The Proteas fast bowler, Kagiso Rabada, has singled out the team unity as the big reason for their recent success in Test cricket.

The Proteas had a good tour to the Caribbean earlier in the year, while they have now won a first Test series on the subcontinent in more than ten years.

On Thursday the Proteas beat Bangladesh by an innings and 273 runs in the 2nd Test to claim a 2-0 series victory.

This propelled the Proteas up to fourth on the World Test Championship standings and with home series to come against Sri Lanka and Pakistan in the coming months they are in a solid position to reach the final for the first time.

This was South Africa’s first Test series win on the subcontinent since 2014, and for every single player in the squad it was a new experience.

Rababa was the star performer in the series with 14 wickets – this saw him moving back up to the number one ranking for bowlers in Test cricket. In the 1st Test Rababa became the sixth South African bowler to taking 300 wickets in Test cricket.

The world’s leading Test bowler told OFM Sport team unity has become their strength. “Exactly – so it’s showing we play for each other,” said Rabada.

Kagiso Rabada. Photo: Cricinfo

“The main thing is the badge, because we are only here for a limited amount of time. We respect each other – everyone is allowed to be who they are. But then we also draw the line on what we agree upon in terms of playing and how we want to conduct ourselves as a team.

“Everyone is trusted in doing what they do. There is a real camaraderie. It’s not like we hold each other’s hands everywhere we go, but we’re together.

“We’re willing to take anything on – we win as a team, we lose as a team, everyone is buying in.”

The Proteas next Test will start on 28 November against Sri Lanka at Kingsmead in Durban.

OFM Sport/Morgan Piek dg