Despite being considered a world champion, best bowler, and all-rounder, Marco Jansen admits that he is not even the best bowler on his own team.
In his view, the title of best bowler belongs to Kagiso Rabada, who is called the 'Rolls-Royce' of the Proteas attack. However, Jansen values not only Rabada's impressive performances, such as the three-wicket burst on Saturday morning that effectively decided the outcome of the match in Newlands and the series, but also his calming influence.
This 2.08-meter man, nicknamed 'Skywalker,' has always differed from the traditional fast bowler, leaning more towards an intellectual approach to the game rather than instincts. He tends to overthink things, to the extent that before the final morning session on Saturday, he slept only 'an hour or an hour and a half, maybe two' and was 'confused in his head.'
Jansen revealed that he felt anxious: 'I barely slept, looking out the window, going to the toilet, drinking Coke, thinking about what we could do, what I could do, what would be needed, what if everything goes wrong... '
In such moments, senior teammate Rabada intervenes to keep his new ball partner in check. Jansen told reporters after receiving the 'Player of the Series' award: 'When he is next to you or when he is on the team, he gives you this small extra confidence. I don't know what it is.'
He continued: 'It's strange. But yes, I think it's just how he communicates with the guys, how he is on the field, off the field. He kind of always reminds you that you are doing well.'
Jansen added that this especially helps him with planning and tactics during the game.
When everything is finished and the trophies are on the table, how does he feel? 'When we are on the right side, there is a sigh of relief for a split second that it's over,' said Jansen.
However, after that comes a very pleasant, excited, and energetic feeling when you know you contributed, if you played well. And if you didn't play very well, you still contributed, whether on or off the field. 'It's team spirit. It's not an individual thing, and it brings me a lot of joy and happiness. It makes it all very worthwhile.'
Jansen undoubtedly contributed during the three epic clashes against Australia. He took 13 wickets at an average of 19.76, including a five-wicket haul that helped destroy Australia by only 99 runs in Gqeberha, and also scored 198 runs at an average of 39.60 and caught five catches.
It is these performances that draw attention to Jansen and put the 26-year-old athlete in the spotlight.
In small, predominantly Afrikaans towns in South Africa, such as Clerksdorp, where Jansen is from, all this praise could make a person a little conceited (windgat). But he firmly believes that this will never happen to him.
He recalled his father's words: 'My father used to tell my brother [Duan] and me: 'Don't let your head get too big'.' That's why he says: 'No. I just consider myself a young guy from Clerksdorp. When I started playing professionally and built a career for Proteas, I never thought I would make it into the top 10 rankings of bowlers or all-rounders. Now that I am on those top lists; it's surreal.'
He reminds himself of his origins and what he had to do for stability and consistent performance. 'How old am I now? Twenty-six? Eight years ago, I was in high school watching these guys play on TV. Now I am in Cape Town, where many people look at us. I am better prepared mentally, whether something goes wrong, or if we are doing well, or if I bowl or bat well, to remain calm and composed. The ability to handle these situations better—that's the difference.'
