Dane: All eyes on 2019

Soft spoken Paterson ready to make international step up to longer formats

DANE Paterson may believe he is “just keeping a few seats warm”, but the soft-spoken Cape Cobras fast bowler does have his eyes set on a place in the Proteas 2019 World Cup squad.

With the national team’s fast bowling unit being severely depleted for the past couple of months, Paterson has enjoyed a fair bit of international action since making his T20 debut at the beginning of the year.

The 28-year-old has been a regular in the Proteas T20 side since, playing in New Zealand, England – where he was particularly good – and in the home series against Bangladesh. He has since also made his ODI debut and received a call-up to the Test squad for the injured Morne Morkel.

“I have enjoyed being with the Proteas. It is a really cool set up, where everybody makes you feel welcome from the start. But I’m just keeping a few seats warm,” Paterson said sheepishly at Cobras training yesterday.

“I have my own goals though.

“I’ll be 30 in two years time and I really want to be part of the World Cup squad. It is probably going to be my only shot at going to a World Cup and I want to give it a real go.”

Paterson has always enjoyed a good relationship with former Proteas bowling coach Charl Langeveldt, viewing the Bolander almost as a mentor. But with Langeveldt having been moved on under new Proteas coach Ottis Gibson’s management structure; does Paterson believe this will impact his growth as an international cricketer?

“Langes has taught me a lot. Almost everything I know. Since my early days at Western Province when was he was still playing at the Cobras, and then when he first became Cobras coach, I worked very closely with Langes,” Paterson, pic

tured, said. “But I’ve really enjoyed working with the new coach. He’s a really chilled out kind of guy. But he also has a very high work ethic and is a really practical kind of coach.

“We have been doing lots of skill work and very match related.

“So, really looking forward to working with Ottis.”

It has, though, been a couple of bitter-sweet months for Paterson. The Northpine resident was picked up on in the first round of the inaugural Global T20 League draft for a hefty R1.75 million by the Bloem City Blazers, but with the tournament postponed to next year there is great uncertainty relating to whether the players’ contracts will be honoured. South African Cricket Association chief executive Tony Irish is heading the movement for the players to receive payment, but Paterson cannot be distracted by offfield matters now that the T20 Challenge has been moved forward on the domestic calendar.

“The Global T20 has been a bit of a roller-coaster for everyone involved, but there isn’t time to focus on ‘what-ifs’.

“The T20 Challenge is a going to big competition for everyone and a real treat for the fans who missed out on watching the Global T20.

“All the Proteas are going to be available for all the domestic franchises, so you can expect to see really good cricket for the next couple of weeks.

“I know, as an opening bowler, I am going to have hit my mark consistently because each team is going to be loaded with a few serious batters.

“It should be a good test.”