Ahead Of First Test Match Against India, South Africa Coach's Big 'Kagiso Rabada' Warning

With his frontline pacers Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi hitting the nets ahead of the 'Boxing Day' Test, South Africa head coach Shukri Conrad on Saturday expressed confidence that India won't be able to breach their 'Final Frontier' in the upcoming series. Rabada was rested from the white ball leg as he was nursing a heel niggle while Ngidi pulled out after sustaining a left ankle injury ahead of the T20Is. On Saturday afternoon though, Rabada and Ngidi bowled full tilt at the centre training wicket of the Supersport Park and facing them was Dean Elgar, who is playing in his last series. The Centurion track is a pacer's dream although India did get the better of South Africa last time around. The head coach would want his lethal weapons to fire on all cylinders.

"They will be fresh and firing (Rabada and Ngidi). I am always a firm believer of freshness," said Conrad ahead of the team's training session.

Both are coming into the game without match time but the coach isn't overtly worried.

"It would have been ideal had they got some mileage in the legs by playing first-class matches but that's life. You have got to find a way. But I am not bothered that they will be undercooked for the game.

"KG (Rabada) and Lungi are still in the 15-member squad and available for selection. We will make that decision tomorrow. Hopefully, tomorrow morning we will have a full squad of 15 to select from," the coach said.

Will make it tough for India

The 56-year-old, one in the long line of Proteas coaches without a big cricketing pedigree, is aware that India haven't won any Test series in eight attempts here, starting from 1992.

However, this is the first time that India are playing in a two-Test series in this country. Conrad expected