Shock and disappointment are always associated with South Africa’s World Cup campaigns.

The T20 showpiece in Australia last month was supposed to be the one that changed the course of history for South Africa.

The squad that was selected was exciting and the conditions on offer in Australia also favoured South Africa, but somehow, the team managed to stick to the script and maintained their reputation at ICC events.

Amidst all the chaos of the World Cup, a 2-metre figure managed to go under the radar.

Unseen, only because he didn’t feature in any of the matches in Australia, a 22-year-old prodigy soaked in all the experience.

“It was a very nice experience. It was my first World Cup seeing how it works, seeing the crowds and to just be in Australia was a nice experience.

“For me, it was about enjoying the experience and if I got a chance to play, I’d have to go out and give it my all,” Marco Jansen told Cricket Fanatics Magazine.

Like a duck to water, Jansen hit the ground running in international cricket from the time he made his debut in a Boxing Day Test against India last December.

Many had only heard of him and seen glimpses of him in the IPL but I doubt anyone could confidently say he was going to be one of the first names to be dotted down whenever the selectors were putting together an XI just 12 months into his career.

For Marco, it’s his massive hunger that set him apart from the many 22-year-olds in the domestic circuit. It’s his hunger that gave him no choice but to succeed on debut against the best Test team in the world at the time.

“I have a massive hunger to perform. I remember my debut, my first over went for 14 runs and while fielding I hurt my side and thought I had a side strain. Many things didn’t go well on my debut so I told myself in the second innings that there’s no flipping way I’m letting this opportunity slip. I told myself that I was going to fight,” said Jansen.

“In my head, there was no way back, it had to work. I remember quite clearly thinking to myself, ‘This has to work.’

“Deep down, I’ve always known and my family knows as well that I don’t want to work a 9-to-5 job. I want to do what I love and I’m grateful I got the opportunity.”

Commonalities between high performers, particularly in cricket, is that they all take pride in playing for their country. They want to see South Africa do well. They want to win trophies for South Africa.

The same sentiments are a part of Jansen’s DNA. He wants to play for the Proteas for as long as possible. The Proteas badge means a lot to him to such an extent that he always carries his green Test cap with him wherever he goes.

He takes pride in that he now has his own cap and wants to do all that is possible to deserve to put it on whenever he goes over the boundary rope to represent his country.

“I take it with me even when I go to the bathroom,” Jansen said jokingly.

“I just want to play for the Proteas for as long as possible. It means everything to me. I won’t change it for anything.”

The opportunity to play for his country changed Jansen’s life as it would have done to any youngster dreaming of playing at the highest level someday.

At 22, Jansen will definitely return the favour by winning many games of cricket and hopefully the World Cup as well.