Rabada injury forces Proteas into Ngidi SOS

“MAYBE Shuks missed a trick” It’s not often that Proteas coach Shukri Conrad is not on top of his game, but these were Kagiso Rabada’s words prior to the Test series against India.

- ZAAHIER ADAMS

Rabada was, of course, humorously referring to the absence of his longtime new-ball partner Lungi Ngidi and the value he could possibly add with his cutters and slower balls on the subcontinent tour.

Little did Rabada know that Ngidi would be sent an SOS to fly over to India as backup for him after the Proteas’ premier fast bowler sat out the first Test in Kolkata with a rib injury.

With the Proteas enjoying two days of extra rest after the Eden Gardens Test finished in three days, Ngidi was able to join the team in Kolkata before their scheduled departure to Guwahati yesterday.

Rabada has not been released though and will travel with the squad to Guwahati, where the Proteas will be hoping he can return to the lineup to aid the visitors’ bid to win their first Test series in India for 25 years.