Botha ready to drive KP nuts

2008-08-20 22:08

London - South African off-spinner Johan Botha has warned Kevin Pietersen that he won't be intimidated by the England captain's aggressive stroke-making.

Botha will get a first taste of Pietersen's extravagant style in Friday's opening one-day international at Headingley.

Pietersen has mastered a switch-hitting stroke by reverting to a left-hand grip that makes him almost impossible to predict, but Botha is relishing the challenge of subduing England's dangerman.

"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," Botha said.

"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.

Gained momentum

"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 Test, which reduced series defeat to 2-1.

"The first two games are going to be important," Botha said. "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's career suffered a blow when he was cited for a suspect bowling action on his Test debut against Australia in 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."

- AFP