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- Proteas fast bowler Kagiso Rabada says that living in a biosecurity bubble is like “living in a fancy prison.”
- Rabada is coming off a stellar performance in the Indian Premier League, where he spent 11 weeks in a bubble.
- Despite being only 25 years old, Rabada is one of the most experienced players on the squad.
Proteas fast pump Kagiso rabada He says living in the biosecurity bubble has been difficult and has described it as “a luxury prison.”
Rabada recently returned from a successful season in the Indian Premier League (IPL) where he spent 11 weeks in a biosecurity bubble in the United Arab Emirates.
The 25-year-old is set for another three weeks in a bubble in Cape Town when the Proteas face World Cup champions England in three T20s and three ODIs in Newlands and Boland Park.
Rabada, who is eager to play the first T20 on Friday, acknowledged that living in the biosecurity bubbles had been difficult, but admitted that he was grateful to play the game he loves.
“Getting into the bubbles can be quite difficult, you cannot interact, you have basically lost your freedom. It is almost like a luxury prison that we are in,” Rabada told reporters on Monday.
“But you must remind yourself that we are lucky, people at this time have lost their jobs, people are struggling right now, so I just need to remind myself that we should be thankful.
“It can be difficult, you are surrounded by four walls and that can play a mental factor, but then I remind myself of all the good things that are happening.”
Already two players on the 24-man Proteas team have tested positive for the coronavirus and have been isolated from the rest of the team.
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Rabada is coming off a stellar IPL as the Delhi Capitals pitcher finished the season in the purple cap, taking 30 wickets in 17 games.
His pre-series form in England is vital for South Africa and Rabada is eager to rise to the challenge and repeat his IPL form.
“The IPL was great, but in cricket, especially on the international stage, you have to repeat it constantly,” Rabada said.
“Sometimes you hit a purple patch, but most other times you are literally discarding, so playing England is never easy … cricket is a repetitive game, you have to repeat those performances every game.
“The challenge is to see how well we can do and this is how we play, we play to win and test ourselves individually.”
Rabada, who has played 43 Tests, 75 ODI and 24 T20 to date, stated that he has become one of the older members of the team following the retirements of Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel and Vernon Philander.
“We lost some very experienced players, we lost some greats of the game and now we almost have to build,” Rabada said.
“I am only 25 years old, I am one of the most experienced players, but that is the challenge itself: building is what we are trying to do.
“An exciting group of fast bowlers is coming so I’m very excited about the future.”
The first of three T20s is scheduled for Newlands at 6pm on Friday.
Protea Squad:
Quinton de Kock (Captain, Titans), Temba Bavuma (Lions), Junior Dala (Titans), Faf du Plessis (Titans), Bjorn Fortuin (Lions), Beuran Hendricks (Lions), Reeza Hendricks (Lions), Heinrich Klaasen (Titans) )), George Linde (Cape Cobras), Keshav Maharaj (Dolphins), Janneman Malan (Cape Cobras), David Miller (Dolphins), Lungi Ngidi (Titans), Anrich Nortje (Warriors), Andile Phehlukwayo (Dolphins), Dwaine Pretorius ( Lions), Kagiso Rabada (Lions), Tabraiz Shamsi (Titans), Lutho Sipamla (Lions), Jon-Jon Smuts (Warriors), Glenton Stuurman (Warriors), Pite van Biljon (Knights), Rassie van der Dussen (Lions), Kyle Verreynne (Cape Cobras)
Men’s tour from England to South Africa:
Friday, November 27 at 6:00 p.m.
1st T20I: South Africa v England, Newlands, Cape Town
Sunday, November 29 at 2:30 p.m.
2nd T20I: South Africa v England, Boland Park, Paarl
Tuesday, December 1 at 6:00 p.m.
3rd T20I: South Africa v England, Newlands, Cape Town
Friday, December 4 at 1:00 p.m.
1st ODI: South Africa v England, Newlands, Cape Town
Sunday, December 6 at 10:00
2nd ODI: South Africa v England, Boland Park, Paarl
Wednesday, December 9 at 1:00 p.m.
3rd ODI: South Africa v England, Newlands, Cape Town
