Parnell 2.0 ready for Proteas return

Wayne Parnell. Photo: Ryan Wilkisky

Wayne Parnell. Photo: Ryan Wilkisky

Published May 9, 2016

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Cape Town - Having enjoyed the luxuries of being an international cricketer since he was a teenager, starting back in 2009, Wayne Parnell has had to go back to the trenches of domestic cricket this past season.

Instead of staying in luxury five-star hotels in exotic locations such as Dubai and Mumbai as he was accustomed to with the Proteas, Parnell has had to be content with “B&B’s” in Paarl while playing for the Cape Cobras in first-class cricket. But that is all about to change again with the 26-year-old all-rounder being recalled to the Proteas ODI squad for the tri-series, which includes hosts West Indies and world champions Australia, in the Caribbean next month.

“(Laughs) Yeah … it has been a hard slog, but it’s been really good playing a whole season of domestic cricket. It was nice to get on a roll, get some continuity in my game, which allowed me to put a peg down,” Parnell told Independent Media .

“I put in a lot of miles this season. Played lots of first-class cricket, in addition to the limited-overs formats, and that gave me plenty of time to work on few things. The goal was to get fit and really focus on staying out on the park. It’s obviously rewarding to be back in the national squad after all the hard work.”

Parnell, along with new cap Titans Tabraiz Shamzi, were included for the Caribbean tri-series at the expense of Marchant de Lange, David Miller and David Wiese who all played in the last series against England.

“Wayne has the ability to become a quality all-rounder for us and, like Tabraiz, he is being rewarded for outstanding domestic form,” Proteas convenor of selectors Linda Zondi said.

There is little doubt that Parnell deserves his return to the national set-up. The ODI call-up could also be the beginning of restoration of an international career across all formats, especially considering his form with both bat and ball in the latter half of the Sunfoil Series.

Parnell finished ninth on the overall averages with 337 runs at an average of 48.14 including an unbeaten century and claimed 23 wickets at 20.56, which included one 10-wicket haul and three five-wicket hauls to finish the series’ leading all-rounder. Equally, he was sensational with the bat after being promoted to the open the batting for the Cobras in the RamSlam T20 competition, where he struck a career-best 99 against the Highveld Lions at the Wanderers.

“I won’t say I’ve changed anything in particular. There’s nothing majorly different. I’m just more focused on channelling things in the right direction,” Parnell said.

“I do know that the easy part is getting into the national team. The hard part is staying there and putting in consistent performances to continue to be selected. That’s my aim. I want to be consistent regular performer for the national side.”

Proteas ODI squad: AB de Villiers (capt), Kyle Abbott, Hashim Amla, Farhaan Behardien, Quinton de Kock, JP Duminy, Faf du Plessis, Imran Tahir, Morne Morkel, Chris Morris, Wayne Parnell, Aaron Phangiso, Kagiso Rabada, Rilee Rossouw, Tabraiz Shamsi.

Independent Media

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