Lions bowling coach Allan Donald warned that the absence of Kagiso Rabada will be a huge blow to the Proteas team during the series against Australia. He also advised against prematurely fielding 20-year-old Kwena Maphaka in the challenging series against a long-time rival.
Donald stated that while he considers both attacking lines world-class, Kagiso Rabada brings an additional advantage, and he knows that Australia holds apprehension and respect for him. He added that if Rabada is absent, it will be a significant loss, but he believes the Proteas attack is still strong enough to expose the Australian lineup even without him.
The news of Rabada's injury causes serious concern ahead of Australia's upcoming visit to South Africa. Although Rabada is officially excluded from the One Day International (ODI) series, he needs to recover urgently to be ready for the red-ball matches. The ODI series starts on September 24th, and the first Test is scheduled for October 9th in Durban.
Rabada sustained the injury on August 21st, and Cricket South Africa (CSA) predicts that recovery will take four to five weeks. Rising star Kwena Maphaka has been named among potential replacements. Nevertheless, the Proteas fast-bowling legend believes it is too early for the 20-year-old player to face Australia in the longest format of the game.
Donald explained that he would like to see how Kwena settles into this format. He noted that the player is very eager to play in the Test, but for this, he needs time in the field and to get used to long spells, constantly returning and strengthening his body. He questioned the timing of his inclusion: 'If you just throw him there, I think he has played too much in baseball games. He hasn't had time to strengthen his body and understand its limits. Test cricket is a huge step forward for a young player. I am sure he will say: 'No problem, no worries,' but facing Australia, Bangladesh, and England consecutively is a completely different story.'