Marco Jansen

WTC Final: ‘They’re here for a reason’ – Steve Smith on why South Africa can’t be taken lightly | Cricket News

Danijones16 hours ago03 mins

Steve Smith of Australia (Photo by Paul Harding/Getty Images) Australian batting great Steve Smith, speaking at Lord’s on Monday, anticipates a challenging contest against South Africa’s pace attack in the World Test Championship final starting Wednesday, where defending champions Australia are favored to win against the Proteas in the five-day match.Australia, who defeated India in the 2023 WTC final, will face South Africa’s formidable bowling lineup led by Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen.“South Africa have a particularly good bowling attack led by Kagiso Rabada, his record speaks for itself. Marco Jansen — they are a good side, they are here for a reason,” Smith said.Rabada, 30, has accumulated 327 wickets at an average of 22, while the 25-year-old Jansen has taken 73 wickets at 21.76 in his 17 matches.Smith, 36, has demonstrated exceptional performance at Lord’s, scoring 525 runs in five matches, including two centuries, at an average of 58.33. Bombay Sport Exchange Ep. 6: Harish Thawani on cricket’s TV market and the watershed moments “It’s a nice place to bat. Personally I’ve had a bit of success here. It takes a bit of time getting used to the slope, one end thinking you are falling over, the other you feel a bit tall. It’s a nice wicket to bat on but can change with the overheads, the ball swinging around, can get a bit tricky,” Smith stated.Quiz: Who’s that IPL player?Smith, whose career was affected by the 2018 ball-tampering incident against South Africa in Cape Town, noted that relations between the teams are now “pretty relaxed.”Regarding suggestions about extending the WTC final to multiple matches, Smith commented: “Maybe a three-match series would be good but good luck fitting it in the schedule, it’s pretty jam-packed as it is.”

WTC Final: Marco Jansen reveals Ricky Ponting’s cheeky send-off – ‘Good luck, but hope you lose’ ahead of Australia clash | Cricket News

Danijones3 days ago03 mins

Marco Jansen with Punjab Kings coach Ricky Ponting. (Pic credit: IPL) South African pacer Marco Jansen has shared the cheeky parting words from Ricky Ponting that continue to echo in his mind as he prepares to face Australia in the ICC World Test Championship Final at Lord’s.Fresh off a stellar Indian Premier League (IPL) season with Punjab Kings, where he claimed 16 wickets in 14 matches, Jansen revealed that Ponting, who coached the Kings to a runners-up finish in his debut season, offered both support and a light-hearted jab before Jansen left India for England.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!“Before I left (India), he (Ponting) just said, ‘Good luck, I hope you do well, but I hope you lose’,” Jansen told ICC Digital with a grin, as South Africa’s warm-up match against Zimbabwe was washed out in Arundel.The 24-year-old left-armer was full of praise for Ponting’s coaching style, especially his ability to nurture confidence and focus on the positives. Poll Do you believe Marco Jansen will excel in the ICC World Test Championship Final? “I learnt a lot from him, especially from a mental point of view. He is always positive and he always sees the good stuff instead of the bad. I think that’s why he’s a legend of the game,” Jansen said. “He always reminds you what could happen, what you can do, instead of what might go wrong.”Now shifting focus to red-ball cricket, Jansen is keen to soak up more knowledge from recently retired England pacer Stuart Broad, who has joined the Proteas in a consulting role ahead of the WTC Final. Gautam Gambhir sends stern message after Bengaluru tragedy “Obviously, he’s played a lot against Australia at Lord’s,” Jansen said. “Maybe I’ll pick his brain… ask what they did to get certain batters out. But at the end of the day, you still have to figure it out yourself on the pitch.”