New Zealand’s opening bowler Trent Boult has hailed Kagiso Rabada as one of the world’s best ahead of tomorrow’s showdown between the Proteas and Black Caps in Birmingham, writes DANIEL GALLAN in London.
READ: Rain threatens to drown out Proteas
PREVIEW: Cardinelli looks at Black Caps’ threat
‘He’s a quality bowler and considered one of the best for a reason,’ Boult said of South Africa’s spearhead whom he shared a dressing room with in the Indian Premier League, representing the Delhi Capitals this year. ‘In my opinion they have some of the best bowlers.’
Boult, like Rabada, has yet to light up the tournament, picking up three of his side’s 30 wickets, but he remains a potentially devastating prospect. His ability to swing the new ball both ways will be a test for South Africa’s top order who need to fire to keep their side alive in the competition.
If New Zealand win, they will effectively knock South Africa out of the World Cup, something they have done in the previous two editions. In 2011 a 49-run win in the quarter-finals was the last World Cup match for Graeme Smith and Jacques Kallis while Grant Elliott’s heroics four years later left AB de Villiers and Dale Steyn empty-handed on the world’s biggest stage.
‘We haven’t spoken about it,’ Boult said of the World Cup history between the two sides.
‘The 2015 semi-final at Eden Park was one of the best games the Kiwis have played and got a lot of attention back home and did a lot for the game.
‘I remember hoping like heck I didn’t have to bat. When we saw the ball sail over the fence [following Elliott’s match-winning strike] was special.’
New Zealand have been relatively untested so far in the tournament. They remain unbeaten after wins against Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Afghanistan as well a washed-out game against India.
Boult said he expects a difficult encounter tomorrow but acknowledges it could have been even more difficult had things panned out differently.
‘In my opinion, AB [de Villiers] is still one of the best players in the world and it would have been great to see him here,’ Boult said.
– Gallan is a London-based freelance sports writer; follow on him on Twitter: @danielgallan
