Rabada gets support from unlikely source ... Bakkies Botha!

Cape Town - Former Springbok giant Bakkies Botha has leapt to the defence of Kagiso Rabada with an hysterical tweet.

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Proteas speedster Rabada was suspended for the two remaining Tests against Australia after racking up sufficient demerit points for making “contact” with visiting skipper Steve Smith during the second Test at St George's Park in Port Elizabeth.

In a tweet posted on Saturday morning, Botha, 38, said he wants to lend a hand - going as far as to suggest he’s ready to play for the Proteas.

The "altercation" between Rabada and Smith has been widely viewed as being "mild" at best with Smith being accused of milking the contact - and not doing much to move out of the way himself.

The conduct breach earned Rabada three demerit points and a 50% match fine from ICC Match Referee Jeff Crowe.

And while the incident in question wasn’t the sole reason for Rabada’s suspension, it took the 22-year-old's demerit points to the threshold of eight points leading to his suspension.

Rabada is appealing his suspension and a hearing, where he will be represented by advocate Dali Mpofu will be held on Monday. There is an outside chance that Rabada might still feature at Newlands in the third Test starting on Thursday, March 22.

The series is tied at 1-1 after Australia won the opening Test by 118 runs, before South Africa bounced back to win by six wickets in the second clash.

I wanna lend a hand
I wanna be there for KG’s

SEND ME !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Proud ???????????????????????? pic.twitter.com/G8Jh9uPZwi

— Bakkies Botha (@BakkiesBotha4) March 17, 2018