After dismissing Stokes for the second time, Rabada made it clear he would not say anything as he put his finger to his lips as Stokes walked away after being pinned lbw. And to ensure that silence was maintained, Dean Elgar, the stand-in, placed his hand over Rabada’s mouth.
“When you take a wicket, the first person you reach should put his hand over his mouth like me,” Elgar said after the match. “I hope he learns from this.”
“He was heartbroken not to be able to play for South Africa and realized he may have let the team down,” Elgar added. “Furthermore, he has let himself down. I am not 100% sure whether he has apologized to the team. A lot has happened in the last four days, but I understand he has apologized to senior management.”
“It’s a big loss for all sides. It’s a big loss for the Proteas and it’s a big loss for Test cricket,” Elgar said. “He is a very important bowler in our attack. He adds a different dynamic to our bowling attack and has an element of aggression that is very important for us to get these breakthroughs in Test cricket. He has been a phenomenal force for us in all formats. It is an opportunity for someone else to come in and start their career, maybe even for one game. It is a loss for him not to play the game of cricket.”
South Africa are expected to feature Chris Morris as their second bowling all-rounder in the absence of Rabada, and may enter the match short of a batsman with Theunis de Bruyn excluded for Duanne Olivier.
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