Gros Islet, St Lucia - A spectator at the cricket World Cup tournament here has been roped in to help the South African batsmen prepare to face Brad Hogg's left-arm spin bowling in the semi-final against Australia on Wednesday.
Gulam Bodi, who lives in Azaadville plays provincial cricket for the Titans but is seldom used as a bowler, joined his countrymen in the nets in Barbados on Saturday.
The idea was to give the batsmen some practice against a left-arm spinner before they meet Hogg in the Beausejour Stadium this week.
Bodi is in the West Indies as a spectator at the World Cup tournament.
Because so few South Africans bowl the type of leg spin expected from Hogg, the Titans player was enlisted and even given a team practice shirt to wear.
Bodi said later he intended to talk to the Titans officials because he felt he should be given more opportunities to bowl.
Played for SA Under-19
"I believe I can play a role as spinner. It is frustrating to know you can do something but never get the chance."
Bodi, then considered mainly as a spinner, kept England's star batsman, Kevin Pietersen, out of the Natal team some years ago, leading to Pietersen's decision to move abroad.
Bodi also represented the SA Under-19 team as a spinner, but has been concentrating only on his role as batsman for the past few years.
"If the Titans use me as a spinner, there will be room for another batsman or a seamer in the team," he said on Monday.
Hogg is expected to be a major threat to the Proteas, particularly on a spinner-friendly wicket.
Gulam Bodi, who lives in Azaadville plays provincial cricket for the Titans but is seldom used as a bowler, joined his countrymen in the nets in Barbados on Saturday.
The idea was to give the batsmen some practice against a left-arm spinner before they meet Hogg in the Beausejour Stadium this week.
Bodi is in the West Indies as a spectator at the World Cup tournament.
Because so few South Africans bowl the type of leg spin expected from Hogg, the Titans player was enlisted and even given a team practice shirt to wear.
Bodi said later he intended to talk to the Titans officials because he felt he should be given more opportunities to bowl.
Played for SA Under-19
"I believe I can play a role as spinner. It is frustrating to know you can do something but never get the chance."
Bodi, then considered mainly as a spinner, kept England's star batsman, Kevin Pietersen, out of the Natal team some years ago, leading to Pietersen's decision to move abroad.
Bodi also represented the SA Under-19 team as a spinner, but has been concentrating only on his role as batsman for the past few years.
"If the Titans use me as a spinner, there will be room for another batsman or a seamer in the team," he said on Monday.
Hogg is expected to be a major threat to the Proteas, particularly on a spinner-friendly wicket.
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