KG’s brew shouldn’t be watered down

For someone whose knowledge is limited to the end product of beer production, I was pleasantly surprised at the refined craft it actually takes to make my preferred alcoholic beverage at a recent beer brewing experience.

As the first step, the craft master stressed the importance of heating the water to around 630 Celsius before adding the grain.

I can try and sound very educated to provide the scientific reason for this, but I’m not much of a showboat, so let’s keep it simple.

This temperature enables the process to function optimally in order to brew the beer and is followed by several other stages during which the brewer must manage the temperature to ensure the end product is what he set out to create.

When the water isn’t that hot, you’ll still get beer at the end of the day, but it will be watered down and taste like crap.

This effect is exactly what I fear for when it comes to Kagiso Rabada.

It looks like his sheer determination to conquer his opposition is undoubtedly what fires him up with a verbal send-off or physical contact his way of rubbing salt into a batsman’s wounds.

That is what he plays for. That is gives him the edge over others.

That is what drives him.

Problem is, the laws of cricket state that kind of behaviour is against the spirit of the game.

In other words, you’re not allowed to brush up against the batsman or just tell him to f*** off.

Unfortunately, not even if it is David Warner and you are merely echoeing the sentiments of thousands of fans.

Even if he said bad things about your mother, you’re not supposed to show him where the hell it is he can go to.

In the wake of Rabada’s two-match ban in the middle of a crucial series against the Aussies even at 1-1, his employers are clearly going to try and assist him in some way to change his ways because he is just too valuable to have suspended every now and again against key opposition.

How they handle this is my worry.

Some clever shrink sits KG down and tells him not to take a poephol like Warner personally and that he must be polite when taking wickets.

That might just take his whole reason for playing the game away.

Ever since I have been watching the game as a laaitie on the TV, I have given the world’s best batsmen the mother of send-offs in my parents’ living room.

When Allan Donald cleaned up Steve Waugh and was too busy running to Kepler and the guys for a group hug, I did the honours and showed the batsman where the showers were.

I can’t imagine KG was any different as a kid.

Only difference is, he got to live that dream and this junior wannabe leggie didn’t.

He has waited his whole life to live his dream and doing it like he has always imagined and although the cricket bosses have a problem with it, I simply can’t fault him for being the fired-up, passionate oke he is.

I’m scared if he is forced to lower the temperature under his collar, his brew might lose its famous kick.

That we also can’t afford.

Muzzle perhaps?

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