Jansen in need of game time in IPL

PROTEAS all-rounder Marco Jansen has been one of the stand-out performers in the green and gold in recent times, and with the Twenty20 World Cup fast approaching, he finds himself without much-needed game time with the Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Indian Premier League (IPL).

The CSA T20 Challenge is in full flow and reaching its business end. Players left behind in South Africa are getting a lot of game time and will probably be in better rhythm and have momentum on their side heading to the global event.

There is also a chance to be selected for the tour of the West Indies with regulars still at the IPL, and stake a claim for a World Cup spot.

It will be a question of form or reputation when Rob Walter names his preliminary World Cup squad. Jansen has only made one appearance for the Orange Army Eagles, and his last outing didn’t help much, with figures of 3-40-0. You could argue he was still settling in, but it was inevitable that he was bound to be used less often, with Australian batsman Travis Head waiting in the wings.

The acquisition of Patrick Cummins for a record-breaking 205 million

rupees by the Sunrisers Hyderabad was not only a low blow to Aiden Markram, following only one season at the helm, but by some distance has affected the lanky all-rounder, who now finds himself with a possibility of carrying drinks for the rest of the season as Cummins will likely not be dropped, as he’s the captain.

Teams are only allowed to include four overseas players in their playing eleven. With Heinrich Klaasen and Markram in decent touch and occupying crucial positions in the team – Head has been in red-hot form for the past two years and has already hit a century in the current campaign – the side looks settled and in a decent fourth position, with four wins from six matches, making it harder for Jansen to make a comeback.