Shipperd never represented Australia officially and got to play all his international cricket on the two rebel tours to South Africa during the apartheid years.

“I remember the quality of South African cricket and I was blessed to have played against some of their greatest players at that time — the likes of Graeme Pollock, Clive Rice, Jimmy Cook. It was such an exciting tour and I was being a part of the transformation process that helped South Africa blossom as a cricketing nation. That is as big as any international cricket for me,” he recalls.

Is there any regret that being a “rebel” hampered his chances of earning the Baggy Green? “To be honest I don’t think I would have made the main Australian team — there were so many talented batsmen,” he says.

Shipperd, who also coaches Victoria Bushrangers, is happy to be back in South Africa once again, and adds that “this time, with the IPL, it is official”.

“We have a good side and we are focusing to this tournament. Last year we had a disappointing semi-final and the boys are keen to get better this time around. And I am happy that the boys are enjoying this format. And this is the indeed the best way I could play T20,” he says.