JJ Smuts

“I have to make sure I keep looking after my skill – if it comes it comes and if it doesn’t it doesn’t.”

“I feel that’s a bit harsh, considering I only played eight games for the national side and three for SA A in my career. It’s a tough pill to swallow.”

“There's lots for Italy to look forward to as they try to become more professional, not necessarily for someone like myself but for future cricketers in Italy.”

“I think they're hoping to secure a facility this summer and build a turf wicket with multiple strips, so they can host games in Rome.”

“I definitely will, especially with the cricket plans Italy has for the next few years.”

“Obviously this World Cup plays a big role in it because we get to compete on the world stage now, which is going to be awesome”

“The dream for Italy is to make that transition into cricket, so it can become well known a lot quicker.”

“In the past, no one really followed rugby too much in Italy, but to see the growth has been great.”

“In the past, no one really followed rugby too much in Italy, but to see the growth has been great. The dream for Italy is to make that transition into cricket”

“They ask a lot of questions. They want to pick your brain. They want you to help other players and just, you know, be yourself, which I think is obviously the most important thing.”

“I am the only one with international experience, and the thing that's been so awesome about it is just how well I feel I've fitted into the side, and how they've accepted me,"”

“But I'm in constant contact with my doctor, who is very understanding. It's one of those things that I've had to deal with, but I feel like I've stayed on the good side of it for the majority of my career.”

“Playing cricket is really tough with the emotions, the adrenaline, ups and downs, so it's not as easy.”

“South Africa always has a very competitive side so it's very easy to get in for a few games and then be out of the South African mix.”

“Every player will always feel they could have played for longer, but deep down I know South Africa has a rich history of producing really good cricketers,I'd love to have had a much longer career, but we have had some really world-class superstars.”

“I never thought I'd play a World Cup, even though I would always try and train at an international standard to make sure I'm always able to up the intensity if I need to go through the gears”

“I know how difficult it can be, but also realise that I'm still more than capable of contributing and performing here.”

“And in my last few games, I did reasonably well for South Africa, so I took a lot of confidence from that into coming to play for Italy, knowing that I understand what the international scene is about.”

“I didn't play loads of international cricket for South Africa but I played enough to understand what it's about.”

“I never thought I'd play a World Cup, even though I would always try and train at an international standard to make sure I'm always able to up the intensity if I need to go through the gears.”