Australia v South Africa: All the news ahead of the first Test at the Gabba

Fiery quick Kagiso Rabada watched all the great South African players as a kid – but it was Australia’s golden generation that inspired him. He opens up ahead of the first Test.

Pace prince Kagiso Rabada has revealed how Shane Warne inspired him in a stunning career which has made him the force Australia fears most in Saturday’s first Test.

Many Test cricketers have an inferior record against Australia to other nations but South Africa’s key weapon Rabada has found the challenge has drawn the best from him.

His 38 wickets at just 20 apiece in seven Tests against Australia says everything about the relentlessly high standards that Usman Khawaja claims have made him clearly Australia’s No 1 threat.

As well as watching great South African players as a youngster, Rabada rose early to learn what he could from Australia‘s golden generation

Kagiso Rabada bowling in the tour match against Australia A. Picture: Albert Perez/Getty Images

“Obviously the South African players inspired me but that Australian team played a major role as well,‘’ Rabada told News Corp.

“I really enjoyed watching Shane Warne. I thought he was magnificent. Warne was just a work of art. Whenever he used to bowl he did extraordinary things with the ball.

“The way he turned it. His whole demeanour. His character. It wasn‘t just what he did with the ball. I looked up to him and still do.

“Australia has that golden era you would just watch them whenever they played. I would wake up early and watch Ashes Tests and you wanted to see how those great players played.‘’

Rabada can be a volatile player who was famously suspended during the Sandpapergate tour for shouldering Steve Smith after dismissing him lbw at St George’s Park, only to have the decision controversially overturned.

It was part of a series of four code of conduct violations in two years as he straddled the line between legal and outlawed aggression.

“Emotion catches you. You don‘t chase it. You just wait for it.

“Whenever we have played against Australia it has been about a lot more than the cricket. There has always been some extra emotion behind it for whatever reasons.’’

Rabada has 257 wickets at 22 in 57 Tests. Picture: MARCO LONGARI/AFP

The Rabada-Smith rematch at the Gabba should be box office fare.

“Steve Smith is a great player he has proven that for many years, Obviously he is someone you would be wary of because he is arguably their best batter for the past five to eight years.’’

Physically, Rabada is a remarkable natural talent but he left nothing to chance by putting in the home work as well in compiling a Test record (257 wickets at 22 in 57 Tests) which matches strides with the gods of his trade.

He has looked at all the great bowlers on You Tube, from West Indian champions like Andy Roberts who he has met to Dennis Lillee whom he would like to.

The Rabada-Steve Smith rematch at the Gabba should be box office fare.

Rabada’s father is a brain surgeon who grew up in the pre-apartheid era which meant he had a tougher life than his son, a fact Rabada says makes him grateful.

“In South Africa during apartheid it was very tough for him so he is an inspirational figure for me. Both my parents are. It‘s always nice when you can look up to someone.

“My father has always believed in me and insisted that I believe in myself. He‘s been a great role model for me. I just try and emulate the work he has done from the background he came from.’’

Careful what you wish for: Aussie cricket’s Warner reality

- Ben Horne

David Warner might be out of form, but his batting partner of 29 years has declared him irreplaceable in the Australian Test team.

Usman Khawaja knows Warner’s game and psyche better than anyone having first padded up with him when they were seven years old.

Warner’s form has been put under the microscope heading into the first Test against South Africa, but Khawaja says Australian cricket needs to be careful what it wishes for if it thinks another DA Warner is going to roll off the production line.

David Warner and Usman Khawaja bat together at Adelaide Oval. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

“I look at it from a wider perspective. I said it after the game, it was more about that I’ve played domestic cricket the last few years. I’ve seen what’s around. We’ve got some really good cricketers coming up but we don’t have any Davey Warners,” said Khawaja.

“The batting line-up we have right now, the top six, are the best players in the country. A few games here doesn’t make a difference for me.

“If you had the choice of picking David Warner or someone else, I’m picking David Warner every day of the week.

“I think the opposition players know that too because they know how quickly he can turn the game.

“From my point of view, I just assume he’s going to make runs.”

Australian coach Andrew McDonald said this week Warner was firmly in the team’s plans for February’s heavy-duty Test tour of India, as it stands right now.

But even if Warner fails to make a big impact with the bat against the Proteas, selectors may still have to ask themselves if they feel a Marcus Harris or Matt Renshaw or Henry Hunt is going to make a bigger impact in the sub-continent than one of Australia’s greatest ever openers.

Warner doesn’t regularly face Australia’s quicks in the nets, but he did for a brief period at the team’s main session at Allan Border Field on Thursday.

Pat Cummins ripped in off his full run-up and appeared to get through the session without incident, with a final check on Friday to confirm he is right to return from a quad strain and captain Australia in the first Test against South Africa.

Warner in the nets on Thursday. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

Lance “The Wild Thing” Morris was also tearing in at the Australian batsmen, and at one point struck Khawaja on the side with a lightning quick delivery.

The Australian batsmen faced a lot of deliveries in the nets from the left-arm ‘wanger’ of assistant coach Daniel Vettori, in an apparent bid to practice for South Africa’s rapid left arm quick Marco Jansen.

Australia hasn’t faced a genuine left-arm paceman in Test cricket for some time, and Jansen is in on their worry as a potential danger.

But Khawaja declared South African enforcer Kagiso Rabada was still very much the spearhead.

“He’s obviously the leader of that attack. He’s been their best bowler for a long time. He’s always a good challenge, no matter if you face him at the start or with an old ball,” said Khawaja.

“You are always wary of him. I’ve scored runs against him, but no easy Test runs. They are never easy against KG.

“(As batters), you’ve faced express pace your whole life, so it’s not about getting ready for it for this series.

“I was facing Lance Morris a few weeks back. I faced Woody (England’s Mark Wood) last year. You face buys who bowl rockets all the time. It’s just part of the game.”

Originally published as Australia v South Africa: All the news ahead of the first Test at the Gabba