Tabraiz Shamsi expects higher totals as the Caribbean tri-series shifts from the slow pitch and sizeable outfield at Providence to a quicker strip and smaller ground in St Kitts
Firdose Moonda10-Jun-2016Tabraiz Shamsi, the South African chinaman bowler, expects higher totals as the Caribbean tri-series shifts from the slow pitch and sizeable outfield at Providence to a quicker strip and smaller ground in St Kitts, but hopes spinners will still be able to play a role.”They say cricket’s a batsman’s game, and this leg showed they’re probably just making us bowlers feel good before they start giving us some big hits again,” Shamsi joked. “That was nice as a spinner – to get a turning track with a big field to go with it. But if you’re given a small field, you’ve just got to make the best of it and come up with a plan. Hopefully, it works.”That the Guyana conditions are tough for batsmen and spinner-friendly was obvious. None of the teams managed a total of 200 in the three matches, with scoring rates hovering around the four-runs-an-over mark. Of the 49 wickets that fell, 31 were claimed by spinners. In the last fixture, between South Africa and Australia on Tuesday, the teams had seven spin options between them, with South Africa fielding three specialist spinners for the first time in five years.That is certain to change at Warner Park, where South Africa will certainly field a smaller spin contingent, but Shamsi has a good case to keep his spot. He was impressive on debut, with captain AB de Villiers noting that not many of the Australian batsmen were able to pick him. He is also well-acquainted with Warner Park, his home ground in the Caribbean Premier League, and the venue of both his four-wicket hauls for St Kitts and Nevis Patriots in the 2015 season.Even though the surface won’t offer the same assistance as Providence, Shamsi, who has knowledge of the conditions, still expects some help. “In the Caribbean, all the pitches turn. I played here last year, so I know the surfaces are quite friendly towards spinners,” he said. “Anywhere we go in the Caribbean, spin will definitely play a role.”That means the quicks will still have to concentrate on doing as much containing as they can, leaving it to Shamsi and Imran Tahir to attack through the middle overs, which will also allow for an interesting interplay between student and master. Shamsi has admitted he wants to learn as much as he can from Tahir, who he is being touted to eventually take over from.”Imran has been a world-class performer for many years. He has been a big help for me, not just on this tour, but over the last couple of years,” Shamsi said. “I’m always on his case, asking for tips, because he’s performing at such a high level and that could only help my game.”It also means that South Africa could have two of the most exuberant wicket-taking celebrations in world cricket, with Tahir well-known for running elatedly towards the stands, and Shamsi imitating a bus-driver when he strikes. For both, those moments are the most precious, so it was hardly surprising to hear Shamsi echo what Tahir has often said about why he overflows with joy every time he takes a wicket.”As you grow older and get into the professional environment, there’s a lot of pressures based on performances. There’s a lot of people scrutinising you. So we tend to forget that fun factor,” Shamsi said. “That’s one thing I never want to forget. Ultimately, we play the game because we love it initially. That’s something I always want to remember going forward into my career, however long it may be.”
