Two years ago Kyle Abbott sent a shock wave among the South African cricket followers by signing a kolpak deal. However South Africa were lucky that another talented bowler from Groblersdal have been knocking the door for quite some time. The decision proved a correct one as Duanne Olivier seemed to have form the core group of fast bowlers who will take South Africa into next generation
At school Duanne Olivier never dreamt to be cricketer all he wanted was to play rugby. While in 10th grade at Centurion High School he suffered injury which forced him to give up rugby and focus on cricket. It was here he decided to make a career in cricket; the early days though were not easy ones. In December 2010, aged only 19 he was offered a deal by Knights Franchise to study and play there after the franchise saw his impressive performance for northerns. The knights though comprised of some fine players and it was hard for him to find regular place. During it he decided to focus on his education where he switched from accounts to business management.
In March 2011 Olivier made his first class debut against Free State and in few months’ time he got his first big break as he was selected for U-19 team for England tour. In 2014-15 he picked up only 11 wickets at 45.09,it showed he needed to work a lot on his game and here he credits Nicky Boje to help him set goals and work hard to achieve them. He also worked with Allan Donald, the great fast bowler who helped him remove certain shortcomings in his game. The result was immediately evident in the next season when he picked 41 wickets in 7 matches at a stunning average of 16.07. At Bloemfontein on a spicy surface he sliced up the Titan’s batting comprising Farhan Behardein and Theunis De Bruyn, It was his Eight wickets in the match that helped Knights winning the match in spite being shot out for only 76 in the first innings .Olivier ended up the season as second highest wicket taker .
By 2016-17 Olivier’s stocks in South African cricket were on rise , he took a step further and took 52 wickets in the season and ended up being no.1 bowler in South African circuit. His performance against the Titans 9- 90 (6-60 and 3-30) and then another nine wicket haul against Lions were enough for him to be the first preference for convener of selectors Linda Zondi who called him to inform for his selection against touring Sri Lanka at Johannesburg. While Olivier had always dreamt to play for South Africa since the day he started playing cricket the call came a bit early for him in his words “"I was quite shocked. I always wanted to play for my country but I didn't expect it so soon”
On his test debut Oliver picked 5 wickets and impressed everyone with the pace. However with an impressive pace battery in line Olivier could play only 5 tests in nearly 23 months since his debut and he could have missed the entire series against Pakistan had Vernon Philander been fit for the first test but that is the kind of luck one needs playing for a top rank team like South Africa. He picked his first wicket haul at centurion and then followed up with another piece of hostile spell of 5-59 in the second innings .His match haul of 11-96 forced the selectors top drop spinner Keshav Maharaj for the second test when Philander returned at Cape town. Olivier justified team management’s confidence in him with 4-48 in first innings. At Johannesburg he picked up another 5 for and ended with match figure of 8-126 ultimately breaking the backbone of Pakistani batting line up. In the whole series Pakistani batsmen just couldn’t find the way to tackle him as he ended up with 24 wickets at 14 and was rightly the man of the series.
Oliver has picked 41 wickets in 8 tests at a remarkable average of 18.19 .However the next big challenge which Olivier faces is to perform consistently at international level and above all to succeed in all conditions. It will be a big test for him to adapt in the subcontinental conditions. However for now he can boast in the victory and memorable performance which seem to have given South Africa its generation next flagbearer of its proud tradition.
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