Young Dian Forrester is excited ahead of his maiden Proteas T20 call-up.
Image: Sportzpics
Three seasons ago Dian Forrester was still plying his trade in CSA’s Division 2. Now, after enjoying a stellar maiden Betway SA20 season, the allrounder is on the verge of making his T20 international debut for the Proteas.
It’s been a whirlwind ride for the 25-year-old, which is why when the call came from national convenor of selectors Pat Moroney, he was stunned into silence.
“I was at my parents' house. We had played a four-day game in Paarl, and we flew back the next day. So, my parents picked me up, and I'm sitting in the lounge when I see Patrick Moroney phoning me,” said Forrester, who is one four uncapped Proteas heading to New Zealand.
“Ran to my room. Pick up the phone call. He tells me. I walk out. And I was a bit sick that day. My mum and my dad and my brother are standing in the kitchen. I'm like, ‘Yo, guys, I just had a bit of news. I got picked for the squad.
“And they're like, why are you saying it so nonchalantly? You just got picked for the Proteas team. So, yes, that was amazing. It was so nice that I could have my family with me and chat to them about it.”
Forrester has been a promising youngster since his schooldays at Affies, but his stocks rose spectacularly whilst playing for Joburg Super Kings in recent SA20. In a team beset with injuries to senior batters such as captain Faf du Plessis and Rilee Rossouw, the responsibility fell on Forrester's young shoulders to get the Super Kings up to competitive totals.
He responded with 175 runs at an average of 58.33, strike-rate of 165.09, with a best of an unbeaten 80, to drive JSK into the playoffs.
It was the experience of a lifetime, and Forrester believes playing in front of packed crowds at the Wanderers each and every game has readied him for the pressures of international cricket.
“The crowds were amazing. When you're fielding, you actually feel it. Because you always look around. You absorb the crowd,” he said.
“When you're batting, you're so in the zone. You actually don't even notice the crowd. But it definitely does help to prepare you for the next step.
“Because all of a sudden, international cricket is going to be packed stadiums. More pressure. So, it definitely does help to know, okay, you've played in front of a packed stadium before.”
Proteas coach Shukri Conrad has indicated that he would like to see more of Forrester's second skill - bowling - during the New Zealand series. Despite having bowled just one over throughout the entire SA20, Forrester is keen to take on the challenge. Yes, I love bowling. I've always said it in every single interview, in every person.
“I think I'm a genuine all-rounder and I'm always going to strive to be a genuine all-rounder. I think my bowling will pick up. And hopefully, if you look at our team this year, we had gun bowlers.
“Every single person who was bowling was great. So it was tough to make the starting six bowlers. So, my time will come.
“I'm just trying to stay patient behind the scenes, making sure my skills are up to date. But in terms of Shuks wanting me to bowl more, I'm excited to bowl because I train in the nets for it. I make sure I'm always ready.
“I don't think I'm one of those all-rounders that it's fine, I'm happy to bat and maybe bowl two hours. After a game, if I don't bowl, that was a long 50 overs, that was a long T20.
“Always want to be part of the game, always want to make an impact. That's why you're all-rounder, because then you can bat and you can bowl.”