Marco Jansen and Wiaan Mulder are ‘jewels’ in Proteas’ crown, says Sydney hero Fanie de Villiers

Former South African bowler Fanie de Villiers believes the Proteas possess “two jewels” in all-rounders Marco Jansen and Wiaan Mulder, who have the potential to swing the World Test Championship final against Australia at Lord’s next month in Shukri Conrad’s team’s favour. 

“I think they can play a massive role when they need to support (Temba) Bavuma and (Aiden) Markram on the batting side, and in the bowling side, to support the likes of a (Kagiso) Rabada... that’s the spearhead in our system,” De Villiers told Independent Media.

“We’ve got two jewels there, guys that can really lift their game. And especially if one of our boys struggle, they can come to the party and help us out. 

“So, if you would ask me what’s going to happen in this Test match, if we’re not going to play at 120% of our ability, it’s going to be difficult to beat the Australians.

“But the one good thing is it’s a neutral ground. That might play to our benefit.

“And you know, the little bit of luck that one gets in Test cricket, if you play and miss once or twice, you might nick the third one.”

De Villiers, 60, enjoyed many gripping battles with the Australians during his heyday, none more so than the epic New Year’s Test in Sydney back in 1994.

He claimed match-figures of 10/123, which included 6/43 in the second innings that helped bowl the Australians out for just 111, to help the Proteas script a memorable five-run victory.

“Yeah, we fought a lot of battles in the early 90s,” De Villiers said.

“I remember arriving in Melbourne a week or so before for the first Test match, which was rained out. We couldn’t get a result there.

“A lot of photographs were taken exactly the same as the photographs that were taken 20 years before... when Graeme Pollock, as a youngster, played cricket in Australia.

“And it was quite a hype getting back into international cricket.

“Australia were number one in the world at that stage. They were leading the pack when it came to their fast bowlers... (Craig) McDermott and quite a few guys.

“Shane Warne obviously made a big impact. The Allan Borders, the Waugh brothers, Damien Martyns. There’s so many of them that were really top-class cricketers.

“I ended up bowling 16 overs on the trot the next morning without even having a rest. It was tough, but we managed to do it.

“And I think it’s the reason this week there’s an article that I was part of, where I say Test cricket is not for sissies.

“You need to be fit, you need to be strong, you need to be effective enough.

“And you need to play enough cricket, long four or five-day cricket to be fit enough.”

De Villiers is, therefore, concerned with the lack of miles in the Proteas’ legs ahead of the WTC final, with the majority of the squad returning from playing T20s in the IPL. 

Only Kyle Verreynne (Nottinghamshire), David Bedingham (Durham) and Dane Paterson (Middlesex) have played red-ball cricket recently in the English County Championship, whereas Australia have Matthew Kuhnemann (Glamorgan), Beau Webster (Warwickshire), Cameron Green (Gloucestershire), Marnus Labuschagne (Glamorgan) and travelling reserve Brendan Doggett (Durham).

The Proteas have scheduled a warm-up game against Zimbabwe in Arundel, starting on June 3.

“I’m really worried about this upcoming Test match with us,” De Villiers said.

“It’s not just one warm-up game. When last did we play Test cricket? When last did the bowlers bowl long spells?

“Are you fit enough to bowl 15, 18, 20 overs per day?  I’m really worried regarding the bowling side. 

“The variations you bowl in Test cricket versus the variations you bowl in one-day cricket is a completely different game. These guys are coming from T20 cricket.

“I do hope that our spearhead (Kagiso) Rabada can get back to the muscle memory again that you need in Test cricket. 

“And also the batters, the instinct of playing T20 cricket, chasing balls outside off-stump... You’ve got four or five slips in line now in England.

“They’re just waiting for you to make a mistake. It’s a completely different mindset.

“We are definitely back to the wall with preparations for this Test match.

“But hopefully that little bit of 10 or 12 percent luck that you find in Test cricket will be on our side.”