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We can target Rabada: Siddle

Veteran Australia quick singles out promising Proteas paceman as a man under pressure in upcoming Test series

Boom South Africa speedster Kagiso Rabada will be targeted by Australia's batsmen this summer, according to veteran paceman Peter Siddle.

South Africa boast a powerful fast-bowling attack in their 16-man squad for the three Commonwealth Bank Tests this summer, spearheaded by pace ace Dale Steyn and including Rabada, Morne Morkel, Vernon Philander and Kyle Abbott.

Rabada, who's capable of hitting speeds in excess of 150kph, is the fastest of the Proteas pace group, but Siddle believes the 21-year-old will be attacked by the hosts come the first Test in Perth, starting November 3.

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"Rabada is coming along well," Siddle said on Tuesday. "It's a good find for them and he's progressing well.

"So it'll be interesting to see how he goes over here in a big series.

"There will be a fair bit of pressure on him I think, coming out to Australia and all the hype around the series and that type of thing.

"I don't reckon (he is a danger man). I reckon he's the man we can sort of target.

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"In the past other countries have brought out players like that - you sort of think of (England's) Steve Finn a few Ashes series ago (2010-11) when they brought him out.

"He might have taken a few wickets but he did leak a lot of runs.

"There was a lot of pressure on him, from his end.

"So that's the sort of thing that we could look to do to Rabada."

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Rabada was a star for South Africa's Under-19 side before bursting on to the international scene in a T20 against Australia in November 2014.

He made a dream start to his one-day international career, capturing the best figures by a South African on debut and a hat-trick to boot in Dhaka against Bangladesh.

The strapping quick made his Test debut in November 2015 against India in Mohali, and in the seven Tests since he's captured 29 wickets at 24.44.

Thirteen of those wickets came against England in January this year when he claimed 7-112 and 6-32 to wipe out the tourists for 101 and win the fourth Test in Centurion.

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Steyn was absent from that match after sustaining a shoulder injury in the first Test in Durban, but he returned to Test cricket this August against New Zealand, taking 5-33 in the second and final match at SuperSport Park.

Siddle says if the Australian batsmen can take on Rabada and win, it means more work for Steyn and the less threatening he will become.

"We know Dale, if he gets a big workload, it puts him under a lot of pressure ," Siddle said.

"Dale and whoever else that third option is – whether it's Philander, Abbott or whoever it might be – yeah, it's going to put a lot of pressure on them (if Rabada leaks runs)."