The Jansen twins are in the same Proteas ODI squad for the first time, and any match they play together against Australia will be a first for South African cricket. Marco and Duan Jansen, both 26 and both 2.03m left-arm quicks, have been named for the three-match series that starts at Kingsmead on Thursday, with the third ODI at the JB Marks Oval in Potchefstroom on 30 September.
Duan’s debut in Namibia last month already made them, in The Citizen’s words, “the first twin siblings to have represented the Proteas”. They have never played in the same South African XI, and IOL reports they have shared a field only twice in senior professional cricket, both times in their North West days.
Duan’s place came through injury. Ottneil Baartman pulled up with a left hamstring problem playing for the Dolphins against the Titans, bowling five overs before leaving the field, and Duan was named as his replacement.
Baartman is one of a long list. Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi are also out with hamstring injuries, Nandré Burger has a back complaint, and on Wednesday Kwena Maphaka became the fourth fast bowler withdrawn from the series. Lizaad Williams and Nqobani Mokoena have also been called in.
That leaves Marco Jansen at the head of the attack, alongside Gerald Coetzee and Corbin Bosch. It is a return home for him too, with IOL noting that his last ODI on South African soil was against Pakistan in December 2024.
He spoke to The Citizen about what leading a young attack asks of him.
Marco Jansen, Proteas all-rounder
“When things go sideways or when things are tough, especially in the field, you have to have a way of calming things down.”
Why Potchefstroom Matters To The Jansen Twins
The brothers were born in Klerksdorp and went to school at Potchefstroom Gimnasium before both starting their professional careers with North West.
The fixture list has handed them a third ODI at the ground they know best, a day-night game at the JB Marks Oval. Marco did not hide what that would mean.
Marco Jansen, Proteas all-rounder
“To play any game for the Proteas together would be special. But I think if it were to happen in Potch, that’ll be even more special. We grew up near Potch and obviously went to high school in Potch. If it pans out like that, it’ll be awesome.”
There is a bigger history in play too. The Herald notes that if both make the same starting XI, the Jansen twins would join Steve and Mark Waugh and Hamish and James Marshall on the short men’s list of twins to share an international field.
Marco is the established half of the pair. He made his Test debut against India in December 2021 and has since played 83 internationals across all three formats.
His Test numbers read 89 wickets in 21 matches at 21.12, including 7 for 13 against Sri Lanka at Kingsmead in November 2024, when Sri Lanka were bowled out for 42, their lowest Test total. In ODIs he has 49 wickets from 32 matches.
Duan’s Long Road
Of the two, Duan’s path was the slower one. He made his first-class debut for North West in January 2019, but his career stalled there. He moved to the Titans at the start of the 2025/26 season, and has since called the switch a 180-degree turn in a positive direction.
Duan Jansen, Titans and Proteas all-rounder
“Moving from the North West to the Titans was a big move. It’s a massive franchise in South Africa so you obviously want to stand out.”
He told The Herald the years before that move were the hardest of his career.
Duan Jansen, Titans and Proteas all-rounder
“It didn’t feel like I was improving even though I was putting in the hard work, working five hours a day sometimes.”
In April he made an unbeaten 61 to win the One-Day Cup final for the Titans against the Lions, was named player of the match, and finished as the competition’s player of the season. A T20 Blast stint with Gloucestershire followed.
The Proteas call came for the Namibia tour. Duan made his T20I debut against Namibia in Windhoek on 28 August, then took 4 for 31 from nine overs in the second ODI as South Africa won by 157 runs to seal the series. That left him with five wickets at 8.80 from his first two ODIs.
Proteas head coach Shukri Conrad singled out the One-Day Cup final when explaining the selection to The Citizen.
Shukri Conrad, Proteas head coach
“The one thing that stood out for me was watching that final against the Lions, and how he managed quite a tricky period with the bat especially.”
Shukri Conrad, Proteas head coach
“If Duan can do half of some of the things his twin brother has done, then I think he will be a wonderful addition to our squad.”
What The Jansen Twins Need Now
A place in the squad is not a place in the XI, and they know it. Duan told ESPNcricinfo they are realistic about how it may play out.
Duan Jansen, Titans and Proteas all-rounder
“One of our personal goals is to play together for the Proteas but we know it’s not going to be that easy. If it means we have to come in and out for each other or be on tour together and one sits out and the other one plays, that’s fine.”
The XI for Kingsmead has not been named, and Temba Bavuma has hinted at leaning on spinners Keshav Maharaj and Bjorn Fortuin.
Temba Bavuma, Proteas captain
“We’ll finalise our team, see what’s the best XI that we can put forth considering the conditions.”
The injury list has still shortened the odds for both brothers. Kingsmead on Thursday and the Wanderers on Sunday will show where Duan sits in the pecking order, and a strong showing from either brother makes the JB Marks Oval selection harder to ignore.
For the Jansen twins, one shared appearance in this series makes Proteas history, and Potchefstroom would be the place to do it, a short drive from where it all started.
