Duan Jansen is preparing for a significant milestone in his career as he joins the South Africa squad for a triangular T20 tournament in Windhoek, starting this Friday. The competition, which also features the hosts and Zimbabwe, marks a long-awaited opportunity for the 15-minute older twin of Proteas star Marco Jansen to establish himself at the international level.
The brothers share striking physical similarities, both standing as tall, lean left-arm fast bowlers who have evolved into capable right-handed batters. However, their professional trajectories have diverged significantly. Marco made his Test debut against India at Centurion in December 2021 and has since accumulated 224 appearances, including 82 international matches across all formats. In contrast, Duan’s path has been more arduous, having played 103 matches since his brother’s Test debut without receiving a national call-up until now.
Reflecting on the challenges of his journey, Duan admitted that the early stages of his brother’s career were difficult due to intense media scrutiny and public questioning. He noted that his perspective shifted about four or five years ago, allowing him to focus on his own development. “I had to take my own route, and it changed how I play, how I approach training, how I see his games when I watch him,” Duan explained during a press conference on Wednesday. He added that their relationship has strengthened, and he now views Marco’s experience as a positive resource for understanding the Proteas environment.
Duan’s career nearly stalled during his time with North West between January 2019 and February 2025, a period hampered by two separate foot fractures. While he struggled for momentum, Marco was cementing his place in the national side, claiming three five-wicket hauls and scoring three half-centuries, including an 84 not out on debut. Duan credited his resilience to spiritual growth and the support of a family psychologist, which helped him maintain patience during the lean years.
Since moving to the Titans before the last season, Duan’s form has surged. He was named South Africa’s domestic one-day player of the season after scoring a match-winning 61 not out in the One-Day Cup final against the Lions in March. Furthermore, he recently returned from a stint with Gloucestershire, where he finished as the team’s leading bowler with 16 wickets in the T20 Blast.
Looking ahead, Duan expressed a desire to eventually play alongside his brother for South Africa, though he acknowledges the selection complexities. “One of our personal goals is to play together for the Proteas, but we know that’s not going to be easy,” he said. He emphasized that both players must focus on their individual roles to earn their spots, noting that he is ready to prove his worth on the international stage.
The squad also features Dewald Brevis, whose career has followed a vastly different path. Brevis gained international fame during the 2022 Under-19 World Cup in the Caribbean, where he scored 506 runs, breaking the record previously set by Shikhar Dhawan in 2004. Although South Africa did not win the tournament, Brevis’ 138 off 130 balls in the seventh-place play-off against Bangladesh highlighted his immense potential.
Now 23, Brevis is working to translate his early promise into consistent senior-level success. While he delivered a standout performance with an unbeaten 125 off 56 balls against Australia in a T20I in Darwin last August, his record includes two Test 50s in six innings and one half-century in each format across his other 36 white-ball international appearances.
Addressing his high-profile career, Brevis expressed gratitude for his position. “I believe God placed me in this position; to be out there to play this game,” he stated on Wednesday. “All of it has been a blessing and an honour and I enjoy every moment of it.”
As the triangular series begins, the spotlight remains on these players as they look to define their own legacies. While comparisons to established stars like Marco Jansen or the early hype surrounding Brevis are inevitable, Duan remains focused on the immediate goal of proving he belongs in the South African setup. The report also notes that one of London’s poshest areas, on a golden July evening last year stood someone who looked a lot like Marco Jansen, alongside Marco Jansen in the green and glorious garden of the South African High Commissioner’s residence in Kensington. The report also notes that in fact, they were almost identical. The report also notes that they looked at the same world with the same serious eyes from under swatches of the same dark brown hair. The report also notes that convention says that shouldn’t happen to older brothers; Duan is the elder by 15 minutes. The report also notes that then again, Marco is taller by five centimetres. The report also notes that but that didn’t stop Duan from trying to make it make sense. The report also notes that “Our relationship has got better and stronger. The report also notes that especially with one of your family members.Once that happened I reaped the rewards.”, that’s a great thing to have.
