Talismanic Rabada bemoans winning Proteas' dearth of Test cricket: 'Needs to be prioritised'

At SuperSport Park

While his new ball partner Anrich Nortje is philosophical about the depressing reality that he might not get to play much Test cricket in future, Kagiso Rabada is insistent that Cricket South Africa (CSA) should "prioritise" remedying the situation.

The Proteas' bowling kingpin produced another mesmerising spell in the pinnacle form of the game on Thursday after his haul of 6/50 orchestrated South Africa's 87-run in the first Test against the West Indies here in Centurion.

Rabada and his teammates will only play 28 Tests over the next five-year cycle of the ICC's future tours programme (FTP) and can only look forward to next week's second and final Test at the Wanderers as well as a probable Boxing Day Test against India as their red-ball assignments for the rest of 2023.

He himself also has a lot invested in more action in the format as he's currently well on his way - 276 scalps at 22.53 - to becoming only the fifth South African to take 300 Test wickets.

"I supposed that's one disappointing aspect, that we're not playing as much Test cricket as we would like to," said Rabada in the aftermath of the Proteas' win.

"I see Test cricket as the pinnacle of the game, and my teammates in the changeroom would see it the same way too. It's tough, especially when you look at our team.

"The only way we can get better is by playing as much Test cricket as possible. I'd like to see it change in future. Our next Test is on Boxing Day. When you look at [some other nations], they're playing a lot more. It needs to be prioritised a bit more.

"I'm not in charge of that, but I can at least ask for it."

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