ICC T20 WORLD CUP 2022

October 27, 2022

Rilee Rossouw

Sydney Cricket Ground

South Africa

Post Match Media Conference

South Africa - 205/5, Bangladesh - 101

Q. There seemed to be a lot of emotion coming out of you when you got the hundredth. There was a lot going on there. Could you talk us through your feelings when that happened?

RILEE ROSSOUW: I'm a very passionate man. And getting across the line, it meant a lot to me. It means a lot to my family back home. It's just been a good roller coaster ride. Just to play with South Africa again, it's been amazing.

Q. You were one of the most successful batsmen in the history of Bangladesh Premier League. Did it help in any way as you played these guys so many times back in Bangladesh?

SHAKIB AL HASAN: I think that definitely does help. I was there for, what, three years, if I remember correctly, and two of them I was leading run scorer. I played against a lot of the boys back home and with a lot of them.

So I wasn't too unfamiliar with what was to be expected out there. I would say, yes, that definitely helped me in today's match.

Q. How was the bowling of Bangladesh? Did you face (indiscernible)?

RILEE ROSSOUW: How was the bowling? I thought the new ball bowlers of Bangladesh bowled well. I think Taskin, in the first over, got the ball to shape. He bowled nicely up front to Temba. And also when Fuzz (phonetic) comes on, Fuzz is world-class, he's definitely one of our threat bowlers that we need to just try and play as we see it.

And then today where I thought we did really well was we took on the spin, especially with Mehidy and Afif that bowled. Afif, is that right? And we really took charge and wanted to control that area and we did well.

Q. You scored a century a few weeks ago. Did this one feel a bit different, a bit more special?

RILEE ROSSOUW: I would say probably the one against India was probably a lot more special -- not a lot more, but more special. It's difficult to say which one is more special. I think they both really are close to my heart.

Today just on the main stage at the World Cup probably also -- it's tough to call which one is more special, but, like I said, very tough today.

Q. You're renowned as an excellent player of spin bowling, perhaps partly for your time in Bangladesh. Is that a side of the game you've consciously developed over the last few years, since your T20 numbers have sort of gone through the roof?

RILEE ROSSOUW: I think it's somewhere I've definitely proved, because I've played a lot of cricket in the sub-continent, Pakistan as well, Bangladesh, even in Dubai. So it's -- I improved my game a lot over these last couple of years. I feel more comfortable now than what I used to maybe when I was in my 20s.

Q. You've had some good memories here at the SCG in the international cricket, thinking back to 2015. You've spent a fair bit of time in the middle when AB had that incredible knock here against the West Indies. You've now etched your name in World Cup history here at the SCG. Do you think back to that 2015 knock a bit? AB's innings was quite incredible?

RILEE ROSSOUW: I won't forget it. I actually, someone asked me the same question, similar question. I just said, like, I still think I'm taking credit for a day for AB's knock because I've got it in such a great mind space. I'm patting myself on the back now. No one knows that. Keep it like that, please.

But, no, special place here in Sydney. I've done really well in the past year. It's a fantastic wicket. That's a top, thinking back at those memories, it's definitely given me confidence coming out here in Sydney and performing so well.

Q. Watching a guy like that, obviously there quite a few similarities with your innings going from ball one. Does, like you say that confidence now matter how long you've been out of the side, the fact you're back now, you can perform from ball one?

RILEE ROSSOUW: I try and simplify things and try to keep it as simple as possible. Doesn't matter where or what stage you're playing on, World Cup going back home, domestic. Just trying to see the white ball and hit the little white ball. Doesn't matter who is running. Obviously people have made names for themselves in cricket in T20, and you've got to take it into consideration. But at the end of the day someone is bowling the ball to you and you're going to hit it.

Q. (Indiscernible) suffice to see Shakib bowling as a (indiscernible). And obviously two left-handers (indiscernible). Being an experienced bowler, did you expect to face him a lot earlier?

RILEE ROSSOUW: Not actually. I thought he played it well. He played his cards while he could. He's a world-class bowler, whether it's left- or right-handed. But if was in his shoes, I probably still wouldn't want to bowl to myself or Quinton de Kock.

So he was hoping he could maybe get a breakthrough from one of the other bowlers. Unfortunately it didn't come. The longer it took for him to come into the game, the more dominant we were going to be or more attacking we were going to be on him when he came and bowled.

Q. I think looking at the innings and you and Quinton at the start, Quinton got off to a fly. You took a little bit longer, probably three or four balls. But is there a specific shot or a specific moment today where you felt you clicked early? Can you sort of pinpoint that particular part where you thought, hang on for a second here, I think I might be on to a big score?

RILEE ROSSOUW: I think when the review went my way, you knew you've got a bit of luck. And also probably the one pull shot I played off Taskin just got me going.

If I get a boundary early in my innings, I kind of feel like, okay, I could be on you today, and I just go from my confidence and so forth.

Q. It's been a pretty good calendar year for you internationally. Has there been anything technically you've done with anyone to tighten things up?

RILEE ROSSOUW: No, not at all.

Q. Obviously there were a lot of Sydney Thunder fans who are quite excited to play today. Have you thought much about the Big Bash League yet, or how you're going to fair in the Australian pitches in the competition coming up?

RILEE ROSSOUW: Obviously I am very excited to play for Sydney Thunder this year. No, I have not thought that far ahead. I'm just trying to focus a year now and stay in the moment. So take this World Cup as it comes first. Then there's T10 after that, and then only Big Bash. So just trying to stay in this moment, keeping it simple.

Q. Just sitting here at the World Cup after the century at ECG, 12 months ago, did you think this is where you could possibly even be?

RILEE ROSSOUW: No, not at all. Sometimes things go your way. And this year has been like an unbelievable roller coaster ride for me. So happy. So proud to be sitting here. Never thought about it in a million years.

Q. You spoke a little bit about how you improved against the spin. Could you maybe just describe a little bit of that process, like coming from South Africa, what really needs to happen technically for a player to get better against them?

RILEE ROSSOUW: I think the more you play against them, the more comfortable you get. That's probably basically anything you do in life, the more you do it, the more you get used to it. And also just handling the different, like, pressure situations, being in the subcontinent when the pitches are turning. You've got to expose yourself to that tough environment. I've been fortunate enough in the last six or seven years of my career to be in that position. And it's just made me a better player.

Q. Given your own journey and international calendars, it's quite a unique one, was there a time where you thought just your shirt might not come around again? And given that layoff from international cricket, does it make moments like this even more special?

RILEE ROSSOUW: I think it does. When you give up your right to play for your country and you expect, okay, that is going to be my last chance. So any moment you've got to cherish that you play for your country. And it's like I've mentioned before, super proud for not just for me but for my family back home.

So it's been a great journey. It's been a long journey. But it's not finished yet, hopefully. So we're taking it one game at a time and hopefully get another opportunity to do well.