Yorkshire CCC star Duanne Olivier set for South Africa return this winter

DUANNE OLIVIER is hoping to play domestic cricket in his native South Africa this winter in a bid to hit the ground running at Yorkshire next summer.
Yorkshire's Duanne Olivier. Picture: SWpix.comYorkshire's Duanne Olivier. Picture: SWpix.com
Yorkshire's Duanne Olivier. Picture: SWpix.com

The pace bowler is aiming to get some games under his belt after Christmas to ensure that he is in tip-top condition to help spearhead the county’s attack.

Olivier, 28, had little preparation going into this summer; he spent lockdown in South Africa bowling at a duvet pinned up in his back garden, and then he had to quarantine on returning to England, causing him to miss the opening match in the Bob Willis Trophy.

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His performances, however, were mostly encouraging; Olivier took 15 wickets in the Bob Willis Trophy/T20 Blast combined and there was a sense of a player learning to adapt to English conditions – specifically the requirement to bowl a fuller length than perhaps was the case during his first season at Yorkshire in 2019.

“To be honest, I learned a lot from last year,” said Olivier.

“I was pleased with my performance this season overall, and I just tried to keep things as simple as possible, whereas last year I got into a bit of a panic.

“Although lockdown in South Africa was quite strict, and it would have been ideal if I’d had a bit more preparation, I felt more relaxed this year and just tried to keep things as simple as possible.

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“It’s getting there – it’s a work in progress – and I’m now going to try and play domestic cricket back home as preparation for the next English season.”

Olivier will start that season as an overseas player having initially joined Yorkshire on a three-year Kolpak contract in early 2019.

The shift in status from Kolpak to overseas for the final year of his deal is because Kolpaks are no longer eligible when the UK’s transition period with the European Union finishes on December 31.

Olivier will be Yorkshire’s only red-ball overseas player in 2021, although the club is keeping its options open regarding overseas representation in the T20 Blast.

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All player contract discussions for 2022 onwards, however, are on hold due to the prevailing financial uncertainty caused by Covid-19.

“I’m looking forward to next season,” added Olivier. “It was really good this year to see young lads come in and cope under pressure, which is something you always want to see as a club.

“In two-to-three years’ time, they might be the main guys, and they will understand their games a lot better and know what to expect.

“What I like about our team is that it’s not just one or two people contributing, it’s the whole team.”

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Yorkshire believe that there is more to come from Olivier and that he can build on his efforts in a truncated season.

Martyn Moxon, the club’s director of cricket, felt that it was tough for him this year due to that lack of preparation going into the summer.

“I think Duanne got better the more he played this year,” said Moxon.

“It was difficult for him because he didn’t have access to too much practice whilst he was in lockdown in South Africa, then he had to quarantine for a couple of weeks when he got over here, and he was a little bit undercooked going into the season, to be honest.

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“But the more he played, I think the better he got, and I think we still have to see the best of him in English conditions and that there’s still more to come.”

A bowler of genuine pace, Olivier gave up international cricket to join Yorkshire after taking 48 wickets in just 10 Tests.

Last year, he sometimes struggled to combine that pace with accuracy, particularly on pitches that demanded a fuller line and length.

“Duanne has been working on bowling a fuller length this year,” added Moxon.

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“At the same time, there’s a fine line between bowling a full length and not floating the ball up there, so to speak.

“We still want him to maintain his pace, but at the same time bowl that slightly fuller length. That’s what he’s working on and adapting to.”

England and Kent batsman Zak Crawley could scoop a rare double at this weekend’s annual Professional Cricketers’ Association awards after being shortlisted for both headline honours.

Crawley has been nominated for both player and young player of the year following a breakthrough summer in which he registered 267 against Pakistan.

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He is up for the main award alongside Craig Overton, Simon Harmer and Chris Woakes.

Will Jacks and Tom Lammonby are in the running for the young player prize, while Heather Knight, Nat Sciver and Sarah Glenn are the women’s nominees.

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Thank you

James Mitchinson

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