South African pacer Marco Jansen reckons that the bowler-friendly conditions at Lord’s could help him in the World Test Championship (WTC) final against Australia. Marco Jansen will be a key player for the South Africans and must perform well if South Africa hopes to beat Australia.
Marco Jansen had a stellar series against England in 2022 which was his first series in the UK. He troubled England taking nine wickets at an average of just 13.11 and was instrumental in claiming four wickets in the space of just 11.4 overs as the visitors stormed to an innings victory at Lord’s to go 1-0 up in the series. His efforts were not enough though in the series as England bounced back to win the three-match series 2-1.
Marco Jansen towers at over 2.2 metres and the left-armer found prodigious swing with the Duke’s ball on the tour, and stands as one of Australia’s biggest threats in their World Test Championship defence when the teams meet from June 11.
Looking back at the 2022 Test match with fond memories
Reflecting on the 2022 Lord’s match with fond memories where he also made some crucial runs down the order, Jansen carries a lot of confidence for the upcoming final knowing there is room for improvement.
“I remember from a bowling point of view the ball was swinging a lot more than I was expecting. Getting used to the Duke’s ball, when it starts to swing, and just getting used to all the different angles or whatever goes with that (is important). And then batting, I batted well. There’s a few good things (South Africa took from the 2022 match). And then there’s a lot of other things where I think we and me in particular can do a lot better,” Marco Jansen mentioned in the ICC official website.
Marco Jansen looks to get some valuable tips from Stuart Broad.
South Africa have pulled an extra weapon of sorts for the Final, bringing in England fast bowling Legend Stuart Broad as a consultant for the Final. Stuart Broad not only troubled the Aussies by picking up 153 of his 604 Test wickets against Australia (the most by any player in red-ball history), Broad also boasts of having taken 113 wickets in the format at Lord’s.
Jansen is eager to grasp Broad’s knowledge in a bid to help the Proteas lift the mace.
“He’s played a lot against Australia at Lord’s. (I want to) maybe pick his brain on what they did back then or what they did when he was playing to get certain batters out. You might get a guy out with a ball that you never even planned on bowling,” the all–rounder noted.
“Once you’re on the pitch on that day, though, you have to figure it out for yourself. And then whatever plan you have or plan you think could work, (you) just try and do that and hope it pays off and you hope you execute well. Marco Jansen’s prospects of facing Australia,” he added.
Marco Jansen was also a strong performer when the Proteas last faced Australia in the 2022/23 series in Australia, though the visitors failed to win a single match losing the series 2-0.
The conditions are completely different- Marco Jansen
Jansen acknowledged that his side weren’t at their best against world-class opponents, although playing in the neutral venue with a World Test Championship mace up for grabs meant the Final is set to be different than a bilateral series.
“They have good bowlers, good batters. So we know it’s going to be tough. The conditions are completely different. The way you’re going to approach it will probably be different. And the thing that would probably stay the same is the analysis work and trying to see how you can get them (Australia’s batters) out,” Jansen explained.
“That’ll probably stay the same. But going about it and playing in these conditions will be a lot different, in my opinion. For me, it’s just on the day, what can you do to get one particular batter out? And if you’re batting, what can you do to not go out? And yeah, I think they’re probably going to think the same way as well,” he concluded.
Road Ahead for WTC Final
South Africa and Australia are set to clash in an epic face-off from June 11th. Two evenly-matched teams on paper face against each other on paper. If we look at their Test records in England, South Africa last won a Test series on UK soil in 2012 under Graeme Smith while Australia won the Ashes in England way back in 2001 under Steve Waugh. Australia have drawn the last two Ashes series while South Africa lost the last two series to England.
Australia has the pedigree and players to win finals while South Africa will start as underdogs in this clash. The Proteas have the team to upstage the reigning WTC holders; the only thing that can prevent them is pressure and nerves. The toss, weather conditions all will play an important factor come Lord’s. Which team will come out on top? Only time will tell.
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