Cape Town Blitz star Anrich Nortje is eager to follow the footsteps of Proteas fast bowlers Mornantau Hayward and Dale Steyn.

Injury has sidelined Nortje from the remainder of the Mzansi Super League, during which he opened the bowling alongside Steyn, but his lofty ambitions remain evident regardless.

‘My ultimate goal is to play for the Proteas. I can still remember watching Mornantau who is also from Uitenhage. Obviously, now I got to play with my role model Dale,’ said Nortje.

‘It’s definitely something I am working hard to try to achieve. Hopefully, it is something I can achieve in the next few years, and I can’t wait for the day to come where I can sing the national anthem and wear the green and gold – any format would be a dream come true.

‘With this tournament, you are playing with international players. To be learning from them, listening to them and to be working with them is something that can’t be taken for granted because we don’t really get to see the Proteas often.’

A veteran of 66 Tests, 52 ODIs and one T20I between 2002 and 2007, former Proteas batsman and current Blitz coach Ashwell Prince backed Nortje to eventually graduate to international cricket.

‘He is definitely one for the future for the Proteas and I have no doubt he will go on to play successfully at Test match level,’ added Prince.

Photo: Gallo