Fast bowler Anrich Nortje expresses his disappointment at not being selected for South Africa's national team, citing his readiness for selection despite not receiving a call.
Fast bowler Anrich Nortje spills the beans on his prolonged absence from the South African national team. The speedster last donned the Proteas jersey during the 2024 T20 World Cup in June and has been left on the sidelines since.
Nortje's post-World Cup tenure has seen him included in various South African squads, but he's yet to see game time. His World Cup replacement, Corbin Bosch, was part of the Champions Trophy squad, as Nortje missed the cut due to an injury. The speedster also didn't make the cut for the recently concluded World Test Championship final.
Nortje: "I've been here, willing to play"
Speaking to Sportsboom, Nortje confessed that he has been available for selection all this while and attributes his absence to the selectors passing him over. "I've been around since before the World Cup in June, up until December, and only got selected again in December to play," he said.
"I've missed out on a couple of series, mostly to give opportunities to other players. So from my side, I've been ready to play for the country, but they haven't pressed the play button for me."
Injury struggles and contract matters
The first call-up for Nortje since the T20 World Cup came in December during the home T20I series against Pakistan, but he didn't make it past the bench. At the T20 World Cup, Nortje had a remarkable campaign, taking 15 wickets - joint second-highest with Jasprit Bumrah - from nine games at an economy rate of 5.74.
Last year, Nortje opted out of a central contract with Cricket South Africa, but clarified that he had their backing: "I wasn't tied down. It was my decision. It was simply about managing my body and ensuring I'm ready to play when called upon."
Currently, Nortje is playing for Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2025, but has only featured in one game thus far. In international cricket, Nortje boasts a respectable tally of 70 wickets from 19 Tests at 26.71, 36 wickets from 22 ODIs at 27.27, and 54 wickets from 42 T20Is at 19.16.
Notes:
- Nortje was initially part of the Champions Trophy squad for South Africa but was sidelined due to an injury.
- Nortje had a fantastic campaign during the T20 World Cup, taking 15 wickets.
- Nortje opted out of a central contract with Cricket South Africa last year, citing body management concerns.
- Despite opting out of a central contract, Nortje clarified he still had Cricket South Africa's backing.
- Nortje's absence from the World Test Championship final suggests the selectors have prioritized other players.
Cricket news highlights the lingering absence of fast bowler Anrich Nortje from the South African national team, with Nortje revealing his readiness to play despite being overlooked by the selectors. His performance in international cricket has been impressive, amassing 70 wickets from 19 Tests, 36 wickets from 22 ODIs, and 54 wickets from 42 T20Is.
