{ "id": "48260", "author": "1", "cnmid": "0", "title": "Rabada pleased to get overs under his belt ahead of World Cup opener", "lang": "en", "series": "308", "cup_year": "2019", "article_type": "General", "excerpt": "May 25 (CRICKETNMORE) - Kagiso Rabada took more than any other player from South Africa's Cricket World Cup warm-up victory over Sri Lanka.\u00a0The 23-year-old quick, in the world's top ten bowle", "subtype": "", "editor1": "

May 25 (CRICKETNMORE) - Kagiso Rabada took more than any other player from South Africa's Cricket World Cup warm-up victory over Sri Lanka. The 23-year-old quick, in the world's top ten bowlers in Tests and ODIs, will lead the Proteas attack as they bid for a first-ever tournament victory. <\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n

Rabada felt his own search for sharpness proved the value of warm-up contests with hosts England looming in next Thursday's opening game. <\/p>\r\n\r\n

"I felt a bit rusty, but it was good to get a run out in the middle and get a feel for things again," he said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

"There's no pain. I'm feeling alright, just rusty in terms of my bowling smoothness. But it's all a work in progress. <\/p>\r\n\r\n

"That's why we have warm-up games so it'll be a challenge for me to get ready before the tournament starts.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

"I've got my own cues I need to work on. I know that I just need to analyse a bit what happened against Sri Lanka and just work on a few things. <\/p>\r\n\r\n

"I'm not really thinking about it too much. It's just a case of running in and focussing on my cues."<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Rabada, the leading wicket-taker with 25 scalps in the group stage of the recently concluded IPL, returned 1-40 from his seven overs in the 87-run triumph. South Africa boast one of the competition's most formidable bowling attacks and Lungi Ngidi took 2-12 from six overs in Cardiff as a reminder of his class. <\/p>\r\n\r\n

The Proteas will need all of their bowling firepower as they face Eoin Morgan's England batting powerhouse, averaging 341 in first innings since the 2015 World Cup. <\/p>\r\n\r\n

True to form Rabada is spoiling for the challenge and already relishing his first appearance at a World Cup. <\/p>\r\n\r\n

 <\/span><\/div>\r\n\r\n

"It's great to play for South Africa again. It's an honour to represent your country on such a big stage as the World Cup," he said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

"England is going to be a stiff challenge, but an enjoyable one. <\/p>\r\n\r\n

"It's crunch time - the first game of the World Cup and it's going to go down in history.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

"They're a strong team, with good batsmen and bowlers. Multiple players from our team have played against England, we're familiar with them and that helps. <\/p>\r\n\r\n

"On the day, we have to rock up. With the quality they possess, we need to make sure we are on top."<\/p>\r\n\r\n

\r\n

ICC Media Release<\/p>\r\n", "image": "https:\/\/img.cricketnmore.com\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Kagiso-Rabada3.jpg", "alt_img": "Kagiso Rabada", "alt_title": "ICC World Cup 2019", "image1": "", "video": "", "seo_title": "Rabada pleased to get overs under his belt ahead of World Cup opener On Cricketnmore", "seo_desc": "Kagiso Rabada took more than any other player from South Africa's Cricket World Cup warm-up victory over Sri Lanka.\u00a0The 23-year-old quick, in the world's top ten bowlers in Tests and ODIs, will lead the Proteas attack as they bid for a first-ever tourname", "seo_keywords": "Kagiso Rabada, ICC World Cup 2019", "tag": "", "tagging": "Kagiso Rabada,ICC World Cup 2019,", "status": "1", "img_rpt": "0", "google": "1", "standout": "0", "edapps": "0", "pulse": "0", "no_index": "0", "feed": "0", "fixture": "0", "slug": "rabada-pleased-to-get-overs-under-his-belt-ahead-of-world-cup-opener", "user_id": "0", "read_count": "0", "ians_date": "0000-00-00", "ians_time": "00:00:00", "server_time": "0000-00-00 00:00:00", "trash": "0", "view_count": "2277", "page_break": "0", "instant_articles": "1", "auto_link": "1", "created": "2019-05-25 04:56:03", "updated": "2019-05-25 04:56:03", "img_from": "Image - ICC", "img_source": "", "schedule_publish": "0000-00-00 00:00:00", "news_keywords": "ICC World Cup 2019, Cricket South Africa, Kagiso Rabada", "livescore_text": null, "livescore_link": null, "btn_text": null, "resend_feed": "0", "google_feed": "0", "read_more": "0", "posted_by": "1", "jio_date": "2019-05-25 04:56:03", "scheduled": "0", "news_now": "1", "breaking_news": "0", "google_date": "2019-05-25 04:56:03", "featured": "0", "pred_match_id": null, "article_content_type": null, "link": "https:\/\/www.cricketnmore.com\/cricket-news\/rabada-pleased-to-get-overs-under-his-belt-ahead-of-world-cup-opener-48260" }