Fellow cricket fans, don’t be surprised when, in the not-too-distant future, Proteas coach Mark Boucher comes out and names Kagiso Rabada as South Africa’s Test captain.
No, I don’t have insider information and I haven’t spoken to the coach or anyone, but I can see the stars aligning for KG.
Regular readers of this column will remember that when it came to light that Quinton de Kock was not going to captain the five-day team, I immediately suggested Rabada.
TAKING THE REINS: Quinton de Kock
In the column dated 21 April 2020, I highlighted that Rabada is the only Test cricket ranked in the top 10 and that management can use his fire to spark the rest of his team.
How they could mould the team’s image around Rabada - a type of skrik-vir-niks deal.
Anyway, since then a number of players have put up their hands, while fellow sports writers have not entertained the idea of Rabada captaining the team.
The more fancied candidates are Aiden Markram, Temba Bavuma, Dean Elgar and even Rassie van der Dussen, while Keshav Maharaj also tossed his name into the hat.
Add Rabada to the list and you have a clear winner in my eyes - someone who is at least a guaranteed name on the team sheet and also has a number of playing years ahead of him at 25.
This column is not about strengthening Rabada’s case. I did that already.
Instead, it’s about Cricket South Africa (CSA) seeing his potential as a leader too.
And that was evident when he was named as one of the three captains to lead the three teams that will play in the first ever three-team cricket match.
In one corner you have respected former limited-overs captain AB de Villiers leading his Eagles, in the other you have current limited-overs skipper Quinton de Kock taking charge of his team and then you have Rabada. Weird call? Certainly not.
MENTORSHIP: Faf du Plessis
Take a closer look at the players in Rabada’s team and you’ll see the name of former Test captain Faf du Plessis there.
Coincidence?
Again the answer is no.
To me it looks like CSA is starting to mould Rabada as a leader and with Faf in his corner, they have given him a mentor. I expect Du Plessis and Rabada to spend a lot of time together over the next few months.
When asked what sort of captain he’ll be, Rabada said it’s a case of wait and see.
Am I on to something, of is ek weer Duidelike “conspiracy theory” Dudley?