Smashed to all parts in T20 cricket: ‘All you can do is cry in your room,’ jokes Rabada

South Africa’s Kagiso Rabada knows bowling in T20 cricket is a tough job. Picture: Rodger Bosch / AFP Kagiso Rabada joked on Friday that the only thing to do after being hit to all parts of a ground during a T20 cricket game in India was to “go to your room and cry.” Bowlers generally take a beating in India, with the wickets flat and prepared to favour the batters and again high scores are expected during the T20 World Cup which got underway on Saturday. Matches will also be played in Sri Lanka over the next few weeks.

The Proteas open their account on Monday, against Canada, and also face Afghanistan, New Zealand, and the United Arab Emirates in pool play. In their only warmup game ahead of the tournament, theProteas were well beaten by Indiain Navi Mumbai on Wednesday, going down by 30 runs after the hosts had piled on 240/5 in their 20 overs. Rabada conceded 44 runs in three overs, Anrich Nortje 57 in three overs and George Linde 25 in two overs.

The other South African bowlers who featured in the match had only marginally better economy rates, with Corbin Bosch going for 31 in three, Aiden Markram 22 in two, Lungi Ngidi 23 in three, Marco Jansen 18 in two and Kwena Maphaka 19 in two. “The grounds are small, and the ball skids on. Then the dew comes and makes it even worse,” said the experienced Rabada.

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“The ball will swing for two overs. The pitches are true … so the batters can just swing through the line. I don’t want to take away from the skill of the batters, but it’s becoming brutal.” The veteran fast bowler though was hopeful that not all the pitches in India would favour the batters.

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