SA's T20 troubadour

18 May 2015 - 02:00 By Jonhenry Wilson

Former Proteas spinner Johan Botha talks to ESPN's Jonhenry Wilson about T20 cricket, why Australia is a better choice for his family, and the chat with South Africa coach Russell Domingo that sealed the end of his international career. You are no longer captain of South Australia in first-class cricket. Is this your career now - a globetrotting T20 cricketer?I've always enjoyed the shorter format the most.Going back a bit, three years ago, when Darren Berry [South Australia coach] asked me to go over to South Australia, I really wanted to take that chance.It was a great challenge and some of the best first-class cricket I have been involved in.Aged 33 now, there are still a few more years of T20 cricket left in me, maybe even some one-day cricket. Those will be the formats I will concentrate on from hereon in.Are you picky about the T20 franchises you join, or do you accept the first offer received?Playing for teams like Knight Riders or Trinidad & Tobago Red Steel, those decisions are made for you via the auction or late approach.In Australia, there are probably three teams I could play for. I've always liked the way the Sixers play.They've been a very good team for a long time. I've always enjoyed playing against them, too.It's probably just the Sydney Sixers deal that has been my own decision.England's NatWest T20 Blast is missing from your résumé.I would love to get involved in that. The rules are against you if you have not played international cricket in the last two years.I'm obviously outside that window because I've been away from international cricket for almost three years. I'd love to go back to the UK to play cricket if those rules are relaxed. It's one of my favourite places to play the game.A South Africa recall seems increasingly unlikely.Russell Domingo has made it clear that I have to play cricket in South Africa if I wanted to be considered. I've lost a bit of interest now, though.We've settled as a family in Australia. It has never been about me trying to play for Australia or anything like that. It has just been about us living there and for our children to have more options when they grow up.Are you one of the most qualified to comment on the state of first-class cricket in Australia versus South Africa?The biggest thing for me is how Sheffield Shield cricket stands out from the rest. That is the competition that all players in Australia want to win.They want to do well in the shield to play Test cricket for Australia.In South Africa though, all the guys want to do well in T20, so they can get to play in the Champions League T20 or the IPL.It's a real boost for South Africans money-wise. That's understandable. The rand is not very strong when it comes to the exchange rate. ESPNCricinfo..

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