Marco Jansen’s Mighty Strike: India on the Ropes in Second Test

Marco Jansen, standing at 2.06 meters, is one of the tallest players in modern cricket, and daily activities must pose unique challenges for him. It’s hard to picture how he manages on economy flights. During Monday’s post-day media interaction for the second Test between India and South Africa, Jansen’s height-related “struggles” became evident.

The press conference room’s foldable mics couldn’t reach Jansen’s face, compelling him to bend awkwardly. This close proximity led him to accidentally knock the mics off while gesturing. Despite such inconveniences, Jansen’s height offers significant benefits on the cricket field, as India experienced again during the Guwahati Test.

On Sunday, Jansen delivered an impressive batting performance, striking his way to a dynamic 91-ball 93, taking India out of contention. On Monday, he shifted momentum with the ball, claiming six Indian wickets with a standout bowling display. His height facilitated an old-school short-ball tactic, with over a quarter of his 119 deliveries targeting short lengths, outperforming other pacers in this Test.

The Indian batsmen found it challenging to counter Jansen’s rising deliveries, managing just six runs off 30 balls and losing four wickets. Initially, Jansen and his bowling partner Wiaan Mulder focused on good-length deliveries, but the absence of lateral movement led them to make way for spinners after seven overs.

Jansen’s second spell was marked by a flurry of bouncers, a tactic devised on the spot rather than pre-planned, as he revealed later. “We decided to try it out since the ball wasn’t behaving as it did in Kolkata,” Jansen explained. Upon securing his first wicket with a bouncer, he and his team stuck with the successful strategy.

Jansen doesn’t think Indian batters are particularly vulnerable to short balls, recalling compatriot Nitish Kumar Reddy’s ability to powerfully hit short deliveries during the IPL. He attributed their challenges to the game situation, not a specific weakness against bouncers.

For Jansen, the confidence from his career-best Test innings on Sunday likely spilled over into his bowling on Monday. His height acts as an advantage, often converting good-length deliveries into hittable balls. Taking full advantage in Guwahati, Jansen hit seven sixes and six fours, summoning immense power to his innings. Afterwards, he said he needed to unwind and called his family to ease his adrenaline.

Walking in to bat at 334 for seven with fellow teammate Senuran Muthusamy, Jansen felt nervous despite the team’s favorable position. Muthusamy helped calm him, encouraging Jansen to breathe after his first few deliveries. Although Jansen fell short of a maiden Test hundred, bowled by Kuldeep Yadav, his innings left a mark.

This match has already been a milestone for Jansen, outperforming many in India as a pace-bowling all-rounder in a Test. Only Ian Botham, who famously scored 114 runs and captured 13 wickets in the 1980 Wankhede Test, surpassed Jansen’s performance. With two days remaining, Jansen has an opportunity to further challenge Botham’s record, proving himself far beyond the confines of a press conference.

Published on November 24, 2025.