Dane Paterson has not given up hope of returning to the Proteas side for a busy summer of Test cricket ahead.
Paterson, 37, played an integral role in the last WTC cycle, claiming consecutive five-fors against Sri Lanka and Pakistan at St George’s Park and Centurion respectively at the end of 2024 to help secure the Proteas their place in the final at Lord’s.
Surprisingly, they were also Paterson’s last two Tests, with the veteran being overlooked by coach Shukri Conrad since.
But Paterson feels he still has plenty to offer the Proteas, especially with the national team suffering a spate of injuries recently with Kagiso Rabada suffering a hamstring strain and Nandre Burger struggling with a long-term stress fracture.
“I don’t know why everybody thinks I’m done playing. When people stop me at the shop to ask, the first question they ask me is, ‘Am I still playing cricket?’ So no, I haven’t retired. I’m still playing and obviously still available,” he exclusively told IOL Sport.
“Body’s feeling good. It’s the first time in five years that I actually had like a proper offseason, like strength-wise and stuff. So yeah, I’m feeling quite good, feeling refreshed.”
Paterson has also been keeping a close eye on the global Test circuit where bowlers similar to him, like England’s Ollie Robinson and Pakistan’s Mohammad Abbas, have enjoyed plenty of success with the wicket-keeper standing up to the stumps.
He feels he can perform a similar role with Proteas keeper Kyle Verreynne.
“I’m going to tell him (Verreynne) I’m going to send it back. No, I’m just joking,” Paterson said.
“Well, obviously, you look at the trend that’s happening. I think they also started the trend with Ollie Robinson against Pakistan. But I think you need the right bowler for it to work.
“So as you can see, that’s why Mohammad Abbas is also so successful now. So yeah, I could be the right bowler for it.”
Paterson will have an early opportunity to lay claim to a return to the Proteas squad when he takes the new ball for Western Province Cobras in the opening first-class fixture of the season against the Warriors at Newlands on Thursday.
