Cricket student Rabada relishes Gabba test

Kagiso Rabada is known throughout the cricket world as the spearhead of South Africa’s pace attack but he is also a keen student of the game.

It is why he enjoys talking to legendary West Indies pacemen Andy Roberts and Michael Holding about cricket, and fast bowling in particular.

As the 27-year-old gazed out at the Gabba, where he will play a Test for the first time on Saturday against Australia, he spoke to AAP why he relishes the chance to experience a wicket that has been a favourite of pace bowlers of the past.

“I really enjoy the history that the Gabba holds. First of all I am a sports fan. I have always been athletic and playing various sports,” Rabada said.

“When I realised cricket was what I wanted to pursue that is when I became more of a student of the game.

“That is when I started learning about Jeff Thomson, Dennis Lillee, Malcolm Marshall, Wasim Akram, Richard Hadlee…and watching (documentary) Fire in Babylon.

“You realise how many have come before us. I always heard about the Gabba and how it was really bouncy. To realise that you are playing at the same ground…it is why I enjoy fast bowling.”

Of all the fast bowlers he has studied, there are two that stand out.

“It is really hard to pick a favourite but at the moment I would have to say Andy Roberts and Michael Holding because they are two of the bowlers I have had some thorough interactions with,” Rabada said.

“It is casual conversation really about cricket, nothing too technical.

“With Andy it is just picking his brain and hearing about fast bowling and what it was like for him.

“Apparently he would bowl one bouncer that was not as quick as the one that followed. That was the one that most certainly caught batsmen unawares.

“(Holding) made it look so easy. There is something aesthetically pleasing about fast bowling and I guess you would say he is the Rolls Royce of it.”

Rabada, who has 257 wickets in his 55 Tests at a 22.5 average, toured Australia for the first time in 2016-17 as a 21-year-old. He took 15 wickets in a 2-1 series win and it set him up for what has followed.

“It was my first time coming to Australia and I’d always wanted to challenge myself in the different regions of the world,” he said.

“Coming to Australia as a youngster against a formidable Australian team is where you want to prove yourself.

“The fact we won that Test series and that I contributed to the win was a massive confidence booster for me and has put me in good stead for the rest of my career.”

Rabada said he was still learning and growing as a cricketer.

“The game tests in you in different ways. It is all about responding. That is the journey,” he said.

He can’t wait to bowl in the first Test at the Gabba.

“It is no secret Australia have a really good batting lineup. We have a good bowling attack as well so it should be a really good contest.”