South Africa’s fast bowler Duanne Olivier admitted that he was nervous while playing against India on the opening day of the second Test match at the Wanderers, Johannesburg on Monday and he felt like he was making his debut again.
Olivier, who made a return to the Test side after a couple of years following his Kolpak deal, made an impact with the ball as he scalped three wickets.
The right-arm fast bowler was able to yield extra bounce from the surface and troubled the Indian batters with his accurate line and length. Olivier dismissed Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane on consecutive balls to put the Proteas in the driver’s seat.
The 29-year old completed the landmark of 50 Test wickets when he dismissed Ajinkya Rahane. Olivier thus joined Bert Vogler, Hugh Tayfield, and the legendary Allan Donald in third place among South African bowlers who have been the fastest to the milestone of 50 Test wickets. The right-arm pacer returned with impressive figures of 3-64 and played a key role in dismissing India at 202 after the visitors decided to bat first.
Duanne Olivier said in the post-day press conference, “Today felt like a new debut. I was very nervous today. It was about trying to have good energy with the ball to put the team in the best position. We want to make life easier for the (Proteas) batters.”
“I am still trying to bowl a touch fuller and at a good pace. I know when the ball comes out a bit floaty; this morning, there were a couple that were really full. You’re not always going to get it right, but I always try to do better.”
Meanwhile, Olivier is known to bowl consistently above 135 km/h but he bowled around 120-130 km/h on the opening day, which was a bit surprising. The fast bowler added that he will look to improve in the second innings.
“I don’t know what’s going on with the speed gun, to be honest. I don’t look at the speed gun to say, ‘My pace is down now’. For me, I know whether I’m getting it right or not.”
“There were certain patches that were really good and certain ones that weren’t that good on a personal note. But there’s a second innings to come, and that’s where I’ll try to do those things better.”
South Africa was 35-1 at the end of the opening day’s play.
