Marco Jansen is a tall, imposing figure in South African cricket, born on May 1, 2000, in Klerksdorp. Standing at an astonishing 6 feet 10 inches (209 cm), Marco can be as imposing on the field as his performances. He is a left-arm fast bowler and right-handed batsman, hence an all-rounder. Hailing from a supportive family, Marco shares his journey with his father, Jacobus Jansen, and mother, Erna Pretorius.
He also has a twin brother, Duan Jansen, who shares his passion for cricket. When he is not smashing sixes or taking wickets, one may find him perfecting his swing on the golf course sport that just complements his competitive nature.
From an early age, Marco was destined to shine in the cricketing arena. An unbelievable 164 not out in one of his matches at nine caught everyone by surprise. It showed the signs that he could become a prodigious talent later in his life. The father's recognition and proper training, along with that of Duan, laid the foundations for the brothers' respective futures in cricket.
The formative years for Marco were spent at Laerskool Goudkop, where he honed his skills and fell in love with the game that would take him to international heights.
The professional cricketing career of Marco started with North West; he made his List A debut in April 2018. The rise upward was very fast, and impressive performances in domestic competitions followed his first appearance. By October 2018, he had made his first-class debut, and soon his presence could be felt in T20 cricket with the Knights. But that changed in 2021, when he was signed by the Mumbai Indians for the IPL.
His debut against RCB was nothing less than enthralling; getting the big fish, Glenn Maxwell, on his first IPL wicket was the perfect way to start off things on the bigger stage. After having a spell with the Mumbai Indians, he continued his good form with Sunrisers Hyderabad and also played Major League Cricket in the United States to further his horizons.
Recently Written: Diego Aguado
It wasn't until January 2021 that Marco's international career took flight when he was selected for South Africa's Test squad against Pakistan. His Test debut on 26 December 2021 against India at Centurion was historic because he became the first player born in the 2000s to don the Proteas jersey.
He later made waves in ODIs and T20Is as well. His ability to contribute with both bat and ball very quickly made him a crowd favorite and an indispensable part of the South African setup.
Jansen has already etched his name in the record books with some remarkable feats. He has the record for the fastest T20I fifty by a South African against India, which he achieved in just 16 balls! His performances have often been game-changers—from scoring an unbeaten 75 runs against England during the ICC World Cup to taking five wickets for 39 runs against Australia in an ODI match, Marco has time and again proved that he can rise to any occasion.
As of November 2024, Marco Jansen has pretty impressive stats for someone just at the start of his career. In Test cricket, the player has played 13 matches, scoring 401 runs with a highest score of 84 not out and taking 27 wickets with best bowling figures of 6/40.
In ODIs, he has participated in 23 matches, scoring 422 runs with a top score of 75 not out and claiming 40 wickets with best figures of 5/39. In T20Is, Jansen has featured in 17 matches where he scored 506 runs and took 25 wickets with best bowling figures of 3/16.
It was in November 2024, during the pulsating T20I series against India, that Marco Jansen stole the show with an explosive fifty off just 17 balls—a knock that underlined his reputation for explosive batting and really sealed his status as one of the most exciting young talents in South Africa. The ability to perform under pressure makes him a player to watch as he continues to evolve.
Marco Jansen is not all about cricket; he is very active on social media platforms where one can connect with him beyond the game. On Instagram, @marco7jansen, he shares glimpses of his life both on and off the field, whether training sessions or personal moments. You can also find him on Facebook Marco Jansen and Twitter @Jensen0087. His engaging posts reflect not just his cricketing journey but also his personality off the pitch.
For more interesting bios, news, and gossip, visit Playerswiki.