South Africa fast bowler Kagiso Rabada took five wickets on day one of this week’s World Test Championship against Australia at Lord’s in London, England.
South Africa bowled out Australia for 212 before moving to 43 for four for a 169-run deficit.
“It felt like a home game – 212, you’ll take that. But we thought probably 160 is what we should have had them at,” said Rabada.
“The ball was nipping quite a bit and at times moving off the slope quite a lot. But I still felt like batters could get in.
“If you just bowled well and got more balls in the right area for a long period of time, then that’s when you could create chances. They didn’t miss their lengths and they bowled really well. So, we’re going to have to combat that on Thursday.”
Rabada has 332 Test wickets. He is South Africa’s 4th highest wicket-taker in Test cricket, after surpassing former fast bowler Allan Donald’s 330 on Wednesday.
Former fast bowlers Dale Steyn, Shaun Pollock and Makhaya Ntini are in first, second and third position with 439, 421 and 390 Test wickets, respectively.
“I try to do my best, so I didn’t try to give any more or any less effort than I usually do in all the games that I play for South Africa, so that’s all I tried to do,” he added.
“I guess to be named in that list of bowlers is special. As a player growing up and representing South Africa, I’ve been inspired by those who’ve come before and seen what they’ve done on the big stage.
“As a kid, I was inspired to want to do the same thing. So I guess to be listed in that list of names is something special and long may it continue.”