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Marco Jansen may now sit at the top of the ICC Test bowling and all-rounder rankings, but the Proteas star insists he remains grounded despite South Africa’s historic 2-1 series victory over Australia.
South Africa completed a remarkable comeback at Newlands, defeating Australia by 176 runs in the third and final Test to secure the series and move to No. 1 in the ICC Test team rankings.
The victory followed a difficult opening defeat in Durban before the Proteas responded with successive wins in Gqeberha and Cape Town.
Jansen, who was named Player of the Series, reflected on the achievement, his personal rise in international cricket and the mental challenges that come with competing at the highest level.
Despite his growing reputation, the 26-year-old was reluctant to embrace the label of superstar.
“No, I just see myself as a laaitie from Klerksdorp,” Jansen said when asked about becoming one of the leading players in world cricket.
“That’s a tricky one for me personally, because when I started playing professionally and I started my career for the Proteas, I never even thought of getting in the top 10 bowling rankings or all-rounder rankings.
“And then fast forward to now where you’re on top of those lists. Firstly, it’s surreal.”
Jansen revealed that advice from his father continues to shape his approach to success.
“Like my dad used to tell myself and my brother, ‘Moet nie jou kop laat groot raak nie.'”
The Afrikaans expression is a reminder not to let success go to one’s head.
For Jansen, personal recognition remains secondary to contributing to the team’s success.
“I remind myself where I come from and what I’ve had to do and what I’ve had to put in to firstly be consistent and perform consistently, because that’s the most important thing for me.
“But more importantly than that, it’s to get every chance I get to put the team in a winning position.
“That’s just basically what I try and do. And if that means getting a pat on the shoulder by looking at a list and you may be one or two on that list, then that’s just a bonus for me.”
The series against Australia proved to be an emotional and physically demanding experience for the Proteas.
South Africa were forced to recover from losing the opening Test, with momentum shifting repeatedly throughout the three matches.
Jansen described the Newlands encounter as one of the most memorable experiences of his career.
“This Test match for me was definitely one of my most enjoyable ones,” he said.
“It was tough. It wasn’t easy. There were a lot of ups and downs, ebbs and flows.
“It was never a case of the one team just had the upper hand for an extended period of time.
“There was a stage where I was sitting in the changing room and you think, yes, we’re in this thing, and then all of a sudden, four wickets, and I’m like, what the hell are we doing?
“It went like that the whole time. First Test match, second Test match, and the third one as well.”
Jansen believes the competitiveness of the series demonstrated the value of Test cricket.
“I think it’s in a very good spot. Especially when you have Test matches going to day five, second session.
“It makes the game more attractive. You don’t have a game going two, two and a half days.
“As a player, it’s nice to be a part of those games and those matches as well. It’s not always the best for your body, but it’s very rewarding, obviously, if you’re on the right side of it.”
While the Proteas celebrated their success on Saturday, Jansen admitted that the pressure of the series had taken a significant mental toll.
The all-rounder revealed that he had barely slept before the final day’s play as he considered the different scenarios that could unfold.
“For me, when we come out on the right side of things, it makes all those nights where I go cuckoo, it makes it worth it,” he explained.
“Last night, again, was one of them.
“I probably slept one and a half hours, maybe two. And that’s a mixture between looking out my window and going to the bathroom, having a Coke.
“Last night, literally, I didn’t get any sleep thinking of ways to what can we do, what can I do, what’s going to be required, what if things don’t go our way.”
Jansen explained that winning provides an enormous sense of relief, particularly after the mental preparation involved.
“When we get on the right side of things, it’s sort of, for a split second, it’s a sigh of relief that it’s finished now.
“But then after that, it’s like a really, really good and excited and pumped feeling, knowing that, firstly, if I played well, I’ve contributed.
“And also, if I didn’t play well, I still contributed, whether it was on the field or off the field.”
He emphasised that the achievement belonged to everyone involved in the squad.
“This is a team thing, it’s not an individual thing, and that gives me a lot of joy and happiness, and that makes it very much worth it for me.”
Kagiso Rabada played a crucial role in South Africa’s comeback after missing the opening Test in Durban.
The fast bowler returned in Gqeberha and made another decisive contribution at Newlands, claiming three early wickets in Australia’s second innings.
Jansen explained that Rabada’s influence extends well beyond his performances with the ball.
“When he’s in your side or when he’s in the team, he gives you that little bit of extra confidence. I don’t know what it is,” Jansen said.
“It’s weird. But I think it’s just maybe how he is in and around the guys, how he is on the field, off the field.
“He always reminds you what you’re doing well, rather than pointing or looking at things that we can do right.”
Jansen particularly values Rabada’s calm approach to discussing bowling plans.
“It’s always what can happen? What can we do? What if we try this? Okay, this guy’s doing this. Maybe we must try this.
“It’s never getting frustrated or showing that you’re frustrated.
“I think that’s definitely one of the things that helps our bowling attack a lot.”
Rabada’s opening spell on the final day helped put Australia under immediate pressure.
With the visitors chasing 288, he removed Matt Renshaw and Marnus Labuschagne in the opening over before dismissing Travis Head to leave Australia struggling on 22/3.
Simon Harmer completed a remarkable performance at Newlands, claiming 6/16 in Australia’s second innings and finishing with match figures of 10/120.
Jansen had a close-up view of the off-spinner’s dominance, including taking a diving catch to dismiss Alex Carey.
He praised Harmer’s ability to adapt his bowling to the batter and the conditions.
“When the ball’s turning, then even if it doesn’t turn, someone like Harmie, he’s incredible with the ball,” Jansen said.
“He works in angles, he works in lengths, then he adjusts to the batter.
“For me personally, just watching him bowl, it’s sort of like when KG is on a heater.
“You think every single ball he can take a wicket, and that’s what he brings to the team as well.”
Jansen also reflected on the experience of sharing the field with players he had admired while growing up.
“Eight years ago I was in high school, and then I was watching these guys on TV doing their thing.
“Where now I’m in Cape Town, where there’s a lot of people looking at us.
“For me, I try and take every aspect in, and moments like that, or seeing guys playing well on the big stage, it’s both a surreal feeling, but also a very, very good feeling and exciting feeling.
“It’s everything we work for.
“So, very, very chuffed for Harmie, and he deserves the wickets that he got today.”
Although South Africa are now the top-ranked Test team, Jansen acknowledged that the Proteas have frequently been forced to recover from difficult situations.
He believes one of the biggest improvements within the group has been their ability to respond calmly when opponents gain the upper hand.
“Things happen. You can’t control, for example, Wessie gets an unbelievable bounce, flicks the glove, I haven’t even woken up yet from my nap, and now I have to go bat,” he joked.
“Stuff happens, and for us it’s all about how can we adapt, how can we, when things aren’t going our way, how can we adjust, like Wessie and Ricks did now in our second innings.”
Wiaan Mulder and Ryan Rickelton played a significant role in South Africa’s victory, scoring centuries and sharing a 154-run partnership in the second innings.
Jansen explained that the team has become better at recognising when to change its approach rather than allowing frustration to dictate decisions.
“In the past, we struggled a bit. So, for example, you might get frustrated and then you might want to try harder.
“I’m going to use myself as an example. I’ll get frustrated, which means I’ll get angry, which means I’ll try and bowl quicker, which means I don’t land the ball in a consistent area.
“Then that sort of either leaks runs or I don’t take a wicket, and then that sort of is like a ripple effect.”
The Proteas have worked on managing those moments more effectively.
“Where I think now, it’s sort of, okay, cool, we’re accepting this session is very tough, but what can we do to bring it back, or claw it back, or slow the game down?
“I think especially from last year and the year before, we’ve managed that really, really well, and we’re adapting to those situations a lot better, and thinking a lot clearer in those moments.”
Despite South Africa’s series victory, Jansen dismissed suggestions that Australia’s reputation and intimidating presence had diminished.
He believes the difference lies in his own mental preparation and growing experience.
“No, it’s not gone. It’s still there,” he said when asked whether Australia’s aura had disappeared.
“Back then I wasn’t nearly as experienced. I’m still not as experienced as them or other players, but for me personally, it’s a mental thing.”
Jansen recalled how intimidating it had been to face Australia earlier in his career.
“Back then, I used to watch those guys on TV, and then it’s like you’re in awe.
“Fast forward to now, I’m better prepared mentally to, for instance, if things don’t go our way, or if we’re doing well, or if I’m batting well or bowling well, to stay calm and to stay composed.”
He also praised the relentless quality of Australia’s bowling attack.
“You saw Starcy, he’s flippin’, he’s 37, and he’s bowling 150 for five days. No ways.
“Now there’s a guy like that, and he has an aura, and then it’s Cummo, then Hoff, and then the GOAT.
“Every single time they make a bowling change, it’s not a sigh of relief. It’s actually more pressure and more pressure.”
For Jansen, overcoming such a formidable opponent makes South Africa’s achievement even more meaningful.
Jansen revealed that the Proteas’ approach on the final day was built around patience rather than trying to force wickets.
The strategy paid off as Australia collapsed to 60/7 before lunch.
“We knew that if we just stay patient and we just maybe get one or two wickets up front there, then we’re sort of setting it up for the rest of the day,” he said.
“That’s sort of what happened, especially with KG in the first over getting two wickets and then getting another third wicket quickly after that.
“That definitely set us up nicely and then Harmie obviously doing his thing.”
Even when Australia offered resistance through Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon, Jansen said the Proteas understood the importance of sticking to their plans.
“We’ve already taken seven wickets, we don’t have to go search, we just have to sort of play the waiting game.
“Aiden actually mentioned that, listen guys, if we didn’t expect a partnership here and there, then we must think again.
“They’re also allowed to play well and defend well.”
South Africa eventually dismissed Australia for 111 to complete a memorable series victory.
For Jansen, the result represents another milestone in a career that has already brought considerable success.
Yet despite becoming the world’s leading Test bowler and all-rounder, his priorities remain unchanged.
He is still the youngster from Klerksdorp who wants to contribute whenever the Proteas need him.
And as South Africa celebrate their place at the top of the Test rankings, Jansen’s message remains simple: individual recognition is a bonus, but winning as a team is what matters most.
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