SA's pace trio likely to delay Rabada's Test debut

Pace, precision and a penchant for plucking wickets would ordinarily lead to a Test debut, but 20-year old Kagiso Rabada may have to wait just a little while longer to wear the whites. Rabada is part of South Africa's squad in all three formats for the upcoming tour of India, but remains a reserve in the Test ranks for now.

"We're winning Test matches at the moment, so it's going to be hard for Kagiso to get into the side and India is going to be even harder because we might even play two spinners," Charl Langeveldt, South Africa's bowling coach, said at a training camp for the Johannesburg-based bowlers. "We've got three seam bowlers that have done well for South Africa for a number of years now but if an injury comes along then you never know."

That means Dale Steyn, Vernon Philander and Morne Morkel remain South Africa's first choice, but this will be the first time they bowl as a trio in India. The trio first came together in November 2011 and have since toured other parts of the sub-continent such as Sri Lanka where Steyn, in particular, was impressive. Langeveldt expects nothing less even in India.

"Our fast bowling attack is still key. Steyn bowls well with the ball reversing and with the new ball; although it's an SG ball, he does bowl well and he gets the ball to reverse," Langeveldt said.

Where Langeveldt expects things to be different is with Philander, who could move from a frontline attacking bowler to the last line of defence.

"When Vernon bowled in Bangladesh, he was was one of our best bowlers. He made guys play a lot more than others," Langeveldt explained. "If he can strike with the new ball in India, that's key for us. He brings that consistency to our attack and he can keep the run rate down. He went for about one-and-a-half runs an over in Bangladesh recently.

"He didn't get the results but if you talk about keeping the run-rate down and creating pressure from one end while the spinner is attacking from the other end, he can do that."

A strategy where Philander is used as a container could also mean a return for Imran Tahir as the specialist spinner ahead of Simon Harmer and Dane Piedt, both offspinners. That move could further confine Rabada to the bench, where Langeveldt said he will learn what's expected of him when he makes the step up.

"I will make sure he is prepared so if the opportunity does come he is ready to play. I can't say when he's going to play, it's out of my control, it's out of his control, all he can control is that he will be ready."

Part of the preparation will involve the study of reverse swing, something Langeveldt believes Rabada can master. "KG has got a good wrist position so the ball will reverse for him as well," he said.

"It's all about looking after the ball. That's the key to teach him now: to prepare the ball, to look to shine, even throwing from the boundary, those are the things we will discuss. Everyone knows how to prepare the ball for when it does reverse, or when it is reversing or how to get it to reverse."

The more Rabada learns, the more the rest will have to look over their shoulder, which is exactly what Langeveldt wants. Already, Rabada is holding down a fairly regular place in South Africa's limited-overs sides and with time, he is expected to challenge for a Test spot.

"You want a battery of bowlers who are competing. When you've got guys competing for the same spot, everyone will lift their game - a senior player will lift his game," Langeveldt said, while warning his bowlers that no one is safe. "I just don't want to say he is going to play and that's it. You have to earn your rights to play for South Africa, and I am a big fan of competition."