Duan Jansen’s long road to the Proteas: 'I cried a little bit when I got the call'
After battling injuries and a difficult mental period, Duan Jansen has earned his first Proteas call-up, with a change of environment, faith and hard work driving his career turnaround.
Duan Jansen's road to the Proteas team has been a remarkable journey of transformation and perseverance. The 25-year-old all-rounder credits his breakthrough to a change in environments, rebuilding his confidence, and learning to trust a process that, despite not always showing immediate results, ultimately proved fruitful. Jansen's story began with a move from North West to the Titans, followed by signing for the Joburg Super Kings and impressing with Gloucestershire.
However, the most significant shift was mental, as he spoke openly about during an online media conference.
After years of battling injuries and facing challenges with North West, Jansen found himself in a different mental space. The key was to continue working, even when the rewards were not evident. He sought psychological support and leaned on his family, particularly his twin brother Marco Jansen, as well as his faith, which he believes played a crucial role in his journey. Jansen expressed how spiritual strength and patience gained during this period made him stronger and more resilient.
The move to the Titans provided Jansen with an opportunity to develop a clearer plan for his cricket. He focused on specific approaches to bowling and batting in different situations, refining these strategies further during his stint in England. This led to consistent performances, particularly with the bat, where he gained confidence in managing pressure situations. Jansen's hard work paid off, culminating in his selection for the T20 International Tri-series in Namibia.
When Jansen received the call confirming his inclusion in the Proteas squad, he admitted to shedding a few tears. For him, being part of South Africa's team is deeply meaningful, emphasizing the importance of persistence and dedication despite the challenges. While he acknowledges there are still areas of his game to improve, especially his new-ball bowling, Jansen remains determined to continue refining the methods that have brought him this far.
His focus now is to build on his existing skills and add to them as he embarks on his international cricket journey.
Written by urgent.news from IOL's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
