Rassie van der Dussen has voiced his frustration over being played out of his preferred top-three batting position in recent T20Is and ODIs, despite his strong track record and belief in his role within the South African cricket team. Picture: Ryan Wilkisky/BackpagePix
Image: BackpagePix
Rassie van der Dussen last played for South Africa in August last year, and at 37 it’s quite likely he’s already played his final match for his country.
Since making his Proteas debut relatively late in his career in 2018, Van der Dussen has gone on to play 18 Tests, 71 ODIs and 57 T20Is.
As a top-order batsman throughout his career, Van der Dussen firmly believes his position is in the top three.
However, in the last T20I series he played for South Africa against hosts Australia seven months ago, he batted at six in the two matches he played in the three-match contest.
In my situation, in the last handful of T20Is (that I played), I don't feel that I've been played in my position in the national side. I'm based in the top three. I think everyone knows that," Van der Dussen told SportsBoom.co.za.
"In Zim, for example, I opened the batting, which was fine, and then batted four one game, and then batted five one game. In Australia, I batted six in one game. So, that was frustrating. I'm always a team-first guy, so I didn't mind playing those roles at all. But it is frustrating.
"I'm not sitting here complaining or anything. It is what it is. Sometimes a coach is going to back certain guys, and a selector is going to back certain guys and not pick some guys, and that's fine. That's how cricket works.”
Van was a fixture in the Proteas batting order especially in ODIs, as he still averages over 50 with six centuries and 17 50s. With his last ODI appearance a year ago now, it appears that the SA selectors have moved on.