Morris on Betway SA20's role in Jansen and Bosch’s Proteas call-ups 

August has been a good month for Duan Jansen and Eathan Bosch. Not only were the two young all-rounders retained by the Joburg Super Kings and Durban’s Super Giants, respectively, for Betway SA20 Season 5, but they have also earned call-ups to the Proteas white-ball squad for the upcoming tour to Namibia.

It’s the first time Duan Jansen - twin brother of Sunrisers Eastern Cape and Proteas superstar Marco - has received national recognition, while Bosch gets another crack after being ruled out of the tour to New Zealand earlier this year due to a hamstring injury.

The elevation of Jansen and Bosch is a continuation of the all-rounder pipeline that Betway SA20 has cultivated, coming after JSK’s rising star Dian Forrester also debuted for the Proteas against the Black Caps following strong performances in Season 4.

Former Proteas all-rounder Chris Morris certainly believes Betway SA20 has played a major role in the development of these young South African all-rounders.

WATCH NOW: Best of Duan Jansen during Season 4

"It's nice to see the engine room getting some recognition, the all-rounders of every team," Morris told a media roundtable.

"Look, I think it's [SA20] an unbelievable platform for young players. As I keep mentioning, we unearth young players every single season that we've got coming through the domestic system. And if it wasn't for SA20, they wouldn't really be seen as much as they would have in the past."

For Morris, the common thread between the call-ups is not a single standout performance but a body of work.

"Consistent performances, for me, are the ones that stand out," he said. "I mean, you've got your all-rounders that are changing games every single game. And the reality is, as an all-rounder, you've got to be able to change a game in all three, whether it's bat, ball, or field."

That's precisely what the league is designed to test, he argued - not just skill, but skill under the glare of the biggest possible stage.

"The platform that is laid by SA20 on the big stage against quality players - you look at the bowlers, the all-rounders, they're bowling against international superstars," Morris said.

"And if you can handle yourself against them in the pressure moments, the selectors will take a step back and they'll have a look at you. Because the reality is, consistency is key when it comes to this game. When you consistently perform on the biggest stage, that's when you really get your recognition and get your call-ups."

He pointed to the specific layout of SA20 - the crowds, the pressure, the standard of opposition - as the closest domestic bridge to the international game.

"When you are playing in a league like the SA20, it's the closest you're going to get to international cricket, apart from actually playing, in terms of the crowd and the pressures that are there," Morris said.

"So it's a great platform for youngsters. And guys can take a lot of confidence out of them when they perform well in the SA20, because they know they're getting one step closer to international cricket."

Turning to Duan Jansen specifically, Morris pointed to the beanpole left-arm bowler having settled in at JSK after a couple of seasons at MI Cape Town earlier in his career.

“What he has found is consistency. He's come into a big franchise and he's made a big statement. He was with MI Cape Town the first couple of seasons. But last season, he got a run with JSK and performed really, really well. He was one of the highest wicket-takers for them,” he said.

Morris is particularly excited about the prospect of seeing the Jansen twins - Duan and Marco - possibly bowling in tandem for the Proteas in the future.

"The scary thing is, imagine you've got two Jansens bowling from either side. It must be unbelievably terrifying, because they're the same height, they bowl at a very similar pace, and they've got a very similar skill," he added.

"So, exciting times, I think, for the whole of South Africa if those young all-rounders can keep coming through the system. It's a great sign for the depth of South African cricket."

Full Proteas Men's Squad Namibia White-Ball Tour

Bjorn Fortuin (Paarl Royals, captain), Eathan Bosch (Durban’s Super Giants), Dewald Brevis (Pretoria Capitals), Tony de Zorzi (Durban’s Super Giants), Connor Esterhuizen (Pretoria Capitals), Jordan Hermann (Sunrisers Eastern Cape), Rubin Hermann (Paarl Royals), Duan Jansen (Joburg Super Kings), Kwena Maphaka (Durban’s Super Giants), Nqobani Mokoena (Paarl Royals), Nqaba Peter, Lhuan-dré Pretorius (Paarl Royals), Lutho Sipamla (Sunrisers Eastern Cape), Jason Smith (MI Cape Town), and Prenelan Subrayen (Joburg Super Kings)