Peterson delighted to connect the dots in a full circle
PORT ELIZABETH: Robbie Peterson walked into the Proteas media conference yesterday with a smile as wide as the Boardwalk Casino. He stopped to personally greet every member of the press contingent, even copping some chirps from local pressmen who had played against him earlier in his career.
“Yeah, I was young and I just kept tossing it up and he just kept smashing me. He hit for me three sixes in a row,” Peterson quipped. But he was still smiling.
Although the left-arm spinner plays his franchise cricket in Cape Town for the Cape Cobras now, he is at heart still a PE boy. And he was happy to be back home and preparing to play his first Test at St George’s Park, starting on Friday, against New Zealand.
“It feels great actually (to be back in Port Elizabeth). To play two Tests – at my adopted home Newlands last week and then to be where it all started here at St George’s. I’ve really gone full circle,” the 33-year-old said.
All the dots of the circle haven’t always connected for Peterson. He’s been on the international circuit for the best part of the last decade, but yet has played only eight Tests in that period. There have been a variety of reasons for his career being on ice for so long: immaturity, lack of form, but mostly inconsistent selection.
Due to these circumstances, Peterson sought a change of Friday, Second Test: South Africa v New Zealand, Port Elizabeth, 10.30am. January 19, First ODI: South Africa v New Zealand, Paarl, 10am. January 22, Second ODI: South Africa v New Zealand, Kimberley, 2.30pm. January 25, Third ODI: South Africa v New Zealand, Potchefstroom, 2.30pm. scenery. Not only did he move down the coast to Newlands, but also took himself out of his comfort zone by opting for a two-year contract with English county championship outfit Derbyshire.
Since his return, Peterson has been far removed from the cricketer who once threw his shirt to the St George’s Park band in celebration, only to ask it back after the result of the match had not yet been decided.
It has shown in his performances too, with him not only occupying the spinner’s role in Test side now, but also being a stalwart in the one-day and Twenty20 sides.
“I like to think I’m a lot mature than that now,” Peterson explained. “I’ve done all right over the last two years, since coming back from county cricket. Every game is an opportunity for me to do well. I don’t like to look further than that.”
Peterson certainly has grasped his opportunities over the last 12 months. When Imran Tahir was discarded after his horror show in the second Test against Australia in Adelaide last year, he came in and claimed six wickets in the series decider in Perth the following week.
He has similar faith that Cobras teammate Rory Kleinveldt will produce the goods this week after star opening bowler Vernon Philander was ruled out of the Test yesterday. The Proteas team management have opted not to risk the World No 2 bowler after he sustained a recurrence of the hamstring injury that cast doubt on his participation in the first Test.
“Maybe I’ll get to bowl in the first innings,” Peterson joked in reference to Philander claiming 5/7 in New Zealand’s first innings last week. “It is obviously a huge blow. Vern has obviously been a stalwart in the Test side now. His performances speak for themselves. He is a critical part of the bowling unit.
“But, saying that, Rory stepped up to the plate when his opportunities presented themselves. So, Rory is capable of doing a job Vernon has been doing.”