‘Everyone plays for milestones, but it was a relief’ – Kagiso Rabada after joining 300 Test wickets club

Kagiso Rabada became the fastest South African bowler to reach the 300 Test wickets landmark in terms of balls bowled. He also became the third-fastest Proteas player to breach the figure in terms of matches played as he dismissed Mushfiwur Rahim in the first Test at the Sher-e-Bangla Stadium in Dhaka on October 21.

The right-arm pacer took 11817 balls to reach the mark, overtaking Waqar Younis (12602) and Dale Steyn’s (12605) record. Rabada did not stop at Rahim’s wicket as he went onto pluck Litton Das and Nayeem Hasan as well, helping the visitors bowl out Bangladesh for a meagre 106 runs. Speaking after the stumps on Day 1, the 29-year-old quipped that he was not aware of the record but the feat will motivate him to do even better.

“When I came on to bowl this morning, I wasn’t really thinking about that final wicket. I was more focused on how we were going to win this Test, especially after losing the toss and bowling first. But when it happened, it was just a relief. Everyone plays for milestones, but it was a relief,” Rabada was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.

Also Read: Rabada becomes fastest to reach 300 Test wickets in fewest balls

“The way my teammates support me, we support each other, and that felt really good. It’s a special moment. As for the record, I didn’t know about it, but I guess it motivates me to do even better,” he added.

‘Test cricket should offer fair contest between bat and ball’ – Rabada has his say on Dhaka surface

Speaking of the game, Bangladesh won the toss and opted to bat first before the South African bowlers bundled them out for 106 runs. However, the hosts also did not make things too easy for the visitors as they ended Day 1 with a slender lead of 34 at 140 for 6, with left-arm spinner Taijul Islam scalping a fifer.

With 16 wickets falling on the opening day, Rabada was asked whether the pitch was fair and square. He reckoned it to be inclined towards bowlers, suggesting that there should be more parity between bat and ball in the longest format.

“I think there needs to be a balance in Test cricket. You want a fair contest between bat and ball. That’s the type of wicket you want. You could argue that a bowling unit hasn’t bowled well or a batting unit hasn’t performed, and that’s the balance you’re always trying to weigh. But with 16 wickets on day one, I’d say it’s leaning towards the bowlers. Test cricket should offer a fair contest between bat and ball, where bowlers get something if they bowl well, and batters can score if they apply themselves,” he said.

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