THE 'OTHER' JANSEN NO MORE: DUAN'S PATIENCE PAYS HUGE DIVIDENDS

Being a cricketer and having Sunrisers Eastern Cape superstar Marco Jansen as a brother cannot be an easy thing, even more so when you are identical twins.

The comparisons are inevitable. Yet, Duan Jansen has been able to emerge from Marco’s larger-than-life shadow and is now starting to fulfill the promise that had everyone predicting at the beginning of their careers that he was indeed the more talented brother.

Although Duan started his Betway SA20 career at MI Cape Town in Seasons 1 and 2, it was not until Season 4, after a move to the Joburg Super Kings, that he flipped the switch.

Although initially signed as a replacement player, Jansen made an immediate impression with a match-winning haul of 4/23 to drive JSK to a first-ever win over the Pretoria Capitals at Centurion.

It was the beginning of a season that was arguably Duan’s best yet since becoming a professional cricketer.

The left-arm seamer was prolific in both domestic white-ball competitions.

He was the leading wicket-taker for the Titans in the CSA T20 Challenge, and went one better in the longer format by finishing joint-top of the overall table with 16 wickets at an average of 18.

Duan’s heroics played a major role in spearheading the Titans in the CSA 1-Day competition, where he also showed off his all-round skills by striking a match-winning, undefeated 61 in the final at The Wanderers.

Duan’s performances have not gone unnoticed, and he soon received an SOS to replace Australian international Liam Scott at Gloucester in England’s T20 Blast.

“We’re really pleased to announce the signing of Duan Jansen,” said Gloucester Director of Cricket Jon Lewis.

“He comes in as a direct replacement for Liam Scott, who has been called up by Australia for the first time. He offers a similar skill set as an all-rounder: someone who can take the new ball and bowl with good pace and bounce.

"He also has the ability to strike the ball through the back end of the innings, so he should be a really good fit for our squad, and we’re looking forward to him showing off his skills in all areas of the game.”

Duan has fitted in like a glove at Gloucester and immediately repaid the county’s faith in him with seven wickets in two matches, which included a debut haul of 4/25 against the Warwickshire Bears and 3/27 against Glamorgan.

He has formed a formidable new-ball partnership with former Proteas pacer Marchant de Lange, who was full of praise for his fellow South African.

“We had the tall Saffa bowling off a hard length, so very pleased for him,” De Lange said.