Kent have pulled off a coup by securing the signature of highly-rated South Africa paceman Kagiso Rabada on a short-term deal.
The 20-year-old has burst onto the world stage over the last 12 months, taking a hat-trick on his one-day international debut en route to figures of 6-16 before becoming a vital part of the Proteas’ Test bowling attack.
Rabada, set to arrive at the Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence in late June, is due to be available for six NatWest T20 Blast fixtures, two County Championship Division Two matches and one Royal London One-Day Cup game before the end of July.
Rabada, who will have England wicketkeeper-batsman Sam Billings as a team-mate at Kent, said: “I will play hard and try my best.
“I want to learn from the experience – particularly bowling in different conditions. Most of all I am looking forward to enjoying the experience.”
English fans saw what Rabada was capable of with the ball during the recent tour of South Africa.
The paceman took 22 wickets in three Tests against England, with his match figures of 13-144 at Centurion the best by a South African on home soil in five-day cricket, and snared nine scalps in four ODIs.
Kent chairman George M Kennedy said: “We’ve all been hugely impressed by Kagiso in the recent series against England and I’m looking forward to seeing him playing for Kent this summer.
“He follows in the footsteps of a number of South Africans and I hope he enjoys his spell at the Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence and that Kent will become his county of choice for this very promising young bowler in future years.”
Welcome @KagisoRabada25 to @kentcricket class signing! Save the wickets for the summer not the next 5 days!
— Sam Billings (@sambillings) February 18, 2016
Source: ECB