“It’s been quite a bit of a focus for me to try and execute skills with the red ball, to build loads gradually – and in the right way – and to try and get the overs up. It’s something that I’ve been doing for quite some time, whether it’s on my own or whatever it might be. There’s been quite some effort put in to try and upskill again, and improve from where I left off. There were one or two things that were lacking that I wanted to improve.”
Nortje has the advantage of working with national bowling coach Piet Botha, as they are based in the same part of the country, Gqeberha. Together, they’ve looked at a plan to get Nortje ready for a Test return after a lengthy absence.
“He’s always been a good reference,” Nortje said. “There’s a lot of things recently that I’ve done on my own as well. I’ve never recorded myself as much.
“I had to see where I can improve action-wise and skills-wise, and there’s been a good amount of chat with coach Piet. The stuff that I’ve been working on myself as well has been [on] alignments, [and] trying to get the action better, stronger, more sustainable and more reliable. And then I’ve been sending it through to coach Piet and seeing if it all checks out.”
With a history of serious issues, including stress fractures of the back, Nortje has had to be extra cautious about his action. Though chest-on and repeatable, his injuries are thought to come from the pace at which he bowls, often in excess of 145kph, which means the amount of explosive power he generates is high, and the impact on his body is extreme. That has meant Nortje’s career trajectory has resulted in him bowling less while he has operated as a T20 specialist for much of the last three years.
“It was a tough series. I enjoyed the series, and learned a lot from it, but we wanted to get them in South Africa and do well. That’s what’s in my head.”
Anrich Nortje on the Australia tour in 2022-23
“You don’t think of the tough times in T20 cricket. You just think about executing skills there, where in Tests, you think about the tough times, the good times, the hard work and think that gets you through some sessions,” he said. “I’ll be very excited if I can put my Test cap on again. Growing up, it’s the format you want to play. It’s the motivation when you train.”
There’s also the added attraction of the profile of the opposition – Australia, against whom South Africa have had some of their toughest series.
“There’s just that little bit of extra X-factor that comes out or fire that comes out, and energy that comes out,” Nortje said. “Guys want to do well, and everyone wants to perform. It is a big series.”
“Personally, we always said we want to try and rectify things when we get them back home,” he said. “It was a tough series. I enjoyed the series, and learned a lot from it, but we wanted to get them in South Africa and do well. That’s what’s in my head.”
“The way the team’s progressed over the last few years has been amazing under coach Shuks (Shukri Conrad, head coach),” he said. “It’s been really good, the way they’ve played and the way they’ve gone about things. Hopefully, I can just add 1%, 2%, [or] whatever it might be to help the team.
“The guys have grown quite a bit. They’ve played a lot. They’ve done really well. They’ve been successful. Hopefully, I can just add on to that. I’m very, very keen to get going and be on the park, and try to do well for the country.”
Nortje is not centrally contracted to CSA but has made himself available for the national side across formats. He has played in the domestic T20 competition for Dolphins, and is active in the SA20 as well as other leagues around the world.
South Africa will play a two-day intra-squad match starting on Sunday before whittling their 18-player squad down to 15. Nortje has a healthy chance of making the XI as the hosts have been ravaged by injuries to their fast bowlers ahead of the series. They will take a call on Kagiso Rabada, who has a hamstring concern, on Monday, while Lungi Ngidi, Kwena Maphaka and Ottneil Baartman have been ruled out of the series in advance due to injuries.
Firdose Moonda is Cricinfo’s senior correspondent for Africa and women’s cricket
