South African superstar Kagiso Rabada’s heart sunk when he first learned of the blunder that could cost South Africa the World Test Championship.
With Australia reeling at 4-94 in the 24th over and Beau Webster struggling to find the ball with his bat, the tall Tasmanian was struck on his knee by another superb delivery from Rabada, who finished with 5-51 from 15.4 overs.
Watching at the other end as Webster sunk to his knees in pain, Steve Smith’s initial reaction was; “Geez. That looks pretty good.”
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But behind the stumps, captain Temba Bavuma was not as certain in what proved a rare miscalculation for the skipper, whose bold decision to send Australia in led to a lively day at the home of cricket with 14 wickets falling for just 255 runs.
When Rabada trudged down to fine leg at the end of his over, South African reserve Corbin Bosch delivered the 30-year-old the bad news.
“Bosch came down to fine leg and he said it was out. And I was like, ‘Oh man’,” Rabada said.
“Yeah, it was a bit annoying. He didn’t start off too well there. He looked like he was going to get out any ball, but I guess his positive intent got him through. Cricket is a funny game. That’s just how it goes sometimes. That’s the way the cookie crumbled.”
Had South Africa appealed, they would have been enjoying biscuits with their tea on Wednesday night. Instead Webster added another 64 runs and ultimately topscored with 72 as Australia limped to 212. In response, South Africa is under immense pressure at 4-43.
Smith, who batted superbly to score 66 before edging part-time off-spinner Aiden Markram to slip to his immense frustration, could not believe South Africa had not reviewed the LBW.
“I heard it was out. Is that right? Yeah, it looked pretty good to me from the other end,” he said.
TALKING POINTS: ‘Oh man’: Big review fail that could cost South Africa WTC final as even Smith left stunned
“I don’t know what actually happened there. I know Beau was in a little bit of pain. I don’t think it actually hit his pad. I think it just hit his leg. Someone said they saw Rabada shaped to say (Webster) might have hit it. (But) it certainly didn’t look like that from my view.
“I was surprised they didn’t appeal more. I don’t think many people really went up, to be honest. (But from) where I was, I was like, ‘Geez, that looks pretty good.’ They had a chance to use a referral and didn’t put your hand right up.”
Rabada was pointed when asked how he assessed a day that started so brightly for South Africa, which secured four wickets before lunch and then skittled the Australians after tea when securing five for 22, only to struggle against a Mitch Starc-inspired counter-attack.
“212? You take that. We thought probably 160 is what we should have had them at, but that’s just the way the game goes,” he said.
“Right now, at 43 for 4, it is not the start we were looking for, but there’s still a lot of cricket to be played in this Test match. So (we are) just going to keep going for it.”
Smith, for his part, believes Australia is in a decent position despite being on the ropes for much of the first day.
“I think we’re in a good spot,” he said.
“We’ve probably had a few missed opportunities with the bat to try and get a bigger total, but I think the wicket offered something all day, as we’ve seen, and we’re in a pretty good position 169 in front with them four down.
“We’re in a decent spot (and) hopefully (the wicket) does a little bit in the morning, like it did today. It could have been a better day, but we’re still in a nice position.”
Smith was among those to make a mark on a day where new records were set in the WTC decider.
In reaching 591 runs at Lord’s, he surpassed the previous mark for an international batter at the ground 0f 575 owned by Warren Bardsley, also surpassing the tallies of Sir Donald Bradman and Sir Garfield Sobers along the way.
Starc claimed his 90th wicket clean bowled, the most by Australian, when removing Aiden Markram in the first over in a dazzling spell that put Australia back in the ascendancy after a testing day.
Rabada, too, was superb when moving to third on South Africa’s all-time Test wicket taking list. He overtook Alan Donald to move to fourth position on the list with 332 wickets, trailing Dale Steyn (439), Shaun Pollock (421) and Makhaya Ntini (390).
The South African touched on the recent one month suspension for testing positive to an illicit drug when stating it had been a difficult period, but he said the ban provided no extra inspiration to produce a superb performance at Lord’s.
“Obviously that wasn’t my best moment, as I’ve alluded to. (But) life moves on,” he said.
“I think every game that I play for South Africa, I try to do my best. So I didn’t try give any more (or) any less effort than I usually do in all the games that I play for South Africa. That’s what I tried to do today.”
With South Africa based in the English locker rooms for this match, Rabada will have the rare distinction of having his name in the honour boards in both the home and away dressing rooms at Lord’s after taking five wickets at the ground for the second time.
“Sometimes I’ve asked myself if I’m giving you guys enough, because you want to write a very interesting piece. But, I mean, it’s honestly very simple. I sound like a stuck record, because all that I do is try to improve and win games for South Africa,” he said.
“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 me and seen what they’ve done on the big stage. And as a kid, I was inspired to want to do the same thing. So to be listed in that list of names is something special. Long may it continue.”
