Ongama Gcwabe
SINCE his international debut on Boxing Day at SuperSport Park in Centurion three years ago, Marco Jansen has been active across all formats for South Africa as one of the few reliable all-rounders.
His schedule became even more hectic as he became the main all-rounder across the formats following the retirement of Dwaine Pretorius, who had held the fort in white-ball cricket for several years.
Unforgettable Performances !🏏💫
Setting the field ablaze in the 2023/24 season and now nominated for the #CSAAwards2024 International Men's Newcomer of The Year, David Bedingham🏏🏆
Watch the CSA Awards Show LIVE!
📺 Supersports
🗓 5th September 2024
⏰ 20h00 SAST… pic.twitter.com/8TMIM0DVyn
Taking into account the T20 leagues around the world which Jansen is also a part of, the only ‘rest’ the 24-year-old would get during this three-year period was when he was playing domestic cricket – and that just doesn't cut it, despite the steep decline in pressure and intensity between international and domestic cricket.
Though South Africa play significantly less, especially Test cricket, compared to the big three of India, England and Australia, coaches Shukri Conrad and Rob Walter decided to rest Jansen after the 50-overs World Cup in June.
This was because the 24-year-old was playing with niggles and the Proteas management decided it was the right time for him to heal and also get in better shape ahead of the international home summer.
“I was playing with a few niggles but not to the degree that I couldn’t play or perform to my best,” Jansen told Independent Newspapers.
“It was just small niggles, but if you’ve got to spend time to take care of the niggles then it’s sorted and then you can go full steam without any niggles.”
Rising To The Occasion 🏏💫
— Proteas Men (@ProteasMenCSA) August 29, 2024
Nominated for the #CSAAwards2024 International Men’s Newcomer of The Year, Nandre Burger 🏏🏆
Watch the CSA Awards Show LIVE!
📺 Supersports
🗓 5th Septemeber 2024
⏰ 20h00 SAST #WozaNawe #BePartOfIt pic.twitter.com/VPXQ2NxU71
The lanky left-arm quick admitted that he was mentally drained, having gone through two World Cups – the 2023 ODI showpiece in India and the 2024 T20 edition in the US and the Caribbean – in addition to the T20 leagues that he takes part in around the world.
“For me, like it was for everyone, I was a bit mentally drained, especially after the SA20, IPL, the World Cup and the MLC (Major League Cricket in the US),” he said.
“So, for everyone, it was a long stretch and I’m sure most of the guys were more mentally fatigued than physically.
“In my case, I was also dealing with a few niggles. It is what it is; you’re never going to play all the time,”he added.
Jansen added that although he understood the importance of taking a break from the game, it was still difficult to come to terms with the decision.
Luckily, the decision was not just dropped on him at the last minute but was taken over a long period of time and after many discussions with the player.
Jansen is not by any means on vacation, but in a rehabilitation break, one that is not only meant to allow him time to heal physically and mentally but also to help him become stronger than he was before.
The 24-year-old has a programme in place to help him achieve all of this ahead of his return to action in the national team when Sri Lanka tour South Africa in December.
“It was a difficult decision because you want to play, but you also don’t want to get to a stage where the small niggles get in the way and then maybe you get seriously injured,” he said.
“It was a difficult one in terms of making the decision, but I think every cricketer has to have a pre-season every now and then, just to make sure that they get fit and stronger than they already are.
“With the international schedule that we have, we don’t have time to do those things. Yes, we get time to do maintenance work, but that is not going to make you stronger; it’s just to maintain where you are at and not get injured. We got to a conclusion and we were happy from both sides.”
Having had a long and fruitful season in the green and gold, Jansen is in line to receive his flowers tonight at the Cricket South Africa Awards, having been nominated in two categories: Player of the Year and ODI Player of the Year.
Men’s nominees
Newcomer: David Bedingham, Nandre Burger
T20 Player: Aiden Markram, Lizaad Williams, Reeza Hendricks, Gerald Coetzee
ODI Player: Marco Jansen, Quinton de Kock, Gerald Coetzee, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram
Test Player: David Bedingham, Nandre Burger, Dean Elgar
Player of the Year: Marco Jansen, Quinton de Kock, Gerald Coetzee, Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj