Johannesburg - Despite Kagiso Rabada being included in all three Proteas squads for the 72-day tour of India starting at the end of September, it could still be a while before the young bowler makes his Test debut, according to South African bowling coach Charl Langeveldt.
Rabada, 20, has already played five ODIs and six T20s for South Africa but there does not seem to be a place in Test cricket for the young fast bowler just yet.
Dale Steyn, Vernon Philander and Morne Morkel can legitimately lay claim to being the best pace attack in Test cricket with South Africa world ranked No 1 in the format. Steyn is the leading wicket-taker for South Africa in Tests and also is the No 1 ranked bowler in whites.
Added to the consistency in line and length Philander provides, and the pace and bounce of Morkel, it is difficult to see a spot emerging for Rabada in the four-Test series against India.
Injury, however, could strike at any moment and Langeveldt said Rabada needed to be ready if called upon.
“We're winning Test matches at the moment, so it's going to be hard for Kagiso to get into the Test side,” said Langeveldt at a training session with Proteas bowlers Rabada, Chris Morris and Marchant de Lange at SuperSport Park, in Centurion, on Tuesday.
“India is probably going to be even harder because we might play two spinners. We've got three seam bowlers that have done well for South Africa for a number of years. If an injury comes along then you never know. You always make sure the player is prepared if the opportunity does come his way. I can't say when he's going to play, all I control is whether or not he will be ready.”
A far more likely scenario will be Rabada making his debut against England in their four Test series when they tour South Africa starting in December.
The fourth and final Test against India is scheduled to finish on December 7, just 21 days before the first Test against England in Durban on Boxing Day.
Langeveldt, however, was pleased the competition for spots in the bowling department was heating up with Marchant de Lange, Chris Morris and David Wiese and Kyle Abbott included in the shorter formats.
“I think it's [competition for spots] already happening, and that's what you want. You want an armoury of bowlers that are competing. When you have guys competing for the same spot, everyone will lift their game. The senior guy will even lift his game. You have to earn your right to play for South Africa.”
“Generally the wickets are much flatter in India and on the subcontinent, and re-adjusting to the home series in South Africa at the end of the year may prove difficult.
“I sometimes have sleepless nights thinking about these things,” said Langeveldt.
“Our bowlers won't change their approach too much from the subcontinent to playing back in South Africa. “Steyn's stock delivery is still fourth stump going away, and in India he will maybe be just on offstump. It's not a big adjustment. “Vernon is the same type of bowler as he bowls in the same areas. The biggest change will be from Morne from India to here because of his extra bounce.” - African News Agency (ANA).