Dane Paterson happy to be 'boring' to help Proteas reach WTC final

The 35-year-old Western Province seamer has become a permanent member of head coach Shukri Conrad's Test squads since the tour to New Zealand in February this year.

Conrad has often spoken about the need to balance the Proteas' pace attack to allow the likes of fast bowler Kagiso Rabada to be in prime condition to strike for the team.

Paterson said his role has been simplified within the Test set-up - to keep it tight from one end while the faster, quicker men do the damage.

The Proteas completed a 2-0 Test series victory in Bangladesh last month with Paterson playing the second game in Chattogram as the tourists whitewashed the hosts.

He said: "It's nice being in that environment. That is the pinnacle you want to be at, playing Test cricket or being in the squad. We have been doing quite well, being in the running for the WTC final, that would be a nice goal to achieve and the way we've been going about it has been quite nice.

"They way we went about winning 2-0 in Bangladesh was very good. It is never easy getting results in the sub-continent, so very happy about that.

"My role is just to keep things quiet. If I take a wicket that's a bonus but the understanding is there, anything to give the big quicks a break, hold the game up.

"The message from the coach is quite clear, 'be boring, be yourself' so I know what to do and I know what the coach expects of me. I can also be attacking, I back my skills. It is just my role in the team."

Before the tour to New Zealand, Paterson had a four-year absence from the international stage having last played two matches against England in January 2020.

While some eyebrows have been raised with his continued selection under Conrad, the seamer is content with his role in the squad and enjoying still being able to contribute at the highest level.

"I am 35 playing Test cricket," Paterson said. "I think that is unheard of in South Africa. You still get the odd the person sitting on the couch asking 'what the hell is he doing in the team'. But I am enjoying it and take nothing for granted.

"People can air their views, which I don't have a problem with, every sports person is going to get some criticism on social media but I don't mind it.

"I have a wife and two kids at home so it almost never bothers me but it sometimes does give me extra motivation to put in a performance and prove people wrong. But with my stats and performance I am not there just to fill a space in the team."

The Proteas are in Durban preparing for the first of two Test matches against Sri Lanka before taking on Pakistan in the Boxing Day and New Year's Tests.

The hosts potentially need to win all four Tests on home soil if they are to guarantee their spot in the WTC final which will take place at Lord's in June 2025.

Paterson insists the Proteas are not looking too far ahead, even though there is a nice "carrot" that the team is playing for.

He also urged the South African public to show their support at the venues in what will be the Proteas first home series in the longest format since hosting India in last year's festive period.

"We should make our home a fortress," Paterson said. "It is going to be a good summer, it is just nice to have Test cricket back on our shores because it feels like a long time ago now even though it is only two match series.

"The WTC is not something we discuss in the squad. Every Test series we as a team know the goal that we are pushing for. We don't want to go on the field putting extra pressure on ourselves with the final in mind. We just have little reminders about it and so on...but we focus on the game in front of us.

"Sri Lanka will be bring their own challenges and they have a good squad. Teams are fighting fire with fire at the moment but we will be up for it.

"There is a nice carrot that's hanging and everybody is working slowly towards that. The way the boys are going we are looking forward about to the series."

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