NMB Giants allrounder Ryan McLaren is ready to make a difference for his new franchise when the Mzansi Super League (MSL) T20 explodes into action this weekend.
The MSL starts on Friday but the Giants do not play until Saturday, when they are hosted by the Jozi Stars at the Wanderers in Johannesburg.
The Giants’ squad started assembling in Port Elizabeth on Monday, with the rest of the contingent expected to arrive on Tuesday.
Former Proteas allrounder McLaren, 35, was one of those who pitched and trained at St George’s Park on Monday.
The right-arm seamer and left-handed batsman believes the Giants’ squad has what it takes to compete with the best over the next month or so.
“It’s a great-looking side. In the powerplays, you’ve got guys like Jason Roy and Jon-Jon Smuts in the top order as well.
“You’ve got experience in the middle overs as well, and then you’ve got power-hitting at the end as well with a guy like Chris Morris,” McLaren said.
“Then from a spin bowling view, you’ve got young Dylan Matthews who has just come through but he’s going to learn and feed off a guy like Imran Tahir. There couldn’t be a better learning curve for him.
“So we have spin options and then death bowling and up front you’ve got Junior Dala and Morris again.
“I think it’s got good balance to it and, obviously, playing at St George’s is going to provide its own challenges.
“We just spoke about it now to get used to the conditions for those who haven’t used this as a home ground and to try get accustomed to that as quickly as possible.”
McLaren, whose cousin Adrian also spent time in PE playing for the Warriors, brings valuable experience, having turned out in almost 200 T20 fixtures all over the world for brands like Kent, Kings XI Punjab, Kolkata Knight Riders, Middlesex, Mumbai Indians, Hampshire and Lancashire.
“Yeah, I’ve played for a couple of teams, not as many as Imran Tahir though,” he joked.
“I suppose if your career spans over a couple of years you end up playing for a couple of teams and T20 franchises.
“Yeah, so this is a another one. But it’s a different challenge with a new team, new team-mates that you’ve played against for many years. It’s something to look forward to.
“There’s a wealth of experience and some exciting young players who have come into the ranks, so I think there’s a lot to look forward to.”
McLaren has been fortunate to go through 15 years of his first-class career without sustaining any chronic injuries. He puts that down to maintaining a disciplined fitness routine.
“From a young age, I prided myself on the fitness side of things and tried to give myself the best of trying to stay on the park,” he said.
“As a bowler, it’s a given that at some stage you’re going to pick up an injury and I’ve been blessed up to now that there hasn’t been anything too serious.
“I’m still enjoying it, still love playing the game. I still love training and practising and that’s what keeps you going, I think,” he said.