Rabada return a big ‘lift’ for Proteas - Gibson

Standard Bank Proteas head coach, Ottis Gibson, says the return of pace spearhead Kagiso Rabada is a big ‘lift’ for the squad ahead of the third Sunfoil Test match against Australia starting at PPC Newlands on Thursday. Rabada is available for selection after he was found not guilty of the level two charge of making ‘inappropriate and deliberate physical contact with a player’ following an appeal hearing in Cape Town on Monday. Gibson says the No.1-ranked Rabada is geared up for the match, and does not need any more motivation to perform following a busy week of legal hearings off the field. The coach believes the squad will be feeding off the confidence and ‘positive energy’ from the six-wicket win to level the series in Port Elizabeth last week, despite the long break and disruptions between matches. Another positive for the squad is the return to fortress Newlands, a venue where they have only lost four out of 31 matches since re-admission. Rabada himself will be anticipating the return to a successful hunting ground, where he has taken 19 wickets in three matches at a strike-rate of 31.7.