Rabada Plays Down Old Clash With Steve Smith Before South Africa v Australia
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South African fast bowler Kagiso Rabada says there is no lasting bad feeling between him and Australia's Steve Smith.
The two players had a well-known clash in 2018. It happened at St George's Park in Gqeberha.
Rabada is now preparing to return to that same ground for a new match against Australia.
He said, 'There's no hate,' when asked about the old incident.
Rabada described his behaviour back then as simply having 'testosterone to burn.'
This phrase means he had strong energy and emotion during a tense moment.
The 2018 clash happened during a heated series between South Africa and Australia.
Cricket matches between these two countries are often intense and competitive.
Rabada's comments suggest the rivalry has calmed down over the years.
He seems focused on cricket performance rather than past tension.
The upcoming match will be South Africa's first time hosting Australia at this ground since the 2018 incident.
Fans and players will be watching closely to see how Rabada and Smith interact this time.
Rabada's calm attitude shows he wants to move past old controversies.
The match is part of a bigger series between the two cricket nations.
Vocabulary6 words
- clash
- a strong disagreement or conflict
- incident
- a specific event, often unusual or notable
- testosterone
- a body chemical linked to energy and aggression
- series
- a set of connected games played over time
- rivalry
- ongoing competition between two sides
- ground
- the place where a sports game is played
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Quiz
Answer key
1. There's no hate 2. St George's Park, Gqeberha 3. True
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Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
South African fast bowler Kagiso Rabada says there is no lasting bad feeling between him and _____.
The two players had a well-known clash in 2018 at St George's Park in _____.
Rabada is now preparing to _____ to that same ground.
He said, 'There's no _____,' when asked about the old incident.
Rabada described his behaviour as simply having '_____ to burn.'
The 2018 clash happened during a heated _____ between South Africa and Australia.
Cricket matches between these two countries are often intense and _____.
Rabada's comments suggest the rivalry has _____ down over the years.
The upcoming match will be South Africa's first time hosting Australia at this ground since the _____ incident.
Rabada's calm attitude shows he wants to move past old _____.
Discussion questions
- Why do you think sports rivalries sometimes become less intense over time?
- Do you think players should apologise for past conflicts, or is it better to move on?
- How might media attention affect the pressure players feel in big matches?
- What does Rabada's comment about 'testosterone' suggest about emotions in competitive sports?
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