Wayne Parnell is one of those cricketers that streets will certainly not forget. He has been a part of the golden era of the South African cricket team that included the likes of Greame Smith, Hashim Amla, Jacques Kallis, AB de Villiers, Dale Steyn, and Morne Morkel. Although the side did not win any of the ICC trophies during this period, the Proteas attack which Parnell was a part of was certainly the most feared opposition around the world in the international arena.
However, Parnell too had panic attacks when he would bowl to the legendary Indian batter Virender Sehwag. During our exclusive interaction with Parnell, which was filled with a fun, engaging conversation, the former cricketer opened up on his best moments, the experiences from the IPL, and his future aspirations after having left the sport professionally.
Excerpts
You captained South Africa in the 2008 U-19 World Cup and finished as the leading wicket-taker. How did that tournament change your expectations of yourself and others’ expectations of you?
I think it was more of expectations from others. For myself, I just want to have fun playing cricket. I have no expectations, really. After coming back from that World Cup, the next 12 months, my life changed a lot. The following January, I got picked for the Proteas. I was more about playing and just having fun.
As a left-arm seamer, your angle is a real weapon. How have you evolved your seam and swing over the years to stay more relevant across formats?
Initially, obviously swing was a big part of my game. And then I kind of lost a little bit. More along sort of lines of coaching styles at that time, I was trying to find consistency, I kind of lost my real strength early on. Over time, I really adapted to getting my swing back and still be relevant across formats and playing across different surfaces around the world, which was really important. When you play in India and back in SA, you’ve to bowl differently. When you go and play in the UK, you’ve got to bowl differently. I’ve been lucky enough to come across the bunch of players who were really helpful in sharing knowledge, and it’s up to the player to find out what really works out for them.
You’ve played against India multiple times — which Indian batter has challenged you the most?Â
I think the answer everyone probably looking for is Virat Kohli, but for me when I started playing, Virender Sehwag gave me many headaches and also Sachin Tendulkar as well when he scored that 200, he made batting look very, very easy. He was very skilful as well. Sehwag used to hit a lot of boundaries whereas Tendulkar will manipulate the field, he will hit at a certain space, we try to cover that place, and he moves across and hits to some other place. He was really, really smart the way he played. Those two probably gave a lot of sleepless nights early on when we played against India. Also, bowling to someone like MS Dhoni in death, it was very, very difficult.Â
Have you ever had a memorable conversation or tip from an Indian cricketer that stayed with you?
I’ve had a lot of good conversations with a lot of guys. But, one thing that really stands out for me was with Ashish Nehra. I grew up admiring him, a fellow left-arm seamer. I was lucky enough to play alongside him one season at Pune Warriors India. I remember having a conversation upstairs at Pune stadium while eating dinner. I think it was along the lines of understanding your role within a particular team and how to set up a team. That’s something I have taken up across the world wherever I played. And also to stick to what you’re known for. Obviously, for me, as a left-arm seamer, it was to swing the ball, which I lost a little bit. It feels like a one-touch move, kind of tapping back into something I’ve had success. That was a wonderful conversation and that is something I will pass on to my fellow cricketers and also youngsters coming up is to understand what your strengths are and really tap into it, which makes you different.
Who do you think is going to be the next big thing in South African Cricket (all-formats, probably), and what’s one message you’d give to the next generation of South African fast-bowling all-rounders?
Looking at the current team, someone like Marco Jansen has done really well. The other three names are Kwena Maphaka, he’s got potential to do well over next 15 years. Lhuan-dre Pretorius, similarly across formats as well and Dewald Brevis as well. I think those four guys I mentioned are the guys I probably would be looking at for the next decade to build teams around from the South African point of view. I am just making sure that these guys are really looked after.
Do you have plans for coaching, commentary, or cricket administration after your playing days?
I’ve done some commentary stints previously, which I really enjoyed, sharing some insights and trying to make viewers understand the different side of cricket. Coaching, if you had asked me two years ago, I would’ve said no. But towards the back end of my career, I found out that I mentored a lot of guys and that’s something I enjoyed a lot. Coaching is something I would like to take up, but I am not sure when that would be, especially in the shortest format. It would be selfish to keep all that knowledge with myself. Over the years, I am lucky enough to play with and against lot of players in te shortest format. I am a very curious person and I ask a lot of questions. Hopefully I can share my knowledge with the upcoming generations.
If you had the chance to use a time machine, what is the one thing you would change from your cricketing career?
I went through a period in my career where I wasn’t having fun. I was just playing, going into the next game and next series. If I could go back, I would really change that. I reckon in the last 7-8 years, I had a lot of fun. It shows as well on the field. If I could go back, I would remind myself to just keep having fun.
Is that the celebration after the WCL title win is pre-planned by the entire team?
Well, not pre-planned. I think I did it one of the group games against England. Yes, we’re professional cricketers, but we’re also entertainers. We need to make the game fun for the next generation to take up the game and get them playing. One of the media guys came up to me and suggested me this celebration if we win the final. We played the final, won it. He came to me and suggested me to do it. I went to AB and he said let’s do it. Everyone else was onboard with it. It’s been well received around the world.
Who in the current Indian team do you think plays left-arm pace the best?
Shubman Gill is a really classy player. He plays right-arm, left-arm and spin very very well.
You played T20 cricket all around the world. Which league is the toughest, and which league is the most entertaining?
IPL by far is the toughest league in the world. It’s best vs best. Obviously, India has abundance of talent. They have so many quality cricketers and then we don’t have any international cricket during that window and a lot of international cricketers are available play the league. In terms of fun, I had a lot of fun in the CPL, just because of how people are in the Caribbean. But, I try to have fun wherever I go. I had a really nice experience in England as well during the T20 Blast.
Why do so many South African stars like AB de Villiers, Quinton de Kock, and Heinrich Klaasen retire early, while proven legends like Faf du Plessis are often overlooked?
I think every case is isolated. Maybe in AB’s case, it was probably a burnout. The biggest thing about AB is that he can’t go at anything with less than 100% whether is a warm-up or a proper game. I think from a physical point of view, that puts a lot of strain on him. From a mental point of view as well, that was a lot of strain on him. And then going to IPL, puts a lot of strain as it is two months of hard cricket, which burns him out. For other cricketers, I don’t understand why. I understand when Quinny [Quinton de Kock] retired from the longest format of the game, he wanted to focus more on white ball cricket to prolong his career. I am not even sure if he is still available to play in T20I cricket or not, which is a bizarre. He’s a really good player. Heinrich Klaasen, obviously personal decisions have played a massive part of it. I still feel he had lot to offer especially in white ball formats. In regard to someone like Faf, he is still available to play T20I cricket. He is still consistently scoring runs in every league at the age of 41.Â
Rapid Fire Round
One word that describes the below players
- Dale Steyn — Aggression
- AB de Villiers — Alien
- Virat Kohli — Consistent
- Jacques Kallis — G.O.A.T.
- Sachin Tendulkar — Master
- Wayne Parnell — Overrated
Take a hat-trick or score a last-ball six?
Hat-trick
IPL or PSL?
IPL
Sledging back or staying quiet?
Sledging back
Bowling to AB de Villiers or Virat Kohli?
Virat Kohli
Dressing room banter or serious game talk?
Both actually
Night owl or early bird?
Early bird
T20 or Test cricket?
For me, T20 cricket
Bowling yorkers or slower balls?
Yorkers
Morning training or evening training?
Evening training
Home games or away tours?
Away games because the crowd is against you
Winning a match with the ball or with the bat?
With the ball
ODI World Cup or T20 World Cup?
As a South African, either
Favourite teammate?
Kagiso Rabada
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