Did Chappell make a racist comment against SA pacer Rabada?

Former Australian skipper Ian Chappell has come under fire for his comment on Proteas fast bowler Kagiso Rabada made during the first Test at the WACA in Perth, which offended the South African fans.

While commentating during play for Channel 9, Chappell was full of praise for Rabada after the latter uprooted the Australian middle order and bagged a well deserved five-wicket haul during his side's 177-run victory in the first of three-Test match series.

The former Australian skipper joined fellow commentator Ian Healy while lavishing praise on the 21-year-old and labelled the fast bowler as a future superstar of the game.

During the commentary, when Healy asked him how Rabada could have developed such speed in his bowling, Chappell replied, "You'd have to ask all the batsman in his village", reports news.com.au.

The response didn't go unnoticed as fans immediately expressed their anguish on social media.

One of the fans wrote on Twitter, "Rabada comes from a small village called Johannesburg. #AUSvSA #IanChappell."

"This is the 'village' in SA that KG comes from #IanChappell shove your racist comment where you think the sun shines #SAvsAUS," wrote another.

"So Jo'burg doesn't qualify as a village? Staggering, isn't it? Surprised they didn't ask who was looking after his herd while he's here...," wrote another.

"Chappell has done it now. Go ask the 'people in his village' he says about when Rabada knew he could bowl fast," another tweeted.

"@shockerhess @WalterStevens1 @JasonH1973 Ludicrous statement. I think Dr Rabada should sponsor Chappell a free lobotomy #AUSvSA," said the other cricketing fan.

Rabada, who is a son of a neurosurgeon, grew up in Johannesburg where he attended the prestigious St Stithians Boys College.

Image: South Africa's Kagiso Rabada celebrates with team mates after dismissing Australia's Mitchell Starc at the WACA Ground in Perth on Monday

Photograph: David Gray/Reuters