We know how to beat them: Rabada's WTC warning to Australia
South Africa fast bowler says plans are in already in motion in their quest to take the World Test Championship mace off Australia at Lord's in June.
South Africa speedster Kagiso Rabada says his team's plans to beat Australia in the June World Test Championship 2025 Final are already in motion.
Read more: Disciplined South Africa seal series whitewash over Pakistan
The Proteas closed out their bilateral cycle with a 10-wicket win over Pakistan in Cape Town, completing a clean sweep against Shan Masood's side following their earlier two-wicket win in Centurion.
Bowling Pakistan out a second time after asking the tourists to follow on, David Bedingham brought a swift end to proceedings, scoring 47 from just 30 balls to chase down the target of 58 in just 7.1 overs.
Rabada, who claimed six wickets in the win to help the Proteas to a seventh straight Test victory, said he and his side are already looking ahead (at their Lord's meeting with Pat Cummins' men in June).
"It's actually quite some distance away, but a big occasion like the World Test Championship Final gets you up for it," Rabada said on SuperSport's television coverage after the Test.
"South Africa versus Australia has always been an intense rivalry, because we play cricket quite similar. We play hard - and they're going to come hard at us, and we know that.
"But we also know how to beat them.
"(Test cricket is) our best format that we've been playing right now.
"When you look at South African cricket and all our legends, they've all been great Test cricketers. The world's best players are Test cricketers, and this series against Pakistan has been a wonderful advertisement for Test cricket, especially in South Africa."
South Africa finished with 69.44% of possible points across the cycle for table-topping bragging rights, with fellow finalist Australia (63.73% of possible points) unable to eclipse the figure even with a clean sweep victory in their upcoming series against Sri Lanka.
South Africa do not have a Test match scheduled between now and the final, though Proteas coach Shukri Conrad has outlined potential preparations.
"We're going to try and get a Test match, possibly in the UK, against Ireland or Afghanistan, whoever is free," Conrad said.
"And if unsuccessful, we'll obviously go out a couple of days earlier, and make sure we camp there really well, probably in Canterbury."
πππ ππ ππππ₯π€. πππ ππππππ€π€. πππ ππππ π£πππ€ π Relive the magic of cricket in 2024 through unforgettable ICC events π½
Following the victory, Conrad saluted the work of captain Temba Bavuma, leading the team with aplomb and scoring a two centuries and three half-centuries across the team's home Test summer.
"He's played unbelievably well this summer, and full marks to him," Conrad said.
"I think any captain who wants to lead from the front, they want to lead through performance as well, and that's what Temba's done exceptionally well.
"He's not lost a game as captain of South Africa (winning eight out of nine Tests). Leading from the front, turning out the performances he's had, he's probably in the form of his life.
"I haven't seen him play any better, and that obviously gives you a lot of confidence when you're captaining as well. I wouldn't want anyone else to be captaining us."
ICC World Test Championship Final
South Africa v Australia, Lord's, June 11-16