After ending his international career at age 33, Heinrich Klaasen, the best white-ball hitter in the world, talks candidly. He recalls a day, long before his comeback in white-ball cricket, when he almost gave up on the sport completely in an open discussion.
Heinrich Klaasen explains why Jasprit Bumrah is a force of nature, reminisces about the heartbreak of last year’s World Cup, and describes the stress of having to delay his wedding three times. He also urges Cricket South Africa to reassess its financial connection with its players and the way it organises its domestic franchise system, as well as the ICC to do away with bilateral ODIs in order to assist clear the international schedule.
How satisfying was it to represent South Africa? You also have to be your country’s captain. In South African shirts, what are some of your most memorable personal memories that you would likely treasure in thirty years?
Yes, representing your nation has always been a dream of mine. If I had the chance to do it over, I doubt I would alter my approach. I value many of the lessons I’ve learnt because, although playing for South Africa has been a difficult journey and a love-hate relationship, it has helped to shape who I am now as a person and a character. I have a lot of joy since I have worked with amazing coaches and athletes.
Of course, I had my share of bad moments. However, it is a necessary aspect of both cricket and life lessons. I’m extremely fortunate to have participated since 2017. Being my country’s captain was an honour, in my opinion, and I believe it was a standout moment. And getting my test cap was, I believe, a major highlight for me. I wish I could have performed for much longer. The game’s red ball format was one of my favourites. I’ve also been fortunate enough to make all of my debuts against India, which is fantastic to do against one of the world’s best teams. In summary, it has been a wonderful journey filled with many memorable moments that I will always treasure.
In thirty years, when you reunite with Quinton de Kock or Aiden Markram, for example, are there any off-field events that you will undoubtedly remember and cherish with your friends?
I believe that we have just had many successful tours together. I do spend a lot of time with Aiden [Markram], Quinney [de Kock], David [Miller], and myself. when I was on the Test team, even Dean Elgar. The sandpaper controversy Test series versus Australia is the one that I believe will most likely happen. In my case, I was in and out of the team somewhat.
While that series was going on, I played cricket domestically. I would then return to the squad after my game was over. I was not present for the thrilling portion in Durban, but we had a pleasant tour, which was a sort of breakaway following the Durban Test match.
For two days, we spent time together, played golf, and went to St. Francis, which completely turned that trip around. The boys’ emotional response and fight back throughout that first Test were incredible to witness. That, in my opinion, only served to motivate us South Africans to fight back and to demonstrate our strength. And we took that action. and. We clearly demonstrated that they took the wrong side, and the boys stood up for one another.
Since cricket is difficult to acquire, I can confidently state that I have made true friends with those people. I’m delighted to report that I’ve made lifelong friends, which demonstrates how close we are in that group. You might believe you’ve made a lot of friends, but as soon as you finish playing cricket, you realise they’re actually coworkers.
Choosing to retire abroad is difficult, and some athletes have mentioned how crucial family is to them. It is difficult to keep up the same level of conditioning and fitness when an international cricket player quits and continues to play at the franchise level. Additionally, you don’t get to play bowling at an international level all year round. Were you thinking about that?
Yes, I don’t care about it. I have enough staff and coaches to really keep me going. It goes without saying that I am aware that it will be difficult to remain healthy, prepared, and sharp as I return to SA20, most likely from August until December. That is my only worry since, following SA20, which is among the most difficult competitions I have ever participated in… After you make it through that, there’s more cricket in the IPL, followed by the Hundred and MLC.
You would then be totally recovered. Thus, the SA20 alone will likely be my biggest test to ensure my sharpness, which is crucial. You don’t just lose it overnight as a cricket player, in my opinion. I nearly consider it to be off-season. During that six-month period, I will be able to work out and get ready once more.
All cricket players, of course, experience that. It is a year-round sport, but a typical domestic player takes six months off to train, and I only play cricket in the middle of summer, when most people believe you should. So, it doesn’t really worry me. The amount of training and attention you need to get it perfect is a personal matter. I have numerous health concerns that require attention, and I need to get my body in order. So, the following four or five months will be hard labour.
You have revolutionised batting, particularly the way you have been hitting spinners for sixes from the back foot. You are among the world’s top white-ball hitters. But approximately four years prior to your comeback, you were dropped for your domestic team and were sort of averaging less than 10 for five or six months. Do you remember any highlights, epiphanies, or vulnerable moments from that period?
I suddenly realised that I truly didn’t like cricket. I know it’s a big word. I truly wanted to give up. The coaches wanted me to be really upbeat during this brief period when I knew that cricket was moving in a particular direction. And I think I may have explored a bit too much because it was really hard to recover my form again, especially at that high level. I would add that I didn’t really know myself.
After that, I was dropped from a domestic side. What should I do now? Do you get out again, or do I stop? Back then, Dean Elgar and I had some really interesting chats. I was able to escape the hole thanks to him. Then there’s Titans, a fantastic franchise back home that has taken care of me throughout my life.
They have supported me throughout my cricket adventure since under-nine, and they were the ones who helped me return to my proper position. While working with them, I spent a lot of time attempting to rediscover the game’s passion. That gave me the freedom to just be myself and get back on my feet. That period of my life was terrible, but I also gained a lot of knowledge from it.
Is there anything that someone said that was so memorable that you can still remember it?
I considered myself fortunate to have the individuals I did at that difficult time. Just prior to or at the time of my Proteas call-up, Albie Morkel advised me to keep in mind the people I met along the route since they will be the ones waiting for me when I descend. The only thing that has ever stayed with me is that.
You must have kindness. You must maintain a grounded approach. And spend time with those who were there for you from the beginning when you return from an international tour. They were there when I returned and when I had a slight dip, and that’s what we did. In other words, Dean said, “Just harden up and suck it up,” which is probably not something you can say in an interview, since if I don’t do it, my career will end.
Accordingly, there is a little bit of hard love between the two men, one of whom has always followed a similar route. So, those two guys were a huge help to me throughout that phase. I needed some tough love from some other guys that simply knew me to get back on track.
With the bat in hand, how did you battle those mental demons? It is one thing to have mental courage, but shouldn’t you also work on improving your skills?
I simply put in more effort and took charge of my mental aspect of the game when playing cricket. I’m a guy who doesn’t hit many balls, and there are times when I know exactly what I need. Since I didn’t know what I required at that point, I had to thoroughly reevaluate what I needed in order to escape the hole.
Long stretches of hitting the ball were the main focus at the time. just in order to comprehend what I must accomplish. You taper back as soon as I start getting runs, and you only take what you need. And I’ve been doing it that way for the past four years. Now I know what I need. I am fully aware of how my game functions and what I must do to optimise it.
The more detail I work in, the better I get, therefore I had to figure out how to train more specifically and locate the correct exercises rather than just counting the number of balls I hit. It’s difficult to describe, then. In order to escape it, you had to actually enter that dark area and accept it. There’s no escaping it. To escape it makes you a tough character. It just had to do with controlling that state of mind.
I then know that I have both my technique and my game. I only regained this freedom after going through a few technological modifications. In a technical sense, I was practically robotic prior to that. Thus, I simply liberated myself. With my bat face close and my front foot wide open, I looked very robotic. It was very hard to score runs when it didn’t flow.
However, it was ideal once the momentum was present. However, that was another technical adjustment I need for that level. Despite my poor technique, I nearly experimented to find the balance between the two, so it was a little of a blend, and then I simply had to hope that it would be sufficient.
At what point did you realise you could hit sixes off the back foot against spinners? That essentially made it possible for you to eliminate the stumping dismissal from the equation even when you were attacking because you were no longer need to charge down to a spinner in order to knock a six. Did it come naturally or was it learnt?
A little bit of both, I believe. In our nation, I’ve had the good fortune to play alongside and against excellent spinners. In South Africa, Shaun Von Berg, with whom I have played, claimed his 800th domestic wicket. He is an excellent bowler. The best way to beat Shaun was to stand motionless and wait for that high-pitched delivery. We always had a fantastic spinning background, but he usually nicked me off in the nets, so I had to go down the track or go to the sweeps.
I can also hit him from behind as he starts to move a little more slowly. I experimented a lot, but I only attempted it against good spinners and discovered methods to avoid getting nicked off. Additionally, I talked to gamers who gave me options because I’m a really open person. After that, I’ll go explore and evaluate what works and what doesn’t. You must therefore strike a balance that will allow you to remain unique.
You have the greatest strike rate (176.82), the most sixes (33), and an incredible average of 45.77 since 2023 when compared to players like Rashid Khan, Varun Chakravarthy, Sunil Narine, Jasprit Bumrah, Tabraiz Shamsi, and Adil Rashid. Think about us when you’re going to take on these bowlers. The wrist spinners will be our first topic. What kind of mental preparation do you make before facing these bowlers? Any triggers in the mind?
I believe it’s nearly impossible to overstate the individual. Everyone thought Rashid Khan was really hard to identify and bowled very fast the first time I faced him. You nearly feel as though you’re about to go out when you go out there. He first bowled his googlies at me, though, and I thought, “Well, there’s a clear change in his action.” It gets easy after that, and you just start doing a little homework. There are places where a lot of people go out and score, so you attempt to incorporate a lot of that information into your game.
What he does under pressure and where he goes ordinarily are already part of my similar plan. Doing some homework can help you figure out how to play him and whether he’s at his best. What are we supposed to do if we can exert pressure on him? Where do we strike him, too? If he is truly under pressure, what is his go-to action? Knowing the risk involved and then assessing your feelings is, in my opinion, crucial.
And you can start at the first ball if you have the feelers. You have to appreciate it and figure out ways to score eight or nine runs per over on other days when you think, “Okay, it’s not my guy to take down.”
Albie then, almost like a golfer, would always advise me that I should look into the grandstand and pick the optimum location to hit the ball. He still tells me that today. You see it, see that shape, and that’s it. This is the shape you want to strike. When it’s a flawless swing, I know exactly where I want to hit it, and having faith in the swing makes it slightly simpler to pull the trigger.
You were in a good position to play Rashid Khan out and score runs off the other bowlers, but a substitute fielder appeared on the ground during your historic 100 versus MI New York in North Carolina in 2023 and relayed a message from the team management requesting you to slow down against him. However, you instructed that replacement to come back to the dugout with a message that you would take Rashid on if he showed up. In an over, you then took 28 off Rashid.
Sometimes, I believe, you go into that zone and experience a particular emotion. Naturally, I also always aim to take down the spinners. If you have a gut feeling, that’s my match. One thing I’ve seen in my career is that, particularly in this format, you have to go for it when your matchup is available.
However, he still had one over to go, and I was hitting the ball well. The score was significant because we were still pursuing, I believe, 180 or 200. In reality, you can’t just sit on him; he still needed to play. I was therefore striking the ball well. He gave me, and I believe I hit his second ball, after which the momentum simply began. As I mentioned earlier, there are situations when you perform research on the guys and know exactly what will happen next. I simply executed after that, predicting every ball. It just happened to be one of those good nights.
Bumrah, what say you? Does he have any special routines or triggers because he is a unique bowler?
I believe my style shifts significantly for him. Because he’s good at stunts and doesn’t really miss his execution, you do open up a little. He also has a little speed. bowler with a lot of skill. You want to make some space in the ground, but you’re also concerned about the slower ball he bowls. Although he’s not one of the most difficult bowlers to face, he is undoubtedly one of the most difficult to score off. His action is strange.
I’m obviously very fortunate that I won’t have to play that new ball against him. That’s a whole other ball game, in my opinion. He works his angles with the older ball; he doesn’t miss most deliveries that come into us. He rarely misses, so you have to be on your game to make sure you can capitalise when he does.
He is a force of nature, but why? For instance, a Josh Hazelwood might be less dangerous on a level deck but more accurate than him. Is evaluating Bumrah’s lengths too soon difficult? What gives him an advantage over other bowlers when the deck is as flat as possible?
The angle that the motion makes on the crease is, in my opinion, fairly broad. Starc almost swings the ball away in reverse when he comes around. It’s a significant shift in perspective. The right-handers simply get that angle from Bumrah.
He then just kind of jogs in as well. With the man who can bowl at 140 kmph… You think, “Okay, cool, this is about the pace he’ll bowl with,” when you see how fast Hazelwood moves or when he runs up. Bumrah’s bowling and running pace are different. So, that’s really intriguing.
In addition, his delivery is extremely delayed. The ball should ordinarily be delivered by now, but he’s still holding it in his wrist, so it’s a big adjustment. However, as I mentioned before, you have to deal with him frequently and you grow accustomed to it, which is crucial. But in the end, he simply doesn’t miss. His skill level is so high that he rarely sends you bad balls.
What kinds of injuries and challenges have you faced over the last few years as a player?
I had a major knee procedure in 2014, and more recently, I had problems with my elbow, shoulder, back, and more. After that, you simply become psychologically exhausted as well. We arrived at the MLC last year from the SA20, IPL, and World Cup. Four extremely competitive tournaments with emotional significance were held. I was therefore exhausted psychologically when I arrived to the MLC. However, you have to go through it since I signed a contract and I won’t back out because it was prearranged.
It was my responsibility. If I truly didn’t want to attend, I shouldn’t have signed the agreement. Therefore, you play through a lot. I’ve reenacted family deaths by attending the funerals. You give up a lot more than simply your physical self. All of my best friends’ weddings have been missed by me. Three times, I had to reschedule my wedding. Therefore, it’s not simply about your bodily and mental experiences. Perhaps the hardest part of it is what you give up as well.
In the last two and a half to three years, how satisfied have you been with your body on a scale of 1 to 10?
Right now, I’ll give myself two, three. My pain is pretty bad. The body is ageing. A few things need to be fixed. For the past year or so, I’ve been playing with some ailments, but that’s just a part of the game. and I learnt to just put your head down from my upbringing. You’re not playing the game hard enough, in my opinion, if you don’t play with injuries. The only distinction is between injuries that are truly career-threatening and those that you can play through.
After last year’s T20 World Cup, you mentioned that you had to pack things and travel to the MLC. The Proteas experienced heartbreak. How long did it take for you to get over that final?
I’d say a while, but we also didn’t have time to think about the World Cup and what transpired. And sometimes all you want is to play the game again, experience the feelings, and confirm that you’ve moved on. Cricket, however, moves right into the next competition. You must move on from whatever has happened and get on with your life.
I’ve had the good fortune to endure many difficult situations during which you develop a kind of barrier against all those feelings and other things. You remove it when it occurs, and the sun rises the following day. We are fortunate to have another day, and life continues. Therefore, it took me roughly two months. My break was enjoyable. Unfortunately, a family incident occurred back home after that.
That’s why I had to take a plane back immediately after the MLC. I had to postpone a few tournaments in order to attend to some family matters. I’ve made too many sacrifices and missed too much, and it’s time for family to come first. And I believe that has something to do with all of the choices I’ve made recently.
How do you feel about the present cricket schedule, and how do you envision it changing over the next five years?
The only modification I believe I will make is to remove [bilateral] one-day cricket off the international cricket scene. Increase the number of Test matches for teams that don’t play many of them. Increase your T20 cricket playing because that’s what the public wants to witness. To get acquainted to the format, you can continue to play five games for each team a month or so before to the commencement of the one-day World Cup.
You do not need to make a significant adjustment to that format. The international teams are more likely to be difficult for you. They will go out and play in the leagues to get some extra money if they don’t look after the international players. They don’t need to travel the world to play in all these competitions because the English boys and Australians are well-cared after.
Therefore, the onus will be on the ICC to decide whether to pay a little bit extra for them to ensure they get enough rest because we need specific players. It is not viable, in my opinion, for players to participate in every league and format. This means that more players will value particular forms to a certain degree. All-format players just burn out since they are unable to play in leagues or for the national team in all formats.
The playing community is really close-knit. Every generation wants the place to be better for the upcoming generation. Now that you’ve retired from the international game, you’re on the opposing side. What difficulties do you believe South Africa’s cricket game is currently facing in light of this?
Because league play just pays more than South Africa, more players will want to play there. If they don’t start taking care of your all-format players, they will want to retire from a certain format so they have enough time to play leagues. This is generally the wrong answer to provide.
Therefore, I would advise that if you truly want to retain your players, you should pay them a little bit more. They will gladly forgo playing in league cricket in order to represent their country. As South African cricket players, I believe the SA20 has fundamentally altered our game. Many men are becoming well-known worldwide. Therefore, if you haven’t yet entered the international arena, you will have the chance to play all over the world, which will help you gain more experience and benefit South African cricket.
Changing their organisation is the only thing they will need to accomplish. In my opinion, domestic franchise cricket isn’t functioning the way it is right now. If you want to compete against the world’s finest, you have to play a professional sport with a format that only allows seven games. Playing seven games a season is insufficient for individuals who need to learn how to play cricket.
Since franchise cricket will be your life going forward, could you tell us about your level of dedication to whatever franchise side you have played for? We know you gave it your all while playing for South Africa.
International cricket and franchise cricket, in my opinion, are quite comparable. It is your source of income. Setting food on the table and ensuring your family’s future are your responsibilities. For that reason, I will play anywhere I can to provide for my family. I’ll play through my injury if that’s what it takes. Mostly for the future. It is limited to a specific number of years. I’ve matured from a young buck. If you still have your entire career ahead of you, I believe it’s different than playing through ailments.
You return to the Seattle Orcas. In today’s cricket world, with the exception of the IPL or your own league, it is uncommon for a player to return to the same competition, much less the same team. You don’t play for this ownership, though, and you haven’t done it in the SA20 or the IPL for the last three years. What do you find appealing about this orca?
For my family and I, they have been amazing since season one. They took good care of them and really got my family involved. That, therefore, surpasses any other offerings and the like in my opinion. The folks are quite pleasant, and they get along well with you. That’s as simple as that, I believe. It helped that we obviously lost the first year we played in the final. Although I and the team didn’t have the best second season, the people are still decent. As I mentioned before, they take good care of us, but more importantly, they take care of my family, which means a lot to me.
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