Exclusive: Hardus Viljoen Proves His Quality with Five-Wicket Haul and Eyes Division One Return

After losing his Division One contract with the Paarl-based Boland team a few years ago and joining Division Two Northern Cape Heat, former Proteas Test fast bowler Hardus Viljoen proved he still has the quality to compete in Division One cricket having taken a five-wicket haul against the Titans at SuperSport Park while on loan with North West Dragons.

Losing Div One Contract

With Test match experience, Indian Premier League experience and Pakistan Super League experience, Viljoen is a seasoned campaigner.

When Boland did not retain him, it was a shock, not only to Viljoen but also to the country as he had an impressive season finishing among the top-wicket takers in the multiple Division One competitions.

In an exclusive interview with SportsBoom, Viljoen opened up for the first time about not being retained by Boland despite having had a good season.

"You look at that stage when they let me go, I was the leading wicket-taker in the One-Day competition, I was in the top four leading wicket-takers in red-ball cricket. So, I didn't have a bad season at all," Viljoen told SportsBoom.co.za. 

"So, for me, it came as a bit of a shock. But I think every franchise in the country has its own plans and how it wants to go about the future. And, yeah, at the end of the day, it wasn't a nice experience."

Fighting for his career 

Having lost his contract, Viljoen had to go play Division Two cricket for a couple of years before getting a call from Craig Alexander, the North West Dragons coach, for their all-important fixture against the Titans in the Four-Day competition.

Viljoen took a five-wicket haul in that match, with two of his wickets coming in his first two overs while opening the ball for the Dragons in Centurion.

The 36-year-old emphasised that he had fight for his career aspirations and that playing Division Two cricket gave him the opportunity to reflect on his career and develop new skills.

"(When you lose your contract) you doubt your future, what the outcome of your future might be."

"Those types of thoughts go through your mind. But at the end of the day, you need to decide: Are you going to sit back, or are you just going to let it happen? Or are you actually going to do something about it and be fitter, be better, be stronger, be a lot more consistent?" Viljoen added. 

"It's almost like you have to go back and reflect a little bit on your game, on yourself as an individual. Like, where do you see yourself go? Because you can easily fall into the trap of starting to doubt your ability and doubt your future." 

"Because, literally, I went from being in the SA 'A' plans for the West Indies A tour that was here in South Africa to leading wicket-taker in white ball cricket for two seasons in a row, myself and Nandre Burger, and then being one of the leading wicket-takers in red ball cricket."

"So, yes, obviously, this came at a very fortunate time for me and thanks to Northwest Dragons and Craig who gave me this opportunity to come and represent Northwest Dragons for this competition and for this game."

The return to Div One

Viljoen's 5/132 against a strong Titans batting unit in their own background helped the North West Dragons avoid relegation heading into this week's last round robin games of the Four-Day competition.

The 36-year-old proved that age is just a number and that similar to his brother-in-law, the 40-year-old Faf du Plessis, he still has a lot to offer.

Viljoen reiterated his desire to go back up to Division One cricket on a more permanent basis in the near future.

"I think I showcased that my fitness isn't a problem. I think those days of age forcing players to retirement are long gone out the window. I think the game has evolved so much that players' careers literally end when they decide to end." 

"Or when, obviously, if there's other complications that forces you almost to retire. But I'm by no means done with any cricket for the next couple of years."

"I've still got the aspirations to play in England, play all three formats. That's why I'm playing all three formats. I feel like I can compete with the best there is."

"If it happens that another Div 1 team comes across and they put something on the table, then we can review that and see where we are."

"But like I said, for any cricketer that has been playing Div 2 cricket, it is a huge aspiration to play Div 1 cricket or even to play Div 1 cricket again and represent a franchise to the best of your ability. So that's the most important thing for me is, wherever I go, is to give my 100%."