South Africa hopeful of Kagiso Rabadas participation in Guwahati Test

New Delhi: South Africa's bowling coach Piet Botha, on Thursday, said that they are still hopeful about Kagiso Rabada' participation in the second Test match against India in Guwahati. The Proteas lead the series 1-0 after thrashing India in the series opener at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata last week and they would be aiming for a series sweep.

Rabada missed the opening match against the hosts due to a rib injury and still remains uncertain for Saturday's clash but South Africa cricket believed that he can participate in the game and they need 24 more hours to take a call as the pacer has still not been ruled out. While the entire team trained for the second match on Thursday, Rabada was absent from the training session on November 20.

The bowling coach said that they are monitoring Rabada and will take a call by Friday evening as the match begins on Saturday morning. Guwahati is hosting a Test match for the first time and the pitch at the Baraspara stadium is an uncharted territory for both the participants.

'The wicket in Guwahati we are told is a good batting track. But a lot of difference happens in terms of whether you keep grass or not. With two days left we will have to wait to see whether it starts turning earlier,' Botha said of the track.

The bowling coach further said that they are hopeful of off-spinner Simon Harmer performing to the fullest in the final games of the short Test series, ruling out any fitness issues. Harmer was one of the heroes of the Kolkata Test match.

Further commenting on the second game, he said that there are still two days remaining for the match so it is quite difficult to predict that they are going to cut more grass or not, which will make a difference.