Kallis sees boundless potential in Marco Jansen

ESPNcricinfo’s Greatest Cricketer of the 21st Century, Jacques Kallis, believes Sunrisers Eastern Cape superstar Marco Jansen is only touching the tip of his potential.

Kallis, who earned his famed reputation as a genuine all-rounder, feels the 26-year-old Jansen has the potential to reach for the stars.

The world has certainly seen Jansen approaching his peak. The beanpole left-arm swing bowler, who is also able to hit a very long ball, has delivered performances across formats over the past 12 months that have had audiences gasping at the sheer amount of talent he possesses.

Jansen became the first bowler to achieve the 50-wicket milestone in the Betway SA20 and is second on the overall list with 60 scalps, just behind his former SEC teammate Ottneil Baartman (61 wickets).

He was among the standout performers when the Proteas clean-swept India 2-0 in the Test series last year, with Jansen claiming 12 wickets at 10.08 apiece and striking 93 in the first innings of the second Test in Guwahati.

Jansen followed that up with an impressive performance in the T20 World Cup in India, where he bagged a further 11 wickets at an average of 21.54.

“I think he's learning his game, and it takes time to get to know your game while playing in all these leagues, in different conditions, in front of big crowds and under pressure,” Kallis exclusively told Betway SA20.

“You learn from every experience, and I think he's just getting better and better and learning from those experiences. I think he still has a lot ahead of him that he can achieve if he really puts his mind to it.”

The former Pretoria Capitals assistant coach was, however, pleased to see the number of young South African cricketers now competing in the IPL on the back of their performances in the Betway SA20.

“I think we saw at the start of the IPL how their youngsters came through and made a difference in Indian cricket. I think it's exactly the same with what the SA20 has done for our cricket,” Kallis said.

“A lot of the youngsters are pushing now - not only for the national side but in all the leagues around the world.

“So, it's been a huge catalyst for those young guys and they must just keep pushing because they'll definitely get opportunities.”