The wildcard, and the complete cricketer
Jansen was kept as Sunrisers' wildcard — the special retention slot reserved for a player a club cannot afford to lose. It is a fitting label. At his height he bowls left-arm fast with bounce that troubles every batter, and he bats well enough to change a game from number seven or eight. Few players in the league offer that much in one squad place.
He bowls left-arm fast, swinging the new ball and hitting the deck hard when the swing goes. Batters face a unique problem against him: the ball comes from over two metres high, the angle across the right-hander is awkward, and the bounce means even good shots can end up in the fielders' hands.
What he brings
With the ball, Jansen is the new-ball partner the attack is built around. Anrich Nortje brings the pace from one end; Jansen brings the height, the swing and the awkward angle from the other. Together they give Tristan Stubbs a powerplay pair that can take early wickets against any top order in the league.
With the bat, he is the late-innings power the side needs. A tall left-hander who can clear the boundary against pace and spin, Jansen turns a par total into a winning one — and his hitting at the death has won Sunrisers games before. Add his catching in the deep, and he is three players in one.
Where Sunrisers Eastern Cape stand
Sunrisers Eastern Cape have won the SA20 title three times, in 2023, 2024 and 2026, and they open Season 5 against Pretoria Capitals on 17 January 2027 — a rematch of the 2026 final. Tristan Stubbs captains, Adrian Birrell coaches, and St George's Park in Gqeberha is the home ground. Anrich Nortje is the express quick at the other end of the new ball. The SA20 starts on Sunday 17 January 2027, with 34 matches ending in the final at Newlands on 21 February.
St George's Park in Gqeberha hosts five home league games in Season 5, starting with the season opener against Pretoria Capitals on 17 January 2027. The season is 34 matches in all — 30 league games, then Qualifier 1, the Eliminator, Qualifier 2 and the final.
Frequently asked questions
What is the wildcard pick at Sunrisers Eastern Cape?
Marco Jansen. He was retained as the club's wildcard — the special slot for a player the club kept outside the normal retention list.
What is Marco Jansen's role for Sunrisers?
He is a left-arm fast-bowling all-rounder who takes the new ball and bats powerfully in the lower order.
Who captains Sunrisers Eastern Cape in SA20 Season 5?
Tristan Stubbs, who has captained the side since Season 4. Adrian Birrell is the head coach.
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