South African coach lashes critics of Kagiso Rabada ban and lays out plans to win World Test Championship final

The one-off World Test Championship final between Australia and South Africa is firing up both sides, with a fast bowler’s drug ban the centre of attention.

South African coach Shukri Conrad has laid out the increased motivation to “topple” Australia in the World Test Championship final, hitting out at the “big three” notion after making it to the Lord’s decider ahead of India and England.

Conrad also sent another shot the way of former Australian captain Tim Paine, who criticised the handling of fast bowler Kagiso Rabada’s one-month drug ban, with the pace spearhead included among six fast bowlers for the game.

“To Tim Paine and everybody else out there, I’d probably say something simple like, ‘Let he without sin cast the first stone’. I’d leave it at that,” he said after naming his squad for the final starting on Wednesday, June 11.

Kagiso Rabada served a one-month drug ban. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

The Proteas won their way to Lord’s on the back of wins against smaller Test nations, including Bangladesh and the West Indies.

But they also took down Pakistan and Sri Lanka in the Test cycle, winning seven of the past eight Tests.

South Africa finished on top of the table and Conrad said the lack of recognition from the cricketing world for their achievement, making it to the final ahead of India and England, deserved respect.

“I think only in their minds have they dubbed themselves the big three. I don’t think anybody else has,” he said.

“We don’t prepare any differently, we certainly don’t respect Pakistan less than we do Australia, as we do India. Everything stays the same.

“It’s great that it’s Australia because we haven’t played them in a while, and it doesn’t provide us with more motivation. If you’re looking for more motivation, then you’re probably in the right state of mind anyway.”

Australia will take on South Africa at Lord’s. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

“You don’t need motivation to play for South Africa; you don’t need motivation to play in finals. I wouldn’t have wanted it any other way. I think Australia is the one side that everybody wants to topple, but preparation won’t be any different.”

Conrad said he was confident Rabada would be mentally ready for the final despite criticism of his ban.

“I’ve been engaging with KG ever since I learnt about it,” Conrad said at a press conference in Johannesburg.

“The biggest thing for me was whether KG is all right and to close ranks around him and ensure that he’s in a good space. At the end of the day, we care for all our players. He served his sentence, and all that I’m interested in now is KG producing performances that we know he’s capable of.”

South Africa squad: Temba Bavuma (captain), David Bedingham, Corbin Bosch, Tony de Zorzi, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Senuran Muthusamy, Lungi Ngidi, Dane Paterson, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, and Kyle Verreynne.