The ICC Test Championship final is still five months away, but the war of words seems to have already begun. While Australia may enter the final as favorites, South Africa’s star pacer Kagiso Rabada is brimming with confidence. He has claimed that they know the 'formula' to beat Australia.
For the first time, South Africa has made it to the Test Championship final, whereas Australia will be playing their second consecutive final. Australia defeated India in the last ICC Test Championship final to clinch the trophy. The upcoming final is scheduled to take place at Lord’s on June 11.
South Africa secured their place in the final by defeating Pakistan by 2 wickets in the first Test of the series in Centurion. They then sealed the series with a thumping 10-wicket victory in Cape Town. This marked their seventh consecutive win in this format. Rabada has been instrumental in this remarkable journey, taking 6 wickets in the Cape Town Test across two innings.
The 29-year-old pacer acknowledges that South Africa might be the 'underdogs' in the final. However, having played a crucial role in South Africa’s Test series victories over Australia in the 2016–17 and 2017–18 seasons, Rabada is hopeful of producing something special again.
Rabada said, “The final is still far away, but an occasion like the Test Championship final excites everyone. Matches between South Africa and Australia have always been intensely competitive because we both play similar styles of cricket. We are aggressive, and we know they will be too. But we also know how to beat them.”
Before the final, Australia will play two more Tests against Sri Lanka. In contrast, South Africa has no red-ball matches lined up. Head coach Shukri Conrad revealed plans to arrange at least one Test match before the final.
“We’ll try to play a Test match against whichever team is available, maybe Ireland or Afghanistan, in the UK. If that doesn’t happen, we’ll definitely head there early for a training camp,” Conrad said.
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