Botha hoping to outwit Pietersen

20 August 2008

Johan Botha is relishing combating the threat posed by England's Kevin Pietersen

Johan Botha is relishing the challenge of quelling Kevin Pietersen’s switch-hitting tactics.

South Africa off-spinner Botha has yet to face England captain Pietersen in a competitive match but has been scheming ways to counter any changes of stance at the crease.

Pietersen brought the stroke to attention with two huge sixes, after reverting to a left-handed grip, off New Zealand medium-pacer Scott Styris in the first NatWest Series of the summer.

Since then, South Africa’s management have been particularly impressed in the Test series with how Pietersen’s ingenuity has made them alter their field settings.

Before the NatWest campaign opener at Headingley Carnegie on Friday, Botha said: “Obviously you have to find a way to bowl some dots against him and build a bit of pressure, because he is one of the world’s best if not the best at the moment.

“He has got all the shots and new ones. I see it as a challenge because no one else out there does it, so I would like to see what I do if he does it.

“We have had a few chats and some of the senior guys have an idea what I should do. If he moves late you cannot do anything if the ball has already left your hand.

“If he does move early you maybe could pull out, but I suppose it is also a good opportunity for a wicket if you get it right. If he is totally turning around then his head is moving.

“But you have to acknowledge he has done it well so far: I have seen him five to 10 times, and he has never failed.”

Botha, 26, is one of the Proteas’ limited-overs specialists and captained the side to victory over England Lions in Leicester when Graeme Smith rested his troublesome back last week.

Although South Africa are rated second in the world in limited-overs cricket, they tripped up against the Lions in Derby - and England also gained momentum with a win in the final npower Test, which reduced the series defeat to 2-1.

Pietersen unfurls his switch-hit in the NatWest Series against New Zealand earlier this summer

“The first two games are going to be important,” Botha insisted.

“If we can set it up early and take a lead I am sure the confidence should take us through to the end, and we can win the series.”

Botha, his country’s first-choice spinner in the shorter forms of the game, transformed himself from a journeyman medium-pacer on the advice of current South Africa coach Mickey Arthur and Mark Boucher.

But his career took a jolt when he was cited for a suspect bowling action on his Test debut against Australia at Sydney in January 2006.

He subsequently spent 18 months out of international cricket, undergoing remedial work, but returned for South Africa last October.

“It definitely strengthened me a lot mentally,” he said. “During that period, I had to really think about my bowling and be really on my game - so that if something didn’t feel right with my bowling I knew what it was.

“That helped me to groove my action and feel my action a bit more, so I can work it out if something goes wrong.”

Wet weather - which wiped out today’s scheduled Twenty20 international at the Riverside - has frustrated the South Africans since they swapped whites for their green limited-overs kit.

They plan to train outdoors in Leeds tomorrow, however - and although all-rounder Albie Morkel (shoulder) is not expected to be fit for the series opener, they are hoping his fast-bowling brother Morne Morkel (side strain) will be available.