South Africa pacer Dale Steyn says that Kagiso Rabada is a much better bowler compared to him currently

Sport360 staff 18:33 07/08/2018
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  • Steyn has lavished praise on young Rabada.

    South Africa pacer Dale Steyn has admitted that Kagiso Rabada is a much better bowler compared to him at the moment.

    Steyn, who recently equalled Shaun Pollock’s tally of 421 wickets to become South Africa’s all-time leading wicket-taker in Test cricket, believes his own experience can help 23-year-old Rabada develop even further.

    “He’s (Rabada) way better than me. I have obviously got my records and everything but he’s way better than I am right now,” Steyn told reporters.

    “What he lacks is what I have, and that’s what I can share going forward. I will just carry on doing what I do and he can feed off that, he can learn off that and he can just become so much better.”

    Rabada has made rapid strides in international cricket ever since he made his debut for South Africa in 2014. Already considered to be one of the leading pacers in world cricket at the moment, Rabada is perched at the second spot in ICC’s rankings for Test bowlers behind England’s James Anderson.

    Steyn wants to use his experience to help Rabada improve further.

    Steyn wants to use his experience to help Rabada improve further.

    In January this year, Rabada had become the youngest bowler to attain the top Test bowlers’ ranking since the 19th century. He has already picked up 151 wickets in just 32 Tests for South Africa at an average which is less than 22. He breached the 150-wicket mark in the recent second Test against Sri Lanka and became the youngest bowler in history to do so.

    His ODI record is equally impressive with 80 scalps in 51 appearances so far at an average of 27.38.

    While Rabada has emerged as the new face of South Africa’s Test attack, Steyn believes experienced heads will be crucial for the side in the ODI World Cup in 2019.

    The senior pacer was not picked in South Africa’s squad for the ongoing ODI series against Sri Lanka but he is hoping to be on the plane to England as the Proteas search for their maiden World Cup title.

    “They (young fast bowlers) are all learning as they play but unfortunately you can’t go to a World Cup still learning. You need to know what you are doing,” Steyn stated.

    “Even at 35 I am still learning but I know what I am doing. These guys need that. I am hoping that’s what I can offer in the white ball scene and obviously play and win games for the country.”

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