Proteas to make late call on Kagiso Rabada as they prepare for unique Guwahati second Test

The Proteas will give premier fast bowler Kagiso Rabada until the eve of the all-important second Test against India in Guwahati to prove his fitness.

The visitors claimed their first win on India soil in Kolkata last week without Rabada’s services after the paceman was struck down by a rib injury. 

Bowling coach Piet Botha has confirmed that a late call will be made on Rabada, who travelled with the team to Guwahati but did not practise with the side on Thursday.

The Proteas have called up Lungi Ngidi to bolster the pace bowling stocks should Rabada not be passed fit. 

“Rabada is still being monitored by our medical staff,” Botha told the media on Thursday. “He obviously wasn't at practice today, but we'll make a call in the next 24 hours.” 

Botha also provided an update on ace off-spinner Simon Harmer’s shoulder. Harmer claimed a haul of 8/51 to earn the Player of the Match award in the Eden Gardens Test, and will be vital to the Proteas’ cause due to the large number of left-handers in the Indian batting line-up. 

“In terms of his  (Harmer) fitness he is fine. He bowled today at the nets. No problems there.

Obviously if the ball spins as early as it did in the last Test, then the majority of the Indian batting line up are left handers. That brings him into the game a lot,” Botha said.

Botha emphasised though that Harmer doesn’t only pose a threat to the lefties, as he claimed the crucial wicket of KL Rahul in India’s first innings in Kolkata.

“We balanced him quite nicely with Keshav. He bowled to the right handers. He got Rahul out in the first innings which was a big wicket for us. 

“It always depends on when do you come more into the game as a spinner. Is it first innings or second innings?

“If it's first innings and it doesn't spin as much. I think he is still a good enough bowler just to control the game. Once it starts spinning then he is obviously a danger. That's the same for Keshav.”

Due to early sunrise and sunset in Guwahati, the second Test will have a 9am start followed by the unique situation of the players having tea first followed by lunch. 

Botha said the Proteas have prepared for this situation. 

“Yes, it's interesting. It's the first time in my career I'm going to have tea first, and then lunch,” he said. “But with the game starting at 9 o'clock, I thought it would be cooler, but it was quite hot at 9 o'clock.

“But obviously it will be a little bit more moisture, so I think in terms of the first hour, the new ball should play a role. For how long, we're not sure. We'll have to see.

“I know back home in Durban, we start at 9 o'clock, and sometimes the ball goes around for the first hour, and then it settles down, and that side is up to lunch, and this side is up to tea. 

“We’ll prepare as much as we can in terms of both scenarios, where we have to get through various sessions. So for us, it's just about playing each session on its own, and therefore try to win session by session and not think too far ahead.”