Cummins’ big selection hint after pitch reveal, SA villain on THAT Smith clash

Pat Cummins doubts it will matter how the Australians approach Kagiso Rabada in his return to Test cricket in Gqeberha on Sunday given the sight of the Baggy Green is enough to incite an inspired response in the Protea superstar.

Eight years after he shoulder-bumped Steve Smith and ran amok with the ball to swing the “Sandpapergate” series South Africa’s way, Rabada is back and raring to go as he seeks to bowl the World Test Champions back into the series.

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“I know KG a little bit and it doesn’t take much to get himself up for the contest. Even if you don’t poke him, I’m sure he’ll find a way to motivate himself,” Cummins said.

“(He is a) class player who hasn’t played much lately, but always seems to rise to the occasion and quite experience in Test cricket. So no doubt he’ll be a bit of a challenge.

“He’s obviously got a very good against most countries, but a very good record against Australia (and it is) important mentally and psychologically … for the batters to get through those early spells from him and, I guess, not find themselves in a situation where I think the KG effect holds over them.”

Rabada spoke to a small group of South African journalists at St George’s Park on Saturday ahead of his first Test in 12 months and said he is well aware that he has no time to ease himself back into the fray after the Proteas lost the first Test.

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He said he feels confident but is mindful “there is always some mystery in sport” when declaring he did not want to give away “too many inches” to the Australian batters.

The 31-year-old also touched on the infamous shoulder bump with Smith which initially saw him suspended for two Tests, or effectively the rest of the series, before being reinstated on appeal, which infuriated the Australians.

“That (the Smith incident) is just the emotion of the game,” he told the group, as reported by CricInfo‘s Firdose Moonda.

“It’s about playing within the rules. As athletes, you want to go out and express yourself. There’s no hate off the field or any of that. It’s just a bunch of top-performing athletes who’ve got testosterone to burn. That’s what it is.

“It’s the heat of the moment, but now you have to take into consideration the rules that have been put in place regarding viewers who are watching the game and keeping the game in a good light. That’s understandable. But you need characters in sports. Of course you do.”

The return of Rabada aside, neither Cummins nor his counterpart Temba Bavuma confirmed their XIs for the Test beginning on Sunday due to concerns about the weather and the impact that could have on the Test and the pitch.

When acknowledging he is open to the prospect of altering the batting order mid-Test, Pat Cummins hinted on Saturday it was likely Matthew Renshaw will stay at No.5 for the second Test in Gqeberha.

While Josh Inglis is available and batted in the nets for an extended time on Saturday, if Renshaw is to remain in the middle-order, it suggests Nic Maddinson will again open after a topsy-turvy return to the Test team in Durban last week.

“I don’t think we’ll see it this week. I think after what Renners did last week, I presume he’ll stay at five,” Cummins said of switching the batting order mid-Test.

“Again, a lot of it is conditions based. The conditions can change a lot from the first innings to the second innings, so every batter matches up a little bit differently.

“When we go to India, we pick specialist batting line-ups for batting in India. Sometimes a fourth innings at a spinning SCG might present like an Indian test, so we just change the order accordingly.”

The Australians are also pondering the make-up of the bowling attack based on a final read of the pitch, particularly given the school of thought that Scott Boland would be especially effective here.

But that would mean the Aussies have to drop one of their champion fast bowlers – and all pulled up well from Durban – or Nathan Lyon and the skipper was strong on what the veteran off-spinner offered in the first Test.

“Again, we always look at all options, so give us (until) tomorrow morning,” he said.

“We love playing with Nath. We saw last week (that he took) a couple of key wickets in the first innings, but even the control he gives, it makes the rest of us fast bowlers be able to function.

“I mean, every Test match, we’re trying to work out how we can fit Scotty Boland in there somehow, and Nath Lyon, and you know even (Michael) Neser.

“But, of course, you know when you got someone like Scotty every Test match, you leave some training sessions shaking your head, (thinking), ‘How is that bloke not in your first XI?”