Colombo – Proteas spinner, Imran Tahir, is relishing the opportunity to bowl to some of the best players of spin in the upcoming ODI series against Sri Lanka.
The leg-spinner says the contests in spin-friendly conditions will be a good test of his character and skill.
“Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara are two of the greatest players of spin in the world, and there are other very good players of spin in their squad,” Tahir said from the team base in Colombo.
“They obviously grew up facing spin rather than fast bowling so it will be a good challenge. I bowled against them when they were in South Africa and I did well, so I’m hoping to do the same again.” Tahir was the Proteas’ most successful bowler at the ICC World Twenty20 in Bangladesh on similar pitches in April.
The leg-spinner was hoping to make the same impact in the 50-over format, which he felt was a big transition from T20 cricket.
“T20 cricket is totally different to ODI cricket, especially with the five fielders in the ring,” said Tahir, who made his T20I debut in Sri Lanka last year.
“I have put in a lot of hard work and training so I’m just hoping that the debt pays me back on the field.”
Jacques Kallis, meanwhile, who was withdrawn from the Proteas warmup match against a Sri Lanka Cricket Board President’s XI in Moratuwa on Thursday with stiffness in his back, was said to be responding well to treatment.
Kallis will go through a precautionary bowling test on Saturday to determine his availability for the first ODI on Sunday.
