Why Marco Jansen dominates India in all formats this tour — his awkward angle, steep bounce, and clever variations stand out.
There was a point during the opening T20I of the ongoing five-match T20I series between India and South Africa in Cuttack when the hosts seemed to be facing only Marco Jansen in the field. Jansen, standing at mid-on, took a comfortable catch of Shubman Gill, who mistimed his drive in the air. Abhishek Sharma flicked the leg-sided delivery into the fine-leg region, where Jansen used his height to complete another decisive catch.
Whether in the two-match Test series or the three-match ODI series, or even in the first couple of T20Is, Jansen has troubled India massively. His high release of the deliveries and wide angles make it incredibly difficult for batters to judge the line and length. Moreover, the batters don’t get much time against his rapid deliveries.
Jansen enjoys successful Test trip to India with all-round performance
A tall fast bowler can often find it difficult to keep the stumps in play. On occasions of playing Tests in subcontinents where the variable bounce comes into the equation, it can work against the bowler. But there is a flip side for Jansen, whose short ball pitches a lot closer to the batters. That creates the uncertainty whether to go forward or go back inside the crease.
The 25-year-old finished the two-match red-ball series as the second-leading wicket-taker. The left-arm pacer collected 12 wickets in four innings at an average of just over 10 and a strike rate of 28.41. However, he wasn’t happy due to his height, which undermined his hard work.
“I’ve always struggled bowling in India, whether it was white ball or red ball. And I’m still jealous of people who get the ball to squat and nip back. Yesterday was a perfect example. That (ball) went over off stump because I’m so tall. For a different bowler, like KG (Kagiso Rabada). That’s hitting the top of off, so I’ve always been jealous of those people who are a bit shorter than me,” Jansen told the reporters during the Guwahati Test.
The delivery he referred to came late on the second day. Jansen pitched it on a length as it jagged back to KL Rahul, who left it just inches over his sticks. Meanwhile, by the end of the fourth innings, the Protea pacer had already turned Yashasvi Jaiswal into his bunny. The left-handed batter experienced an average of 11.3 against Jansen with three dismissals in four innings.
His heroics didn’t come only with the ball. Jansen also made his bat talk. He accumulated 106 runs in three innings, out of which his match-winning knock of 93 runs came in the first innings of the second Test at Guwahati.
From the very first ball till his dismissal, the right-handed batter hardly looked to keep the ball on the ground. His 93 runs came in just 91 balls, with the help of six fours and seven sixes.
In the absence of Kagiso Rabada, the pressure was massive on Jansen to deliver wickets whenever required. And he shouldered the responsibility every time captain Temba Bavuma threw the ball to him.
“I just try to give my best every time I get the opportunity and try to put the team in a winning position. Not having KG (Kagiso Rabada) there definitely adds a bit of responsibility and pressure on myself,” Jansen revealed in the press conference.
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Jansen continues to give India nightmares in white-ball formats
During the 2023 ODI World Cup in India, Jansen expressed his love affair with batting. He also highlighted how batting, especially in white-ball formats, gives him more energy with the ball. The all-rounder documented his preference to bat at number seven in the line-up, which gives him the license to play with freedom.
Two years later, he walked the talk in Ranchi and nearly carried the Proteas over the line in what seemed to be an impossible job at one point. By the time Jansen walked out in the middle, South Africa had already lost half of their side for 130 runs in the 350-run chase. It was a unique way of taking guard as the tall batter walked into the middle of the surface and scratched it for a moment.
Jansen notched up 70 runs in 39 balls at a strike rate of nearly 180, with the help of eight boundaries and three sixes. It was hard for the India pacers to vary their lengths. Given Jansen’s long reach, the short deliveries turned into half-volleys for him, nailing them outside the ground.
In the first couple of T20Is, Jansen picked up only two wickets but managed a fabulous economy rate of six. That created pressure on the batters, which resulted in wickets for the other bowlers.
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Jansen has been South Africa’s X-factor against India
All-rounders are always key to any team’s success across formats. Hardik Pandya, for instance, provides India with a few overs and batting at number five or six, according to the situation. Meanwhile, Jansen goes a step further to offer the complete package even in Test matches. In addition, he is a great fielder. But his only aim will be to carry the same momentum for the next 10 years.
Jansen played a key role in South Africa winning a Test series in India after 25 years. Can he repeat the feat for their first T20I series victory in these conditions after a decade? As of now, he will aim to do his best to take the lead during the third fixture on December 14 at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association in Dharamshala.
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