Shamsi provides food for thought

DURBAN: Proteas coach Ottis Gibson expressed general satisfaction after his team’s two-day workout against the Sri Lankan Board XI on Colombo over the weekend.

“I think, for the most part, we got what we wanted. I though we bowled very well. (on Saturday). I think it is about getting used to conditions at this stage, and we knew that the wicket was going to be slow. This was about getting miles into the bowlers legs,” he explained to local reporters in the Sri Lankan capital.

There is a very short build-up to what is a big series for the Proteas, with the first Test starting in Galle on Thursday. Half of Gibson’s bowling stocks have never played in Sri Lanka before, so the past few days have been worthwhile in that sense.

“Vernon and Dale have played here before, but this is new for Lungi (Ngidi) and (Kagiso) Rabada. It’s good for them to see what it’s like.

“It is not like Jo’burg, where it’s flying through to the slips.

“Sometimes it might bounce twice before it gets to the keeper here.”

There is also the small matter of a few of his stars making their first steps back onto the field after injury lay-offs.

“Obviously KG is coming back from injury, Dale (Steyn) was in England, and Vern (Philander) has had some time out of the game. I thought (Tabraiz) Shamsi was excellent, and really hit the ground running. He has really put himself in the frame for a Test place,” Gibson noted of his wrist-spinner.

Shamsi helped himself to figures of 5/45 in 13.2 overs on Saturday, taking advantage of Keshav Maharaj’s absence through sickness.

Shamsi and Shaun von Berg both got chances in the middle, but it was the left-armer who grabbed it with both hands. With Galle expected to be dry, he has given Gibson and company some food for thought.

“It was good to see Shamsi and Von Berg get a run out. With his chinaman, Shamsi can be an interesting challenge for the Sri Lankans.”

“But we have to get to Galle and see what surface we get,” Gibson explained when asked if Shamsi had bowled himself into contention.

His batters also gave him reason to be enthused, with half-centuries for Hashim Amla, Temba Bavuma and skipper Faf du Plessis.

“We made a conscious decision that everyone was going to get a hit, and Hashim retired to let the other guys have a hit. I was a bit disappointed that the lower-order didn’t take the chance to spend some time in the middle, but we have had a really good week so far,” he concluded.