STEVE PATTERSON is expecting big things to come in the very near future from “captain’s dream” fast bowler Duanne Olivier.

The South African quick is yet to consistently show his best in a Yorkshire shirt after two-and-a-bit seasons with the county.

He has taken 63 wickets in 20 first-class appearances for the county, but that has only included two five-wicket hauls.

He has not had it easy since joining the White Rose. After finding his feet during his first summer in 2019, last year was decimated by coronavirus.

This summer, he went through 20 days of quarantine before linking up with the county, hampering his preparations somewhat.

However, he may be finding his groove after an impressive first innings during last week’s LV= Insurance County Championship win against Kent at Canterbury, where he took three wickets on a tired pitch. He claimed four wickets in total.

“Duanne did a great job at Kent on a surface which didn’t suit him,” said Patterson.

“It was low and slow, and almost took away the value he brings with the ball in terms of his pace and bounce. But he stuck at it and came away with plenty of reward.

“We know what he’s capable of. He’s got natural ability, and he’s shown it before - both in Test Match cricket for South Africa and, at times, playing for us.

“In his early days he was wanting to prove a few things to people - maybe trying to justify why we’d signed him - and was trying too hard.

“Now, he’s much more settled around the place. I’d like to think he’s very comfortable in his surroundings.

“Everything’s there for him to just relax and enjoy his cricket. If he does that for the rest of the summer, I would fully expect him to have a very successful year.”