Youngster Hanu Viljoen has joined the Hollywoodbets Dolphins ahead of the new season, and the 23-year-old is excited by the challenge of playing in Division One this campaign with the Dolphins.
The right-hand batter has impressed with the Heat in Division Two across all formats and after 15 matches in first-class cricket has a healthy average of nearly 60 with three centuries and a top score of 163.
Viljoen comes from a long line of Highveld-raised stars making their way in domestic cricket and the chance to come to Durban and the Dolphins was something he couldn’t pass up.
“Coach Imraan (Khan) phoned me while I was at the gym at the end of last season and I was very surprised,” Viljoen said.
“I couldn’t believe that one of the best unions in the country wanted to chat to me and I never thought that I would move to Durban, but I am really excited to be part of the set-up here.
“To join a Union that has been fighting in finals for a while now is really exciting and I cannot wait to be a part of that.”
Apart from joining traditionally one of the country’s best cricket Unions, there’s a lot more to moving to Durban that Viljoen is looking forward to.
“I am excited to interact with guys from different cultures and take in what Durban and KwaZulu-Natal has to offer.
“I love a good curry and that is definitely one of the things that Durban stands out for as well as the weather which has been awesome!
“I enjoy the ocean and doing things outdoors and Durban provides the perfect opportunity to get outside,” he mentioned appreciatively.
Focusing on the cricket and a first opportunity to play in Division One, Viljoen feels that there’s no specific aspect of his game that he wants to focus on heading into the season.
“I think the difference between Division One and Two is that the margin for error is smaller in Division One, but at the end of the day it’s still just a game of cricket.
“I’m really looking forward to the competitiveness of the division and I’m hoping to learn as much as possible because I’m still young.
“From my game perspective, I just want to try and become a well-rounded player,” he added. “Obviously I love four-day cricket and the level of cricket is going to be higher this season, so I want to be as consistent as possible.”
Viljoen’s introduction to the squad and the coaching staff has gone off well and he feels he’s fitted in as well as he could have.
“The team and the coaches have been amazing in welcoming me and making me feel at home.
“I can’t complain at all, and they’ve really made me feel at home which has been fantastic for me to settle in as quickly as possible.”
Calling the iconic Hollywoodbets Kingsmead Stadium home has been a highlight for Viljoen.
“Walking into Kingsmead for the first time was spectacular. I was smiling ear-to-ear and to call it home is incredible.
“To think about the guys that have been in that change room and played there, it’s so inspiring,” Viljoen commented.
Dolphins coach Imraan Khan is looking forward to working with Viljoen who comes into the Dolphins mix with a strong Division Two pedigree.
"Hanu is an impressive cricketer and we're excited to have him here at the Dolphins," Khan said. "He fits our mould nicely and he will bolster our batting for sure.
"He's an exciting young player who has fitted in well since he arrived with us for the pre-season. He will learn a lot for the experienced players in the set-up but he looks like he is eager to learn and grow which is exciting for us."