Marko Janssen of Punjab Kings (ANI Image)
New Delhi: Marko Janssen’s development as a cricketer has been one of the standout stories of the past year and a half. Besides his influential contributions on the ball, he has consistently shouldered responsibility with the ball for South Africa.
In the Indian Premier League, he became a bankable player for Punjab Kings. It has been a remarkable rise for someone who only took up cricket as a career at the age of 17 after giving up pursuing rugby.Go beyond boundaries with our YouTube channel. Subscribe now!At the age of 25, Jansen has found his calling by bowling a challenging length across formats. He has managed to remain unbothered by the chaotic world of T20 cricket, which demands a host of variations from the bowlers. Most importantly, Australian pacer Josh Hazlewood was the inspiration behind his transformation as a cricketer.“It doesn’t surprise me because Josh Hazlewood does exactly the same thing,” Janssen said, responding to a query from TOI about the consistent ‘Test match’ lengths he bowls regardless of formats. “People are asking the same question (about him). How can he hit a long run and pick up a wicket,” Janssen said. He doesn’t run a lot and he’s steady too.”“Josh also has differences. I also have one or two differences. We’re both tall players but we play at different lengths,” Jansen said.
“When I was younger, the problem was that I was trying to bowl at similar lengths to other players. I didn’t realize that what I bring to the table is so different. I have to find my own way to be effective. In the last year or so, I’ve felt comfortable in my own skin,” he added.However, his role in the Kings of Punjab changed. He couldn’t use swing as a weapon because he couldn’t bowl with the new ball, so Jansen had to work on bowling with the old ball. The hard work paid off in the Test series in India last winter, when he troubled the Indian batsmen throughout. Even in the Indian Premier League, his style was to hunt for wickets. “I’m used to taking first or second place but I also know I have the skills to adapt,” Janssen said.
“Coming third, fourth or fifth sometimes is definitely a different style.