Kagiso Rabada is a naturally gifted athlete, says bowling legend Allan Donald, and that is how he is able to generate speeds of 150km/h with what looks like a medium pacer's action.
Rabada clocked the fastest delivery - 150.3km/h - in Centurion on Sunday when the Proteas lost to New Zealand by 32 runs in the second T20 international. He finished with figures of 3/30.
But unlike quick bowlers of the past, he does not run in as quickly as he bowls. He takes around seven steps to release and then, like a comet hitting the earth, there's a big bang.
Pakistani fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar used to steam in like a runaway train and Australian Brett Lee took multiple, thunderous strides to get to the crease, but almost like a panther, Rabada sneaks up to his opponent.
"Some kids fall from nowhere and they can bowl fast.
"It's not a self-taught thing, but is genetically generated," said Donald.
"You're very gifted to be able to bowl fast. From watching the genuine quicks around the world - the [Michael] Holdings and [Malcolm] Marshalls - anyone will tell you that you can't teach that.
"Rabada is a fantastic athlete. He's strong and has a fantastic action to go along with it. There's not a lot that can go wrong from a technique point of view.
"He is also still growing into that body of his.
"The great thing is that he is going to bowl quicker, too.
"Kagiso will find out that he'll have his hard days at international level but right now he is enjoying it and wants to play Test cricket.
"We are very lucky to have him right now. Not only can he bowl quick, but he also bowls in very good areas," Donald said.
Proteas bowling coach Charl Langeveldt attested to Rabada's natural gifts and that, although it might not look like it, he has a strong action.
"He has got a strong action and hit-drive [hitting the deck on delivery], a strong upper body and a quick arm and that is where he generates his pace from," he said.
"Kagiso can still generate a yard or two of speed by not necessarily running in quicker, but by getting the rhythm right.
Asked about the possibility of lengthening his runup for more explosiveness, Rabada said: "I'm always open to new ideas, but I don't think the pace comes from the runup.
"The runup is just for your rhythm, to make sure that everything clicks at the crease."
