WATCH: Proteas bowler Marco Jansen happy to sledge for competitive edge

Johannesburg - Backyard battles with his twin brother Duan, have meant that despite Marco Jansen being a callow youth, he’s happy to engage in verbal scraps with opponents old enough to be his uncle.

It was Jansen’s inaction with Neil Wagner, who is never shy to share an opinion, which sparked the late afternoon shift in momentum in Saturday’s play in the second Test between South Africa and New Zealand at Hagley Oval. The hosts had seized back the momentum in the morning session, after the Proteas had dominated the first day’s play.

Wagner, chasing a 10th Test ‘five-for,’ did not take kindly to Jansen smashing him to the long on fence for four midway through the afternoon session.

Wagner chirped, and Jansen replied. It continued in that vein for the next few overs. Wagner, bowled and chirped, Jansen replied, but in addition to his words, three more boundaries followed.

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Keshav Maharaj, his batting partner followed suit and the pair added a critical 62 runs for the ninth wicket, a new record for South Africa against New Zealand and hit Wagner, who claimed 4/102, out of the attack.

“Wagner as always had come hard, especially with the short balls. Me and Kesh decided that we would take the positive option. If it was in our area we were going to capitalise, but obviously not play recklessly, just have a full go,” said Jansen.

“It wasn’t that heated, obviously there were a few words said, it was just two guys going at each, being very competitive.”

Jansen’s exchanges with Wagner, were definitely a far cry from the literal ‘head-to-head’ he had with Jasprit Bumrah at the Wanderers in just his second Test last month. That battle, in which the two