Ten years in the making: David Wiese's Namibian adventure

CHARLIE PETERS: David Wiese made 27 appearances for South Africa between 2013 and 2016 but now the 36-year-old old is hoping to cause an upset at the T20 World Cup while representing his father’s homeland

Men's T20 World Cup 2021 team guide: Namibia

There’s an old, lazy stereotype about associate cricketers who have crossed the floor from Test-playing nations. Often, they are perceived as mercenaries, no longer good enough to play for their land of origin, defecting for one last crack of the whip on the main stage.

It’s lazy because, in most cases, it simply isn’t true. And South African-born David Wiese, recently named in Namibia’s squad for the 2021 T20 World Cup after 27 appearances in Proteas colours, is keen to emphasise this.

"I’ve got family that lives in Namibia," the allrounder explains. "My dad was born there, grew up there, went to school there. When I was younger, we went on a lot of family holidays to Namibia. It’s a place I’m familiar with - the family ties are deep in Namibia. For me, it’s definitely not a case of jumping ship and taking the opportunity. It is a place that holds dear to my heart."

Now aged 36, Wiese’s last appearance for South Africa came in the spring of 2016. But the seed of representing Namibia had been planted in his head long before then –  and even before his Proteas debut in 2013.

"Namibia actually approached me ten years ago," the right-armer reveals. "Back then, Namibia used to play in the local domestic structure in South Africa, so I used to play against the guys there. As soon as they heard that I had family ties in Namibia and I could qualify to play for them, they immediately jumped on that and started speaking to me. The talks were actually quite serious back then."

^{David Wiese made 27 appearances for South Africa}

Those conversations were put on hold indefinitely when South Africa came calling and were kicked into touch yet again when the news filtered out that Wiese had signed a Kolpak deal with Sussex. It was a decision that, at the time, spelled the end of his international career.

But, post-Brexit, the Kolpak loophole became no more, and with its demise came the news that those plying their trade under the ruling would yet again become eligible for international cricket. It didn’t take long before the man from Roodepoort picked up the phone to some familiar voices.

"As soon as I became available [for international cricket], Pierre De Bruyn and Albie Morkel (Namibia’s coaches), who I had played with, phoned me up and basically said 'let’s make an international comeback, let’s see if you can revitalise your international career'. It wasn’t something that I was expecting, but I’m excited for it."

The step into Namibian colours is one that Wiese is not taking lightly. He would have been eligible to represent his newly adopted side in the 2020 T20 World Cup in Australia, had that gone ahead as scheduled. But he felt that would have been a "rushed" introduction to the squad, preferring instead to take the time to get to know his new teammates first. The extra year’s preparation ahead of the 2021 event has allowed him to do so, and now he feels like a bona fide squad member.

"I’ve been integrated into the squad for a while now. I’ve been over there a few times recently. I flew over to Namibia before the Pakistan Super League for a few days to train with the guys, I kind of used that as a stepping-stone. I’ve gotten to know a few of the guys, I played against one or two of the elder statesmen back when they still played in the South African domestic set-up also. Even though my first game for Namibia is going to be in the World Cup, I feel like I’ve already integrated quite well into the squad, and I know most of the people."

It’s a squad that Wiese rates highly. He points out the likes of JJ Smit and Gerhard Erasmus as "proper quality players" and is keen to play a developmental role in their careers. Above all, though, the all-rounder is upbeat about his new side’s chances. Recalling victories by Ireland and Netherlands over England in previous ICC tournaments, the seamer sees no reason why Namibia can’t extend the tradition of big-cup giant-killing.

"There’s always an upset," he stresses. "There’s always an associate team that causes an upset. We play Sri Lanka first game, and I don’t think they’re expecting what we’re going to bring. I keep telling the guys, we just need to win two games to make it into the Super 12s. All it needs is two man-of-the-match performances, that’s literally all it is - two guys having a day out. Anything can happen on the T20 stage.

"People think that it’s going to be tough for us, and I agree with that – we’ve got some top-class opposition. But at the end of the day, just two guys have to have a blinder and that’s it, we’re on the big stage, we’re playing against the big boys and people will start noticing us. That’s how small the margins are for us at this stage."

The allrounder arrives in Oman for the competition off the back of his sixth T20 Blast campaign with Sussex Sharks. Now classed as an overseas player, Wiese and his Sharks fell at the penultimate hurdle, losing in a disappointing fashion against Kent in the semi-finals. Sussex have only won the tournament once in its history, back in 2009.

And, as the Namibia international recognises, they let a golden opportunity to add to their trophy-cabinet go begging. With key players Chris Jordan and Phil Salt leaving for Surrey and Lancashire respectively, it’s hard for Wiese to shake the feeling that this particular squad’s last chance to grab glory has gone.

"I think that was the sense in the changing room after we lost to Kent, there was massive disappointment because we realised that the club’s been in a bad space for the past season or two and the T20 side has been the shining light of the club at this stage. We’ve got such quality white-ball T20 players, and to put in a performance like that wasn’t very good from us. It was bitterly disappointing, and you got the sense in the dressing room that we felt this was one we really let slip away.

"Come next season, without CJ there, without Phil Salt - I don’t know what my future there is yet either - it’s going to be tough to get into those sorts of positions again, but you never know. There’s a couple of youngsters coming through also, we could make one or two good overseas signings and then we’re there again. With guys like Luke Wright, Ravi Bopara, Tymal Mills, Archie Lenham has come through nicely, so there’s potential there. But definitely this year, we felt like it was one that slipped away from us."

It’s a candid reflection from a passionate cricketer. He is mature and realistic when considering the possibility of being let go by Sussex ahead of next season. While he is on record as saying that Sussex is where he wanted to end his career, he is, in his own words, "a big boy" now. He understands that the team’s needs come first.

^{Chris Jordan and Phil Salt have left Sussex}

"I treated Finals Day like it was the last time I was going to play for Sussex. If we’re looking at the squad and the members we lost, we might have to make one or two different overseas signings next season. To replace someone like Phil Salt and Chris Jordan, you’re going to have to get some different top class international players in there instead. I can handle disappointment. If that’s the case, I’m thankful for the six years that I’ve had at Sussex, I’ve enjoyed my time there, I’ve made some good friends there. Sometimes it just doesn’t work out the way you want it to, and you need to move on."

Wiese is acutely aware that he is at the back end of his career now. With 36 years, two nations, and 12 clubs and franchises under his belt, there is little that he hasn’t achieved. Retirement is not on the cards just yet – "look at Darren Stevens," he jokes, "44 years old and still the GOAT"- but, equally, he does not want to be "one of those guys clutching on just because there’s still a pay cheque there."

For now, he is firmly focused on Namibia, and helping cause some upsets with his new national side. It might not be exactly where he thought his career would take him and it might not be exactly where he planned to end his cricketing journey. But, clearly, it still matters to him. And surely that’s worth something.