Kagiso Rabada confident Proteas can shake off red-ball rust ahead of West Indies Tests

The Proteas' first-choice Test unit last played in the longest format when they lost to India at Newlands in January.

It has been a dearth white-ball matches since then with preparations ramped up ahead of the T20 World Cup that concluded at the end of June.

The West Indies in contrast have just finished a three-match Test series in England and, even though the Caribbean side suffered a clean sweep defeat, will have had some good time out in the middle.

Rabada though is confident the Proteas will be ready to perform by the time the first Test of the series comes around on 7 August in Trinidad.

The tourists have a four-day warm-up fixture against a West Indies Invitational XI, starting on Wednesday, to get miles in the legs of the bowlers ahead of the Test series.

The fast bowler said to reporters: "They (West Indies) have been playing cricket, which we cannot do anything about, but we know the challenge that lies ahead of us.

"We have to make the most of what we have in front of us, we do believe that we can beat them and it is going to be a tough series.

""It is a bit of a concern that we haven't played together but the exciting part is that it's going to be a test to see what we can produce, having not played so much recently."  

The 29-year-old paceman has played 62 Test matches and is only nine scalps away from achieving the 300-wicket milestone, but his focus is only on getting victory against the Windies.

Rabada will once again be the leader of the Proteas attack with Gerald Coetzee withdrawing from the series due to injury, Anrich Nortje not centrally contracted and Marco Jansen being rested from the tour.

"It (300th wicket) will be such a special landmark but I'm not focused too much on that yet, it will just be a by-product," Rabada said.

"My focus is on making sure I can find ways to put up performances, which means helping the team to move in the right direction, which would mean I am doing my part.

"Those are the aspects I'm most focused on as opposed to how I will take nine wickets, it will happen in due time.

"I don't think it would be of any benefit for me to think about it too much, because it could take the focus away from getting the job done."

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