Anrich Nortje. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
- Anrich Nortje says he was disappointed with what he did in the first Test against Australia.
- Nortje has returned to form to become the star of Proteas Down Under on a punishing tour of South Africa.
- The fast bowler grabbed SA’s only two wickets on the first day of the third Test at the SCG, including the scalp of Marnus Labuschagne.
Proteas fast bowler Anrich Nortje honestly assessed how he improved his performances from a shaky first Australia Test to becoming SA’s standout player for a third at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Wednesday.
Nortje said he was disappointed with what he dished out in the opening match at the Gabba in Brisbane in December, but rallied to take 3/96 in SA’s humiliating Boxing Day second Test defeat.
Again in the third Test, South Africa looked to Nortje to make the two advances on a day when the hosts threatened to take the game away from them.
READ | Harmer’s capture: Nortje says Proteas ‘was convinced he’s out’
He first dismissed opener David Warner cheaply (10), who was the second Test double centurion, before disposing of the dangerous Marnus Labuschagne for 79 (151).
“In the first game, I was disappointed with what I was giving,” Nortje said.
“I thought the training and preparation was much better than that game. I had stages where I felt really good in the game and others where I felt like it just wasn’t clicking.”
“But in the last two games, it was about the same approach, the same mentality and the same principle.
“After the first game, we talked a lot about my jumping and my basics and I go back to that and try to figure it out.
“Most of the terrain here is quite soft or muddy, so I needed to take that into account to understand it and identify the situation and what to do a bit earlier.
“After that first game, I found something that works a little better. There’s nothing in my action that’s different, but I try to be more consistent.”
At the Labuschagne wicket, Nortje said he had not necessarily put the No. 3 in a trap before he was caught from behind by keeper Kyle Verreynne.
“I wouldn’t say I cheated on him, but I was trying to [dismiss him]Nortje said.
“Before that, the ball was quite wet in the outfield, so it was difficult to pass it to the goalkeeper.
“And when we went out again, I felt like there might be a little more [to work with]the ball was a little harder because it hadn’t been through the outfield as much.
“I was trying to hit good areas and not try to be fancy, trying to keep it simple and hit the wicket as hard as I could. Fortunately, I got something from that.”
“It wasn’t really much preparation other than trying to stay consistent in one area and luckily we got some pressure and rebounding there.”
