LONDON — South Africa's pace spearhead Kagiso Rabada etched his name into Lord's folklore, joining an exclusive club of just two bowlers to achieve a rare feat in the ongoing World Test Championship (WTC) final against India. His five-wicket haul on Day 2 not only swung momentum decisively in South Africa's favor but also placed him alongside an English legend in a statistical anomaly that has stood for over a century.
Rabada's Masterclass at the Home of Cricket
On a overcast London morning that had fast bowlers licking their lips, Rabada produced a spell of 5/44 in 14 overs, dismantling India's much-vaunted batting lineup. His victims included:
"Rohit Sharma (caught behind), Virat Kohli (bowled off an inside edge), Rishabh Pant (edging to slip), Ravindra Jadeja (trapped LBW), and Mohammed Shami (clean bowled)."
What made Rabada's performance particularly remarkable was the context. As noted by BBC Test Match Special analyst Isa Guha: "To take five at Lord's in a WTC final, with that pace, accuracy and reverse swing – it's the complete fast-bowling package."
The Elite Lord's Club of Two
Rabada's figures placed him in rarefied company. The only other bowler to claim a five-wicket haul in both a Lord's Test and a Lord's ODI is England's Stuart Broad, who achieved the double in:
- 2013 Ashes Test (7/44)
- 2010 ODI vs Pakistan (5/23)
Cricket statistician Mazher Arshad highlighted the significance: "This isn't just any ground – Lord's has hosted cricket since 1814. For only two men in 209 years to achieve this speaks volumes about Rabada's versatility across formats."
The Trivia-Busting Aspect
What makes Rabada's inclusion in this club particularly noteworthy is that he's:
- The first non-English player to achieve it
- The only bowler to do it in ICC tournament matches at Lord's
Former South Africa captain Shaun Pollock was effusive in his praise: "KG has always had that X-factor. Today he showed why he's still among the world's best despite all the workload concerns in modern cricket."
The WTC Final Context
Rabada's heroics came at a crucial juncture. India, having won the toss, were 189/3 before his second spell triggered a collapse to 234 all out. As noted by Cricviz, "Rabada's average of 18.4 in the second innings of Tests is the best among active bowlers with 50+ wickets."
The 28-year-old's performance was even more impressive given his recent injury concerns. Just three months ago, he missed IPL 2023 with a lower back stress fracture. His rehabilitation program, overseen by CSA medical staff, clearly paid dividends.
Historical Parallels
Lord's has witnessed many great fast-bowling performances, but few with such multi-format dominance. Some notable comparisons:
- Malcolm Marshall's 7/22 (Test) but no ODI five-for at Lord's
- Glenn McGrath's 8/38 (Test) vs 3/28 (ODI best at Lord's)
As current England bowling coach David Saker observed: "The slope, the atmosphere, the history – Lord's tests every part of a bowler's skill set. To conquer it in both formats like KG has is extraordinary."
What This Means for Rabada's Legacy
At just 28, Rabada now has:
- 285 Test wickets at 22.11
- 140 ODI wickets at 27.34
His achievement also continues South Africa's proud tradition at Lord's, where they've won 5 of their last 7 Tests. As teammate Anrich Nortje put it: "When KG gets that rhythm going, it's like watching a master at work. Today was one of those days where everything clicked."
With the WTC final still hanging in the balance, Rabada's performance has already secured its place in Lord's rich tapestry. As the famous Honours Boards in the home dressing room will soon attest, a new king of speed has left his mark on cricket's most hallowed turf.