Duanne the destroyer available for Proteas again

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Duanne Olivier

Fast bowler Duanne Olivier has made himself available for Proteas selection again.

Olivier earned the last of his 10 Test caps for the Proteas against Sri Lanka in Port Elizabeth in February 2019 before going the Kolpak route.

The 29-year-old has made a big impact since returning to South African cricket, taking 28 wickets in four 4-Day Series matches for the Central Gauteng Lions at an average of 11.14 and a strike rate of 23.1.

He is the leading wicket-taker in the tournament and a big reason why the Lions are top of the log after winning all four their fixtures so far.

Olivier said he had been contacted by the national selectors ahead of the Test series against India, which is scheduled to start at the Wanderers on 17 December.

“I am open to everything but I am trying to think of the present and not the future at the moment,” he told ESPNcricinfo.

“[Convener of selectors] Victor Mpitsang phoned me and asked me if I was open to playing for South Africa again and I said of course I am. It’s up to the selectors if they want to include me.”

While Olivier is expected to join speedsters Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje in the Proteas Test squad for the India series, he is not looking too far ahead.

“For now, I am enjoying being back, enjoying the warmer weather and playing cricket in South Africa again,” he said. “The quality and standard of the cricket have been very good and it’s nice to be back.”

Photo: Muzi Ntombela/Backpagepix