Magic man Shamsi
AMBITION: ELABORATE CELEBRATIONS ATTRACTING MUCH ATTENTION
Before he became a fulltime cricketer, South African spin bowler Tabraiz Shamsi wanted to become a professional magician. Now Shamsi has brought his old passion to the cricket field. His extravagant celebrations after taking a wicket have attracted social media interest across the cricket-playing world.
The left-arm wrist spinner’s latest trick is to take a large red handkerchief out of his pocket and, with a flick of his wrist, turn it into a metre-long wand.
“I have always wanted to enjoy myself on the cricket field,” Shamsi said yesterday.
“There’s a lot of pressure playing professional cricket and sometimes you forget why you started playing cricket in the first place.
“It’s a bit of fun. Not everyone likes it but my intentions are all good. I want to get more kids to enjoy the game.”
Playing for the Paarl Rocks in South Africa’s Mzansi Super League Twenty20 competition, Shamsi is the competition’s joint second-highest wicket-taker with 12 wickets in seven matches at an average of 18, conceding a relatively economical 7.20 runs an over.
With one league match to go, the Rocks are well-placed to make the three-team play-offs.
“Before cricket became serious for me, at the age of about 15,
Picture: Gallo Images
I wanted to be a professional magician,” said Shamsi, 29, who has played in two Tests, 17 one-day internationals and 16 T20 internationals for South Africa.
He first attracted attention for his celebrations with a dance move – “some people called it the bus driver dance” – which he unveiled while playing for Royal
Challengers Bangalore in the Indian Premier League in 2016.
He then came up with a mock telephone call, taking off a shoe and pretending it was a mobile phone, while playing for St Kitts and Nevis Patriots in the Caribbean Premier League two years ago.
The trick with the wand is his latest and most elaborate move.
“It takes a lot of practice to get things right and I have to be aware of the television cameras so they don’t see exactly what I do,” he said.
There could be more to come. “I’m always thinking of something new – but if there are no wickets, there are no celebrations.” – AFP
– Richard Hadlee says New Zealand did something special in 1985 by winning their first Test series in Australia and there is no doubt current skipper Kane Williamson (above) would view victory in the upcoming series across the Tasman Sea as a career highlight.
Australia has been a difficult place to come for New Zealand, who have lost six and drawn three of their nine Test series there since that triumph more than 30 years ago.
But Williamson’s team head to Australia today for the first match, a day-night encounter starting on Decemeber 12 in Perth, full of confidence after clinching their fifth successive series victory at home earlier this week against England.
They also received a welcome boost yesterday when pace spearhead Trent Boult and all-rounder Colin de Grandhomme were cleared to travel with the team.
Boult (ribs) and De Grandhomme (abdominal muscle) missed the second Test against England but came through a fitness test yesterday in Mount Maunganui.
“Trent Boult and Colin de Grandhomme are both making good progress with their injuries and successfully trained today at Bay Oval,” NZC said on their Twitter page.
“The pair will travel with the team to Perth tomorrow.”
New Zealand’s recent away form, which includes a victory over Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates and a draw with Sri Lanka, means they head into the three-Test series as the second ranked side in the world.
Consistency of selection over the last two years has meant the side is relatively settled and they have also built some depth in pace bowling and in the middle-order batting.
Fast bowler Lockie Ferguson is in the squad and could make his Test debut, with the fast and bouncy conditions expected in Perth probably conducive to him hurrying up Australia’s batsmen.
Neil Wagner could also benefit from faster wickets, with the left-armer having carved out an impressive record on unresponsive pitches in New Zealand with his ability to get deliveries to rear up off a length.
Wagner was Man-of-the-Series against England and former Australia captain Ricky Ponting said that he was the “enforcer”. Melbourne will host the second Test (December 26-30) with the final match in Sydney (January 3-7). –