Aussies won't find Shamsi easy to read
A few international batsmen may have shifted to the edge of their sofas while trying to steal a closer look as Tabraiz Shamsi turned his arm against Australia on Sunday. Call him unorthodox or left-arm wrist-spinner but Shamsi certainly has a bit of mystery about him.Yesterday he was named in the Proteas' Test squad to tour Australia next month, but South Africans who follow domestic cricket will know that Shamsi has been around for some time, although it took a while for him to emerge as a regular in franchise teams.The 26-year-old has bowled more than 15000 deliveries in all formats of cricket since making his first-class debut in 2009 and has enjoyed great success recently.Last year, he was signed by Caribbean Premier League franchise St Kitts and Nevis Patriots, where Eric Simons was his coach.Shamsi rose to prominence there, taking 11 wickets at 13.27 in the seven games he played.More chances would follow in franchise cricket last season.He finished as the leading spinner in the Sunfoil Series, collecting 41 wickets at 19.97 in Titans' run-up to the title.Shamsi was called up to the national team and made his one-day international debut against Australia in the West Indies in June.He says that he is a believer in not having too many tricks but has enough variation and a googly to keep batsmen guessing."He's obviously something different. We faced him in the West Indies," said Australian wicketkeeper Matthew Wade after they went 4-0 down at St George's Park."When the ball is spinning, he's difficult, he's a good bowler. He's tough to read early. You need to face a few balls to get a read on him."With off-spinner Dane Piedt dropped, Shamsi will become first-choice spinner with another uncapped slow bowler, the left-armer Keshav Maharaj, as second choice.Maharaj took 13/157 for the Dolphins against the Warriors in the opening round of first-class matches at the weekend.SA squad: Faf du Plessis (captain), Kyle Abbott, Hashim Amla, Temba Bavuma, Stephen Cook, Quinton de Kock, JP Duminy, Dean Elgar, Keshav Maharaj, Morne Morkel, Vernon Philander, Kagiso Rabada, Rilee Rossouw, Tabraiz Shamsi, Dale Steyn, Dane Vilas.- TMG Digital..
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