Kleinveldt sets sights on magical 50
Nashua Mobile Cape Cobras allrounder Rory Kleinveldt has set a target of 50 wickets in the four-day Sunfoil Series competition this season.
The 29-year-old fell 18 short of the mark last year when he claimed 32 wickets, although he did miss three matches due to injury.
However, his form in the shorter formats of the game did see him called up to the South Africa one-day side, before another injury denied him the chance of representing his country.
“Last season was one of my better ones after I broke that 30 wicket barrier,” Kleinveldt told supersport.com. “It was a bit disappointing to sit out the three games that I did.
“My goal was basically to try and get 50 wickets last year and that will remain my target for the new season. Hopefully I’ll be able to stay fit for all 10 games this time and hit my target.”
He admits it was disappointing not to have played for the Proteas, but acknowledges that his time will come.
“I want to perform in all three formats to knock on the door of the selectors,” he said. “My ultimate ambition is still to play test cricket, although I realise it’s going to be pretty tough to get into that side at the moment because of how well the boys are performing.
“But you never know with injuries and those sort of things, I have to be as ready as I can be and there’s only one way to do that, which is taking wickets.”
Kleinveldt also drew inspiration from provincial team-mate Vernon Philander, who has set test cricket alight since his debut last year.
“It’s been really inspiring watching Vernon go about his business,” he said. “He’s been averaging 17 for the last two years in first-class cricket and should have been picked even sooner. It’s awesome to see him doing so well.”
The Cobras, dramatically piped to the four-day title on the final weekend of the past season, begin their Sunfoil Series campaign away to the bizhub Highveld Lions on September 20.
“It was massively disappointing what went down on that last weekend,”
Kleinveldt added. “It’s one of the trophies we pride ourselves on winning.
“There’s an extra determination to come back hard this year and get that trophy back in our cabinet.”
