Fast bowler Dane Paterson has predictably targeted inclusion in South Africa’s squad for next year’s World Cup.

Relatively new to international cricket, Paterson has played three ODIs and seven T20Is since his January 2017 debut.

The 10 matches have yielded a respectable 11 wickets, but at a high collective economy rate of 8.05.

‘The World Cup is the big goal. When I was 26 years old, that was my long-term goal. My long-term dream is to be successful. Next year I’ll be 30. It has been something I have been working towards,’ Paterson told Cricbuzz.

‘If I get it, that chance to play in the World Cup, good. If I don’t, life goes on, and my cricketing career still goes on.’

The 29-year-old is evidently a second-choice seamer for a Proteas outfit brimming with the talented Lungi Ngidi, Kagiso Rabada, Dale Steyn, Andile Phehlukwayo and others.

He is entirely prepared to challenge the established players alongside fellow newcomers Junior Dala, Wiaan Mulder and more.

‘You can’t wait for them to retire and then hope that you’re going to get an opportunity because there are so many good youngsters coming up. So you never know, you are competing with somebody else. So you can’t wait for the spot to open,’ he added.

‘A generation has passed and a new generation has already started with Rabada. As you can see, the bowlers who have come in – Lungi has done well, Dala has done well, Mulder is also a promising prospect.

‘People might think that an old generation is coming out but there is already a generation that is taking over and established the authority.’

South Africa’s first match of the 2019 World Cup will be on 30 May against England at The Oval in London.