Proteas bowler Dan Patterson, 37, states that he feels excellent and has no intention of declining to play in test matches during the upcoming summer period.
Patterson played a crucial role in the last WTC cycle, achieving two consecutive five-wicket hauls against Sri Lanka and Pakistan at the Centurions and St George's Park stadiums respectively at the end of 2024, which helped Proteas secure a spot in the final at Lord's. However, these two matches were the last for the veteran, as coach Shukri Conrad has not included him in the squad since.
Nevertheless, Patterson believes he still has much to offer the team, especially considering the recent spate of injuries in the national side, including a hamstring strain for Kagiso Rabada and a long-term stress fracture for Nandre Burger.
He exclusively told IOL Sport: 'I don't know why everyone thinks I've finished playing. When people stop me in a shop, the first question they ask is: 'Are you still playing cricket?' So no, I haven't retired. I'm still playing and, obviously, still available.' He added that his body feels good, noting that it was the first time in five years he had a full rest period from a fitness perspective, and he feels refreshed.
Patterson is also following the global Test tournament, where bowlers like himself, such as Ollie Robinson from England and Mohammad Abbas from Pakistan, have achieved significant success playing as batting all-rounders. He believes he can fulfill a similar role alongside Proteas wicketkeeper Kyle Verreynne.
Patterson joked, saying: 'I'll tell him (Verreynne) that I'm coming back. No, I'm just kidding.' He continued that, analyzing trends, he believes this trend started with Ollie Robinson against Pakistan, but a suitable bowler is necessary for success. He noted Mohammad Abbas's success and concluded: 'So yes, I can be a suitable bowler for this.'
Patterson will get an early opportunity to contest a return to the Proteas squad when he takes a new ball for the Western Province Cobras in the first first-class match of the season against the Warriors in Newlands on Thursday.