Kagiso Rabada's targeted assault on Ben Stokes — one of cricket's most powerful all-rounders — across T20 and Test cricket produced one of modern cricket's great personal rivalries, with Rabada's pace and Stokes's counter-attacking instincts creating compelling confrontations.
Ben Stokes had established himself as cricket's most complete all-rounder by 2019-20 — his 135* at Headingley against Australia was considered the greatest Test innings of his generation. He could hit any bowler in the world to any part of the ground.
Kagiso Rabada was the world's premier fast bowler by 2020 — consistently generating 145-150km/h with late swing that produced wickets at all levels of cricket. His dismissal celebrations were as passionate as any in the sport.
South Africa toured England and vice versa with increasing frequency in this era. Rabada had noted that Stokes, despite his power, had a specific vulnerability to the short ball angled at his body from around the wicket — forcing the pull shot to an on-side field. Stokes's instinct to counter-attack meant he would take the bait.
Kagiso Rabada identified Ben Stokes as England's most destructive batsman and targeted him consistently with short-pitched bowling and sharp yorkers. Stokes's response was never conservative — he would counter-attack aggressively, leading to extraordinary passages of play where one or two overs decided the match. In the 2021 T20 World Cup, Rabada contained Stokes to prevent an England chase. In subsequent Test matches, Stokes and Rabada produced some of the most intense over-by-over battles in recent cricket. Rabada's dismissals of Stokes were celebrated with genuine release; Stokes's hits off Rabada were ferocious.
T20 World Cup: Rabada bowls a final-over spell to Stokes restricting England's chase
Lord's Test: Stokes smashes Rabada over long-on for six then is immediately dismissed by a short ball
Johannesburg Test: Rabada's reverse-swinging yorker defeats Stokes's aggressive front-foot play
Stokes hits Rabada for 24 in one over at The Oval — Rabada responds by hitting his stumps next over
Series averages: roughly even; both men influence match results decisively
2021-10-26
T20 World Cup: Rabada restricts Stokes in crucial final-over battle
2022-01-01
Test series: Stokes and Rabada exchange major blows across both innings
2023-01-01
Rivalry continues with Stokes now England Test captain
“Ben Stokes is the ultimate competitor. Every time I bowl to him, he's trying to hit me out of the attack. I have to be at my best or he'll win the contest.”
“KG is the best I face regularly. His pace and his skill make every over against him an event. I love those battles.”
Stokes became England captain in 2022 and Rabada continued as South Africa's spearhead. Their encounters took on extra significance — captain against the world's best pace bowler. The rivalry continued through successive series with each man raising his level for the personal contest.
Both earned universal respect as competitors who gave everything to the contest without crossing into personal animosity.
The rivalry was genuinely even — both won significant battles. Rabada dismissed Stokes at key moments; Stokes hit Rabada for crucial boundaries in winning causes. Their battles reliably produced the match's defining moments.
The Rabada-Stokes rivalry encapsulated modern cricket's greatest pleasure — two exceptional players operating at the limits of their ability against each other. In an era of franchise cricket and player management, their Test match confrontations showed that the longest format still generated cricket's most compelling personal duels.
Australia vs Pakistan
22 November 1981
Dennis Lillee kicked Javed Miandad on the field, prompting Miandad to raise his bat as if to strike Lillee. Umpire Tony Crafter intervened to separate them.
New Zealand vs West Indies
12 February 1980
Michael Holding kicked the stumps out of the ground in frustration after an LBW appeal was turned down against John Parker.
West Indies vs Australia
28 April 1995
Curtly Ambrose got in Steve Waugh's face after being told to go back to his mark. Richie Richardson had to pull Ambrose away. Ambrose then bowled a devastating spell.