Marco Jansen stays humble after Player of the Series award
Named Player of the Series after the Proteas beat Australia, Marco Jansen credits Kagiso Rabada's calming influence and says his Klerksdorp roots keep him grounded.
Marco Jansen sits first on the world rankings for both bowlers and all-rounders and is a world champion, yet the Proteas star insists he is not even the best bowler in his own side. According to IOL, he gives that title to Kagiso Rabada.
Jansen was named Player of the Series after South Africa sealed the contest with Australia at Newlands. On Saturday morning Rabada took three early wickets with the new ball, which effectively settled the Test and the series.
The calm of a senior partner
Jansen, who stands 2.08m tall, is known as a thinker rather than an instinctive fast bowler, and he admits to overthinking. Before the final morning he managed only about two hours of sleep, saying his head was going “cuckoo” as he ran through what might be needed and what could go wrong.
That is where Rabada, described by IOL as the “Rolls-Royce” of the attack, helps. Jansen told reporters his new-ball partner lifts the confidence of those around him, though he could not say exactly how. He pointed to the way Rabada carries himself on and off the field, and to how he reminds teammates of what they are doing well.
Once a series is won, Jansen said, there is a brief moment of relief, followed by excitement. He stressed that he values contributing in any form. “This is a team thing,” he said.
A season of numbers to match
His figures over the three matches back up the award:
- 13 wickets, costing 19.76 runs each on average
- A five-wicket haul in Gqeberha, where Australia were bowled out for 99
- 198 runs with the bat, averaging 39.60
- Five catches
At 26, Jansen is attracting growing attention. In a small, mostly Afrikaans-speaking town like Klerksdorp, his home town, such praise could make someone windgat (arrogant). He says that will not happen to him. His father used to tell him and his brother Duan, “Moenie dat jou kop te groot raak nie”, which means do not let your head get too big.
Remembering where he started
Jansen said he never imagined reaching the top 10 of the bowling or all-rounder rankings when his professional career began, so sitting at number one feels surreal. He noted that eight years ago he was still at school, watching international players on television, and that now many people are watching him play in Cape Town.
He believes that perspective helps him stay calm, whether the team is struggling or winning and whether he is bowling or batting well. In his view, handling those moments better is what separates good performances from great ones.
This story is based on reporting by IOL.
