IND vs SA: Duanne Olivier excited about Virat Kohli challenge – Former Kolpak player Duanne Olivier will make his return to the South Africa Test side after three years. And as fate would have it, he will be facing arguably the best batsman of the current generation, Virat Kohli when South Africa take on India in the three-match Test series, starting Sunday. Hence, Olivier is excited about the challenge. Follow India vs South Africa Live Updates on InsideSport.IN.
“This will be the biggest series of my career against world-class players and it’s an exciting challenge. I need to bowl to Virat Kohli. It will be tough but it will also be exciting, probably I will be bowling to one of the top four batters in world cricket,” Duanne Olivier spoke to Cricket South Africa’s media wing.
IND vs SA: Duanne Olivier very excited to face Virat Kohli, says ‘It will be tough but exciting too’
The 29-year-old Olivier, who made his debut in 2017, had 48 wickets from 10 Test matches before he decided on taking the KOLPAK route (which allows overseas players to play county cricket in the UK as it was then a part of the European Union) to represent Yorkshire. He harboured hopes of playing for England one day.
The #Proteas continue to fine-tune their skills as preparation for the #SAvIND #BetwayTestSeries 🏏 #FreedomSeries #BePartOfIt pic.twitter.com/afl8J1OiJc
— Cricket South Africa (@OfficialCSA) December 21, 2021
However, with Britain exiting the European Union, Olivier’s hopes were dashed and he was back in his land of birth, playing domestic cricket before being named in the Proteas side for the three Tests against India starting Sunday.
IND vs SA: Duanne Olivier very excited to face Virat Kohli, says ‘It will be tough but exciting too’
“For me, it will be like making a statement to them that we are here to compete and are not going to roll over. For me, it’s very important to start that first punch,” Duanne Olivier, whose sudden decision to dump the national team in 2019 had caused quite a stir.
Some grass will be shaved off, Oliver feels Oliver firmly believes that South Africa can use the conditions to their advantage although all the grass that’s currently on view on the Supersport park’s 22-yard strip won’t be there on Boxing Day.
“We need to use conditions to our advantage. We can’t get carried away. It might seam and might have bounce. I reckon some grass will be shaved. With a lot of rain being forecast, it’s not ideal for preparation,” Duanne Olivier assessed.
IND vs SA: Duanne Olivier very excited to face Virat Kohli, says ‘It will be tough but exciting too’
Contrary to popular perception about the Centurion strip, Olivier feels that it will be “slow” to begin with on the first day and as the match progresses, the pace in the strip will be on the ascendancy.
“I am more mature now, felt very welcomed” It is understood that his decision to migrate was primarily based on the selection policy where there was a mandatory quota for players of colour.
He is now back and believes that he has matured. “It was a massive surprise as I didn’t expect a call up at all. When I came back I felt very welcomed,” he said.
But he understands that he has been away from the Proteas dressing room for three years and a lot of things have changed since then.
IND vs SA: Duanne Olivier very excited to face Virat Kohli, says ‘It will be tough but exciting too’
“I haven’t been here for three years. So it’s a long time and it’s special for any person to play for the country. You reconnect those relationships with people you have played with three years ago. You get to know everyone at a different level. At the end of the day, the job is to keep things simple,” Duanne Olivier understands that different equations will be at work.
However, what he has achieved as a player for South Africa is a thing of the past, he reckoned.
“I think expectation is also quite high but whatever I have achieved three years back is past. I am not trying to look at the past. I am a different person and this is a different squad, so you try to focus on what you want to do as three Test matches are massive.”
Oliver calls himself a different player. “I am a different player. Firstly, I am more mature, more grown up now,” he said.
IND vs SA: Duanne Olivier very excited to face Virat Kohli, says ‘It will be tough but exciting too’
With no Anrich Nortje in the squad, Olivier, who started as a hit the deck bowler and now after his stint with Yorkshire is more in Vernon Philander mould, is ready to make the difference.
“UK has helped me a lot, perfecting that fuller length, because it can come across as floaty and I wasn’t as consistent. I am still working on it and I am not going to get it right every single time,” Duanne Olivier explained.
On a lighter note, he said that he would need a new baggy Test cap as his earlier one is now framed.
“I didn’t expect I would be playing again. I had framed my baggy. If I am playing, I will ask for a new one. Otherwise, I will have to break the frame,” he burst out laughing.
IND vs SA: Duanne Olivier very excited to face Virat Kohli, says ‘It will be tough but exciting too’
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