'Guys came in and played ahead of me, so I knew it was going to be a long road for me to get back to where I was 16 months ago'
South Africa off-spinner Dane Piedt says it took a lot out of him to play cricket again after suffering a career-threatening shoulder dislocation last year.
"I must say a big thank you to Shane Jabaar, the ex-Proteas physio, and my surgeon, Joe de Beer. It was very tough walking into Joe's chamber after that CLT20 injury (in Hyderabad last year) when Cobras had been knocked out. He (De Beer) said it (the surgery) goes one of two ways: 'Either your way, or goes the other way that you don't play again'.
"That hit me quite hard, and I never told anyone that until I came back," Piedt, who took four wickets in India's first innings of the fourth Test at the Feroz Shah Kotla on Thursday, said.
- PHOTOS: India v South Africa, 4th Test, Day 1
"It was a tough road. Guys came in and played ahead of me, so I knew it was going to be a long road for me to get back to where I was 16 months ago (when he made an impressive Test debut against Zimbabwe).
"It was really hard on me emotionally, physically, and just to get back today and get four wickets, is really, really a dream come true," a visibly satisfied Piedt said.
Asked about the comeback, he jokingly replied: "When I came back for the Cape Cobras I think I went for 3 for 3000 (laughs)! It was quite tough coming back, but getting that opportunity to play in Kerala with the South Africa 'A' side (vs India 'A') really gave me a lot of confidence going forward, and I knew that I was close to my best.
"Now I have showed my ability to take wickets, which is what we are looking for. For me, I am just enjoying every moment representing my country, and doing my best. Playing, whether for my franchise or the national team, I just want to do my best, and the results will help me either way," said the 25-year-old.
He said that the two four-day games against India 'A' at Wayanad (in Kerala) helped him get a hang of sub-continental conditions.
"It helped me a hell of a lot; playing in Kerala was really good. Beautiful ground as well. It was good wickets, similar to the surface we are playing on today, actually. It was really good to play against India 'A' where I bowled to Karun Nair, one of those very good players of spin.
"It was really good to measure myself against sub-continental players, on my first tour outside of Southern Africa against sub-continent players. Coming away with 12 wickets (on that A tour) was really good for my confidence coming here. Obviously, better players in the India ranks, but happy to get the opportunity."
