The cocaine, the suspension are in the past — this, the cricket, is what Rabada knows

“There’s a lot that’s been making me stand out in recent times,” Kagiso Rabada quipped.

So Wednesday was somewhat of a relief. This is what Rabada knows. The red ball, 22 yards of finely-prepared turf, cloudy skies, Lord’s and Australia. This was all familiar, an environment in which he thrives in front of an audience — which at this storied venue contained mainly South Africans — with the hopes of his team resting upon his broad shoulders.

The cocaine, the suspension for testing positive, that is all in the past. “It wasn’t my best moment, as I’ve alluded to. Life moves on,” he remarked.

But the only way for that to truly occur was to perform the way the world has been accustomed to from him since he announced himself at the Under-19 World Cup in 2014. Back then it was also Australia who bore the brunt of his fury in the semifinal in which he took 6/25.

Now playing his 11th Test against them, and a huge one in the World Test Championship final at Lord's, he’s taken 54 wickets at an average of 21.88. Wednesday’s was his fourth five-wicket haul against them, as Rabada dominated day one. The Baggy Green just sets him off.

But coming into this match he was being closely scrutinised. That indiscretion during the SA20 in January tarnished the image of South African cricket’s most high-profile player.

The sport in the country lacks superstars, something that was so clearly apparent here on Wednesday, where Graeme Smith was doing TV commentary, Hashim Amla, carried the Test mace onto the field before play started and AB de Villiers was hanging out with his kids and some mates while taking numerous photos with fans. That level of superstardom is something the current generation of Proteas is desperate to achieve, but to do so they need to claim silverware like Smith’s team did here 13 years ago.

Rabada has two series wins against Australia under his belt — one that came Down Under in 2016 — when he, along with Temba Bavuma, played crucial roles in a 2-1 win. In 2018, he was a central figure in one of the most infamous series in the sport’s history. His match figures of 11/150 at St George’s Park that season are the second-best of his career.

Still only 30, and playing his 71st Test, on Wednesday he passed Allan Donald to become South Africa’s fourth-highest wicket-taker.

“I've asked myself if I'm giving you guys [the media] enough, because you want to write a very interesting piece. But it's honestly very simple. I sound like a stuck record, because all that you do is try to improve and win games for South Africa,” he said.

“I guess to be in that list of bowlers is special. As a player growing up and representing South Africa, I've been inspired by those who've come before and seen what they've done on the big stage. As a kid, I was inspired to want to do the same thing. So I guess to be listed [with] those names is something special, and long may it continue.”

Australia’s Steve Smith, who’s had several run-ins with Rabada across the last decade, seemed almost perplexed when asked what made Rabada special — his skill or his pace? “Err, he’s got a lot of good skills, he can move the ball both ways,” said Smith.

“He's always up for the challenge, he charges in all day and his record speaks for itself, doesn't it? He's a quality bowler and he showed that again today.”

His 5/51 was the 17th time he’d claimed a ‘five-for.’ Makhaya Ntini (18), Donald (20) and Dale Steyn (26) remain ahead of him in that category. South Africa are set to play more Tests next year, so those landmarks will be in his sights too.

For now though, there’s a Test to be won here and at the end of first day, the Proteas’ position is precarious — 43/4, trailing Australia by 169 runs. “There’s a lot of cricket to be played still, so we’re just going to keep going for it.

“The ball was nipping quite a bit, and moving off the slope a lot. I felt that batters could get in but if you got enough balls in the right areas, then that’s when you create chances. With this ball getting older, hopefully we can score some runs.”

Scoreboard here