Dean Elgar thinks ban for Rabada is a “big loss” for Test cricket

The South African team suffered a thumping 211-run loss, in the first Test at Lord’s on Sunday with more than a day to spare when they collapsed to 119 all out in the second innings after being set a target of 331 to win. They conceded their worst defeats in terms of margin of runs in the longest format of the game.

Kagiso Rabada, the South African pacer was banned from the second Test match against hosts England as a result of his send off to England all-rounder Ben Stokes after his dismissal. Rabada had already gained 3 demerits in the game against Sri Lanka and now earned another point in 24 months. The Proteas fast bowler faces a one-match suspension along with a fine of 15 percent of his match fees.

Current skipper feels Rabada ban a big loss

South Africa stand-in skipper Dean Elgar has said Kagiso Rabada’s ban from the second match of the England series is a “big loss for Test cricket” and not just the Proteas.  “It’s a big loss for everything, the Proteas and Test cricket,” Elgar told the reporters. “He’s been a phenomenal strength to our bowling attack for the last three years in all formats. I think for the game of cricket it is a loss,” said the opener.

Rabada was among the wickets as South Africa fought back on Sunday morning by picking up seven wickets for 63 runs to reduce England to 182/8 in their second innings at lunch on the fourth day. “Going into lunch with eight down, I really thought we’d given ourselves the best opportunity,” Elgar said.

Rabada’s young career

The 22-year-old has taken 77 wickets in an 18-Test career at an impressive average of under 25 a piece and is a vital member of the team in all the formats of the game.

Elgar points out the dropped chances

“I think that’s why it’s so disappointing to be sitting here after things capitulated as they did.” Elgar added, “We haven’t been kind to ourselves the last four days, small things, but they impacted the Test in quite a big way- dropped catches, non-negotiable no-balls, they would definitely have made life easier as a captain.”

He advised the team to move on as, “These are the punches you have to take- you have to get up tomorrow morning with a smile on your face and know there is a Test in four days, you have to start again.” The Proteas now have just a few days to recover before the second Test at Nottingham’s Trent Bridge starts on Friday