Rilee Rossouw is thriving under pressure while mentoring the Joburg Super Kings’ next generation in this season’s SA20.
Rossouw has notched up a few records throughout his career. He still has the highest score (182) at the Khaya Majola Week set 20 years ago. He is the only Proteas player to make a century at the T20 World Cup.
And now he has become the first player to hit the winning runs in a SA20 Super Over when he clubbed two boundaries off Durban’s Super Giants’ Noor Ahmad to take the Joburg Super Kings over the line at a heaving Wanderers on New Year’s Day.
It certainly was a show of faith by the JSK management team in Rossouw’s ball-striking abilities considering the southpaw had been dismissed for a duck earlier in the regular innings.
It would not have been an easy call to make, considering the likes of captain Faf du Plessis, US international Shubham Ranjane and Donovan Ferreira were striking the ball sweetly on the night, but the confidence stemmed from the fact that Rossouw relishes the crunch moments.
“I enjoy the atmosphere at the Wanderers,” Rossouw said. “The noise … a lot of people get flustered about it, but it’s just something that brings out that extra element out of my game which is great to have. I enjoy the high-pressure stakes situation.”
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It is this full-throttle approach to the game that Rossouw is hoping he can impart on the young JSK batsmen such as Matthew de Villiers and Steve Stolk.
“Looking back at it now, there weren’t always the best experienced guys you could look up to. So, I always said to myself, I want to be one of those players youngsters could look up to,” the 36-year-old said.
“I am just going to be myself. I can give advice, but I still believe at the end of the day you are your best coach. You decide what you want to take in.
“I can only give them my experiences, what I have done in my career. It might not necessarily work for a Stevie, he is a young guy and has a lot of potential. All of them in fact. These youngsters are playing some serious shots.”
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Rossouw has certainly made a major impact at the Wanderers since crossing the Jukskei River from the Pretoria Capitals. He is currently the leading run-scorer for JSK, which has helped propel the them to the top of the SA20 table as they remain the only unbeaten team in the competition.
His contributions were invaluable in both the earlier victories over the Capitals and Durban’s Super Giants, but he admits he is still targeting the really big one, which he had hoped would come when JSK faced the Sunrisers at the Wanderers on Saturday. However, the match was abandoned due to lightning without a ball being bowled.
“Yeah, I am in good form. But obviously I want to make more than 40s. I’ve got to be better,” Rossouw said.
“It’s all about remaining positive. Not getting stuck in your shell. If there is a bad ball, try and score off it. It’s all about being positive.”
Photo: Arjun Singh/Sportzpics
