Live Update: Nortje: ‘I’ll be very excited if I can put my Test c on again’ Having played his last Test in 2023, he’s eyeing a spot in SA’s side for upcoming three-Test series against Australia at home The three who matter: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah all smiles after dismissing Pat Cummins The three who matter: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah all smiles after dismissing Pat Cummins, India vs Australia, World Cup, Chennai, October 8, 2023 The smile of a champion – Mohammed Siraj picked up five wickets in a ten-ball period, India vs Sri Lanka, Asia Cup final, Colombo, September 17, 2023 Alyssa Healy poses with the trophy after Australia retained the Ashes, England vs Australia, 3rd ODI, Women’s Ashes, Taunton, July 18, 2023 A general view of the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur, Punjab Kings vs Delhi Citals, IPL 2024, Mullanpur, March 23, 2024 KL Rahul celebrates his ninth ODI century, India vs West Indies, 3rd ODI, New Chandigarh, October 3, 2026 Shai Hope, the West Indies ctain, scored a career-best 162* against India, battling a groin issue to take the game deep and finish off a record chase of 352 Shai Hope celebrates back-to-back centuries, India vs West Indies, 3rd ODI, New Chandigarh, October 3, 2026 Shai Hope became the first wicketkeeper-ctain to score 150 in men’s ODIs, India vs West Indies, 3rd ODI, New Chandigarh, October 3, 2026 Shai Hope entered the record books with his score of 162 not out – his 21st ODI century – while KL Rahul has now raised the bar for No.
5 batters in men’s ODIs India ctain said the team as a whole needs more clarity on when to attack and when to defend with ball in hand Naman Dhir picked up his first international wicket, India vs West Indies, 3rd ODI, New Chandigarh, October 3, 2026 Vitel Lawes likes picking up wickets with his left-arm wristspin, wants to develop more and more variations, and likes keeping his thoughts hidden away Vitel Lawes shows off his West Indies c, West Indies vs New Zealand, 1st ODI, Guyana, July 11, 2026 The two fast bowlers from Bihar who have played together for Bengal and experienced similar career trajectories came together irresistibly once again in the Irani Cup Akash Deep and Mukesh Kumar bagged four wickets each, Bengal vs Jammu and Kashmir, Vijay Hazare Trophy, Rajkot, December 31, 2025 Seven wickets fell in a manic hour post-lunch as Rest of India secured a 167-run win against Jammu & Kashmir in Srinagar Mukesh Kumar bowls in the Duleep Trophy, East Zone vs South Zone, Duleep Trophy final, 4th day, Chennai, September 9, 2026 Karnataka batter fell 50 short of 1000 runs the last Ranji Trophy season. This time, he wants to hit that mark and go beyond R Smaran is unbeaten on 126 off 131 balls for Rest of India, Jammu & Kashmir vs Rest of India, Irani Cup, 3rd day, Srinagar, October 3, 2026 Asian Games – Ind vs Pak – Shreyas Iyer ‘ecstatic’ after ‘collective effort and comprehensive win’ over Pakistan “We didn’t complain [about the rain], we didn’t give any reasons [excuses], so that was the sign of a champion team,” Shreyas Iyer says of the attitude of the India team at the Asian Games Tilak Varma and Shreyas Iyer figure out what gold tastes like, India vs Pakistan, Asian Games men’s competition final, Nisshin, October 3, 2026 The India players celebrate their gold medal by doing a victory l of the stadium, India vs Pakistan, Asian Games men’s competition final, Nisshin, October 3, 2026 Bangladesh collsed with the bat after Tharindu Ratnayake had smashed 65 in 32 balls to take Sri Lanka to a solid 165 for 9 The Sri Lankans celebrate after winning the bronze medal, Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka, Asian Games men’s competition 3rd place playoff, Nisshin, October 3, 2026 He pears certain to retain his spot at No. 3 for the opening Test against South Africa in Durban next week Having played his last Test in 2023, he’s eyeing a spot in SA’s side for upcoming three-Test series against Australia at home Anrich Nortje and his hair fade in, South Africa vs West Indies, 1st Test, Centurion, 2nd day, March 1, 2023 Amid the pace and firepower, South Africa may need his craft, control and experience to make the difference against Australia Seven wickets fell in a manic hour post-lunch as Rest of India secured a 167-run win against Jammu & Kashmir in Srinagar Mukesh Kumar bowls in the Duleep Trophy, East Zone vs South Zone, Duleep Trophy final, 4th day, Chennai, September 9, 2026 He pears certain to retain his spot at No.
3 for the opening Test against South Africa in Durban next week The two fast bowlers from Bihar who have played together for Bengal and experienced similar career trajectories came together irresistibly once again in the Irani Cup Akash Deep and Mukesh Kumar bagged four wickets each, Bengal vs Jammu and Kashmir, Vijay Hazare Trophy, Rajkot, December 31, 2025 The India players celebrate their gold medal by doing a victory l of the stadium, India vs Pakistan, Asian Games men’s competition final, Nisshin, October 3, 2026 Shai Hope, the West Indies ctain, scored a career-best 162* against India, battling a groin issue to take the game deep and finish off a record chase of 352 Shai Hope celebrates back-to-back centuries, India vs West Indies, 3rd ODI, New Chandigarh, October 3, 2026 Anrich Nortje and his hair fade in, South Africa vs West Indies, 1st Test, Centurion, 2nd day, March 1, 2023 Anrich Nortje has not played a first-class game since his last Test, three years and eight months ago, but that does not mean he hasn’t been near a red ball. Quite the opposite. “My prep from quite some time back has been red-ball,” he said from Durban, where South Africa have begun build-up to the three-Test series against Australia , which starts on October 9.
“It’s been quite a bit of a focus for me to try and execute skills with the red ball, to build loads gradually – and in the right way – and to try and get the overs up. It’s something that I’ve been doing for quite some time, whether it’s on my own or whatever it might be. There’s been quite some effort put in to try and upskill again, and improve from where I left off.
There were one or two things that were lacking that I wanted to improve.” Nortje has the advantage of working with national bowling coach Piet Botha, as they are based in the same part of the country, Gqeberha. Together, they’ve looked at a plan to get Nortje ready for a Test return after a lengthy absence. “He’s always been a good reference,” Nortje said.
“There’s a lot of things recently that I’ve done on my own as well. I’ve never recorded myself as much. “I had to see where I can improve action-wise and skills-wise, and there’s been a good amount of chat with coach Piet.
The stuff that I’ve been working on myself as well has been [on] alignments, [and] trying to get the action better, stronger, more sustainable and more reliable. And then I’ve been sending it through to coach Piet and seeing if it all checks out.” With a history of serious issues, including stress fractures of the back, Nortje has had to be extra cautious about his action. Though chest-on and repeatable, his injuries are thought to come from the pace at which he bowls, often in excess of 145kph, which means the amount of explosive power he generates is high, and the impact on his body is extreme.
That has meant Nortje’s career trajectory has resulted in him bowling less while he has operated as a T20 specialist for much of the last three years. “It was a tough series. I enjoyed the series, and learned a lot from it, but we wanted to get them in South Africa and do well.
That’s what’s in my head.” “You don’t think of the tough times in T20 cricket. You just think about executing skills there, where in Tests, you think about the tough times, the good times, the hard work and think that gets you through some sessions,” he said. “I’ll be very excited if I can put my Test c on again.
Growing up, it’s the format you want to play. It’s the motivation when you train.” There’s also the added attraction of the profile of the opposition – Australia, against whom South Africa have had some of their toughest series. “There’s just that little bit of extra X-factor that comes out or fire that comes out, and energy that comes out,” Nortje said.
“Guys want to do well, and everyone wants to perform. It is a big series.” Nortje has only played against Australia in one series, on a forgettable tour in 2022-23. South Africa lost 2-0, having been saved by rain in the third match.
Nortje played in all three games and took seven wickets , while South Africa’s most successful bowler was Kagiso Rabada, who bagged 11. Nortje was nowhere near as impressive as the player who led the bowling charts against Sri Lanka at home two years before, and felt he did not give as good an account of himself as he could have. Anrich Nortje is congratulated by team-mates after he removed Usman Khawaja, Australia v South Africa, 1st Test, Brisbane, 1st day, December 17, 2022 “Personally, we always said we want to try and rectify things when we get them back home,” he said.
“It was a tough series. I enjoyed the series, and learned a lot from it, but we wanted to get them in South Africa and do well. That’s what’s in my head.” Australia were, in fact, due to come to South Africa earlier in 2021 but pulled out of the tour amid a new wave of Covid-19, despite CSA creating an unprecedented biosecure environment.
The timeline of Nortje’s revenge-mission may be slightly off, considering South Africa went to Australia after that, but the point holds. He wants to show he is better than what he was then, and put his hand up for future consideration in a Test squad which has also made big strides since he was last involved. “The way the team’s progressed over the last few years has been amazing under coach Shuks (Shukri Conrad, head coach),” he said.
“It’s been really good, the way they’ve played and the way they’ve gone about things. Hopefully, I can just add 1%, 2%, [or] whatever it might be to help the team. “The guys have grown quite a bit.
They’ve played a lot. They’ve done really well. They’ve been successful.
Hopefully, I can just add on to that. I’m very, very keen to get going and be on the park, and try to do well for the country.” Nortje is not centrally contracted to CSA but has made himself available for the national side across formats. He has played in the domestic T20 competition for Dolphins, and is active in the SA20 as well as other leagues around the world.
South Africa will play a two-day intra-squad match starting on Sunday before whittling their 18-player squad down to 15. Nortje has a healthy chance of making the XI as the hosts have been ravaged by injuries to their fast bowlers ahead of the series. They will take a call on Kagiso Rabada, who has a hamstring concern, on Monday, while Lungi Ngidi, Kwena Mhaka and Ottneil Baartman have been ruled out of the series in advance due to injuries.
Having played his last Test in 2023, he’s eyeing a spot in SA’s side for upcoming three-Test series against Australia at home Anrich Nortje and his hair fade in, South Africa vs West Indies, 1st Test, Centurion, 2nd day, March 1, 2023 Having played his last Test in 2023, he’s eyeing a spot in SA’s side for upcoming three-Test series against Australia at home Having played his last Test in 2023, he’s eyeing a spot in SA’s side for upcoming three-Test series against Australia at home Anrich Nortje last played a Test in 2023 • AFP/ Labuschagne scores century in low-intensity Potchefstroom warm-up Paterson and the value of control in SA’s pace pack De Zorzi out of SA’s series opener against Aus Firdose Moonda is ‘s senior correspondent for Africa and women’s cricket
