On Saturday, South Africa dominated England to advance to the semi-finals, having bowled England out for just 179 and Afghanistan for 208 in the group stage. Kumble praised South Africa’s fast bowlers, noting their height and varied bowling styles, which create challenges for batters even on flat tracks. Marco Jansen was particularly impressive, taking three crucial wickets early and showcasing his fielding skills with three catches. Kumble described Jansen as a “complete package,” highlighting his maturity, improved batting, and ability to generate steep bounce, reinforcing South Africa’s confidence and bowling variety as they progress in the tournament.
“One positive aspect about South Africa is that all three of their fast bowlers who played today—Mulder, who operates in the middle periods, alongside the other two tall fast bowlers—bring unique qualities to the team. Each one is distinctly different,” Kumble stated on ESPNcricinfo’s Match Day show.
“The angles they present are quite varied. Rabada has a classical approach, while Ngidi poses a challenge with his unusual action, and Marco Jansen’s height gives him an added advantage. This diversity is exactly what you want in a one-day game. It adds a layer of variation.
“Even on a flat surface, it remains tough for batters to settle in because each of them presents a unique challenge. South Africa can be quite confident in having this kind of quality and variety as they move into the crucial stages of the tournament.”
Kumble: Jansen the ‘complete package for South Africa’
Jansen established a strong foundation in South Africa’s victory over England by taking out their top three batsmen within the first seven overs with his bounce. He also made three catches, including one from his own bowling.
“He is still quite young, although he has already played a considerable amount of cricket. He has definitely matured,” Kumble remarked. “I believe these three wickets [will bolster his confidence], and you can’t miss his athleticism in the field given all those catches.
“His batting has also seen significant improvement. He has been a valuable contributor with the bat for South Africa on numerous occasions. Thus, he truly is a complete package for South Africa, particularly at No. 7 or No. 8.
“With the ball, he can reverse it with the new ball. His height makes it difficult for batters to get under him,” he added. “We saw that with Phil Salt; the bounce was steep, and he struggled to cope with it. This variety in the bowling attack is something that South Africa possesses in abundance.”