Marco Jansen played the defining hand of Day 3 in Guwahati, romping through India 6-48 to bowl them out for 201 and create a dominant position for South Africa in the second Test.
With the Proteas 314 ahead, Jansen reflected on extra responsibility, his plans on a lively surface and why his six-for in India means as much as any period in his young career.
Jansen did not shy away from the burden that Kagiso Rabada’s absence brought with it.
“Obviously not having KG is a big loss,” he said. “Not having KG definitely puts a bit of responsibility and pressure on myself and on Mulder in particular. But for me, if KG is playing or not playing, I always try to see myself as someone who can open up the game for the team. I just try to do my best every time I get a chance and try to put the team in a winning position.”
With South Africa extending their lead deep into the match, Jansen said the declaration would be reviewed on Day 4.
“I think tomorrow we will assess how things are going and then depending on how the pitch responds, coach Shuks and Temba will make that decision. For now the focus is just on getting as many runs as possible and then decide based on how the wicket is playing.”
Jansen admitted he didn’t expect the surface to offer as much as it ultimately did.
“I didn’t think it would turn out like that today because it’s a good wicket. There’s pace, there’s bounce and the ball is starting to turn a bit. Some are stopping from the spinners. If you bowl well, you get wickets. If you bat well, you score runs. You just have to figure out how to do that.”
Asked about South Africa’s preparation, Jansen mentioned the group’s facilities and clarity.
“The training facilities in Kolkata and now here were very good. What we got in training was similar to the match. I don’t think any team was better prepared. On the day the boys made the right choices at the right time. India are a good team – you have to be at your best every ball. Because the training wickets are so similar you can get your head around the conditions and maximize your preparation.”
A key feature of his spell was his persistent use of the short ball.
“Honestly, we just said we were going to try,” he said. “When I got my first wicket with the bouncer, we said, OK, let’s see how long it works. There’s good pace and good bounce here. If you play the short ball well, you’ll score runs. If you bowl well, you’ll get wickets.”
He explained why the new ball was vital.
“With the older ball it felt a bit softer. It went up, but it didn’t have that zip. As soon as we picked up the new ball, the bounce was still there, but it was sliding along nicely. That spell when I took those three wickets, the ball still had speed and bounce. If there’s a zip, you try to use it.”
Jansen was asked if the Indian batters were vulnerable to the bouncer. He immediately rejected the idea.
“I don’t think they’re vulnerable,” he said. “Nitish Kumar Reddy – I’ve seen him hit the short ball 50 rows back in the IPL. It’s just a game situation. When your team is behind, you have to get used to the conditions, come up with a plan and then try to bring the pressure back. That’s Test cricket – sometimes you have to dig deep for 10, 15, 20 overs before it gets easier.”
Reflecting on what a six-for in India means, Jansen said it felt like a breakthrough considering his previous struggles in the country.
“For me, I’ve always struggled with bowling in India. I’m still jealous of people who can get the ball to crouch and pinch back. Yesterday was a perfect example, the ball goes over a stump because I’m so tall. I’ve been trying to learn what’s going to work for me here. Today was just one of those days where everything clicked. As a player, those are the days where you take it and run.”
He also shared a lighter moment about batting nerves during his own innings earlier in the Test.
“I was nervous when I turned 20. When I came in, I conceded three balls and Sen looked at me and said, ‘Chom, just breathe.’ I thought I was calm, but clearly I wasn’t. I never played first-class cricket in the 1990s, let alone Test cricket. I was nervous the whole way.”
Finally, he rated the Guwahati area highly.
“If I had to pick one, I would say this pitch. It’s what I call a real Test wicket: if you bat well, you score runs, if you bowl well, you get wickets. Kolkata is fun but tough. Here you can set up batters and earn your rewards.”
With six wickets behind him and the Proteas in complete control, Jansen’s performance was a reminder of why he is becoming one of South Africa’s most important multi-format players – with or without Rabada alongside him.
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