final against the arch-enemy Australia at Lord’s.
The Proteas finished on top of the ICC World Test Championship table, which secured their place in the WTC final after the tense two-wicket victory over Pakistan at Centurion last year.
Defending champions Australia, meanwhile, secured their second successive appearance in the WTC final after beating India in the New Year Test in Sydney.
It has set up a final between two nations that enjoy a rich history, with fierce battles contested over the years.
Rabada has certainly been at the heart of many of the flashpoints over the last decade, with the fast bowler spearheading the Proteas’ series victories both away in 2016 and the infamous ‘Sandpapergate’ success at home two years later.
He’s also been involved in some fractious moments, particularly when Rabada over-zealously celebrated dismissing David Warner and Steve Smith in the passion-filled St George’s Park Test in 2018.
“It’s actually quite some distance away, but a big occasion like the World Test Championship final gets you up for it,” Rabada said after the Proteas beat Pakistan by 10 wickets at Newlands to close out a 2-0 series victory on Monday.
The @ProteasMenCSA celebrate their 7th Test win in a row!! 👏👏👏👏@IOL @IOLsport @SABC_Sport pic.twitter.com/S2WGx84ap3
— Zaahier Adams (@ZaahierAdams) January 6, 2025
The 29-year-old claimed three wickets in each Pakistan innings to move his Test tally to 327.
The fire in Rabada’s belly would have been further lit this past week when former Australian coach Darren Lehmann, who ironically quit his job after the ‘Sandpapergate’ fiasco in South Africa, questioned the legitimacy of the South Africans advancing to the WTC final.
Despite the Proteas currently enjoying a seven-match Test winning streak, Lehmann stated on social media: “The only problem is (SA) wouldn’t beat any of the top 3.”
Rabada feels all the pre-final sledging will only intensify the excitement in the build-up to the final.
“South Africa versus Australia has always been an intense rivalry, because we play cricket quite similar. We play hard – and they’re going to come hard at us, and we know that,” the Proteas pace spearhead said.
“But we also know how to beat them.
“One hundred percent, Test cricket is still alive. It’s our best format that we’ve been playing right now.
“When you look at South African cricket and all our legends, they’ve all been great Test cricketers.
“The world’s best players are Test cricketers, and this series against Pakistan has been a wonderful advertisement for Test cricket, especially in South Africa.”
Mzansi here are your ICC World Test Championship finalists ! 🔥🔥🔥@ProteasMenCSA @IOL @IOLsport pic.twitter.com/FrLryRtYw5
The Aussies have traditionally targeted the Proteas captain in series past, with the view that “cutting the head off the snake” will see the rest of the body follow.
Previously Graeme Smith and Faf du Plessis have absorbed plenty of the pressure to almost shield the rest of the SA team.
Proteas Test coach Shukri Conrad believes current skipper Temba Bavuma will be up for the challenge, especially as the 34-year-old is in the form of his life.
“I think any captain who wants to lead from the front, they want to lead through performance as well, and that’s what Temba’s done exceptionally well,” Conrad said.
“He’s not lost a game as captain of South Africa (winning eight out of nine Tests). Leading from the front, turning out the performances he’s had, he’s probably in the form of his life.
“I haven’t seen him play any better, and that obviously gives you a lot of confidence when you’re captaining as well. I wouldn’t want anyone else to be captaining us.”