South Africa’s ODI series against Australia begins on September 24 in Durban, with the second match scheduled for September 27 in Johannesburg and the third on September 30 in Potchefstroom. The absence of senior fast bowlers Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi due to hamstring injuries has created an opportunity for Marco Jansen to step into a more prominent role within the bowling unit.
Jansen, aged 26, has played 83 internationals across all formats, including 32 ODIs, 30 T20Is and 21 Tests. His experience in the squad is substantial, though he remains younger than the injured pair. Rabada has 258 international games to his name, while Ngidi has featured in 159 matches. Speaking about the responsibility ahead, Jansen explained his readiness to assume greater responsibility on the field.
“It feels like I’m going to have to take that leadership role. I have to try and lead from the front. It’s probably going to be my first time taking up such a role so I’m quite excited for that. I’m looking forward to seeing what I can do if put in such a role,” Jansen was quoted as saying by ESPN.
What leadership means to Jansen
Jansen’s understanding of leadership stems from his time alongside Rabada and Ngidi in the South African setup. He has observed how the senior bowlers manage pressure situations and maintain composure when conditions become difficult. His approach centres on creating a calm environment within the bowling group rather than imposing solutions.
“Leadership, and I’m only basing it off of playing with KG and Lungi and all those guys, is that when things go sideways or when things are tough, especially in the field, you have to have a way of calming things down and slowing things down. That’s probably what I’ll be trying to do,” Jansen said.
The 26-year-old emphasised the importance of timing when offering guidance to teammates. Rather than offering constant advice, he believes in identifying the right moments to provide support and direction. His philosophy involves asking simple, focused questions that help bowlers refocus on their plans.
Jansen’s approach to supporting teammates during difficult moments reflects his maturity as a cricketer. He recognises that bowlers under pressure need space to reset rather than immediate tactical instruction. His method focuses on asking clarifying questions that help teammates return to their core plans.
“The last thing you want when you’re struggling in an over or at the death and guys are flying, is someone just giving solutions and saying, do this or that. It’s important to realise and to pick the moments where a bowler needs a bit of time to try and slow things down and just ask one or two simple questions like, ‘What’s the plan here or how are we going to get this guy off strike?’ Just try to slow the game down or slow the momentum down,” Jansen said.
Jansen’s recent domestic performance has demonstrated his readiness for increased responsibility. He took seven wickets in South Africa’s domestic first-class opener last weekend, bowling Titans to victory over Dolphins in Centurion. He bowled 26 overs in that match, the most of any bowler in the game.
Jansen’s preparation for the domestic fixture was disrupted by illness that required antibiotics for one-and-a-half to two weeks before the first-class game. This significantly reduced his preparation time to just three days. Despite the shortened buildup, he felt his performance improved as the match progressed.
“My build-up to that four-day game or first-class game didn’t go as planned. I planned to bowl at least like three or two weeks before and then unfortunately got sick. I was on antibiotics for a week-and-a-half or two weeks so that sort of cut my preparation short. Before that four-day game, I only had three days of prep and felt heavily undercooked,” Jansen said.
Jansen’s domestic form and recovery from illness
By the third day of the match, Jansen had regained his rhythm and confidence. He bowled a spell where he felt completely fit and sharp, suggesting he has recovered from the illness that interrupted his pre-series preparation. His workload in 2026 has been substantial, with 44 matches played, including appearances in the IPL, Major League Cricket and the Hundred, with 43 of those matches in T20 format and one red-ball game.
“But, in the match, I felt good. My timing felt good. My body felt good. I did some physio work in the build-up to that, especially coming back from after the Hundred, I felt I had to sort out a bit of stiffness in the body. In that match in particular, I felt good, especially as the game progressed. On the third day, I bowled like a nine or ten of a spell where I felt 100%,” he added.
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