Workhorse Abbott keeps ticking the boxes

Standard Bank Proteas bowler, Kyle Abbott, put his frustrations of limited game time to good use in South Africa’s six-wicket win against Australia in the fourth Momentum One-Day International (ODI) at St George’s Park in Port Elizabeth on Sunday. Abbott is often in the shadows of the Proteas’ vaunted pace attack, but led from the front with a man-of-the-match performance in the absence of Dale Steyn and Kagiso Rabada. The 29 year-old admits to the challenges of being in and out of the starting XI, but has learnt to deal with this trend of his 27-match ODI career by ticking the boxes in his preparation and approach. The new-ball pairing of Abbott and Pretorius ran through Australia’s top order, and praise must also be given to the rookie, who played his part in an unfamiliar position against some of the best batsmen in the world. The Proteas are now on the brink of a historic series clean sweep against the reigning World Champions, and will look to adopt the same approach when they face off in the final match at PPC Newlands on Wednesday.