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Keep Harris, says Gogga
24/07/2008 14:04 - (SA)
Rob Houwing
Cape Town - Paul Harris, one of few marginally misfiring links in the Proteas side, deserves a vote of confidence for the key third Test at Edgbaston next week.
So says Paul Adams, still the left-arm spinner with the most wickets (134 at 32.87) for South Africa, but in the international wilderness since 2004.
"Gogga" believes Harris, the incumbent slow bowler who hardly set the world alight in the first two Tests, nevertheless showed personal "improvement" in the Headingley victory which saw South Africa nose 1-0 ahead in the series.
"I think Harro made a conscious effort to look "taller" in delivery at Leeds; he had been low and a little more round-arm in the Lord's Test," Adams told Sport24. "He's trying to use his height a bit more; getting better shape on the ball and some bounce.
"He is never going to be a big turner of the ball unless some serious rough comes into play. And let's not forget that with our pace attack doing most of the striking, Harro has been asked mostly to do a holding job anyway.
"He's earned some criticism in the English press, but it's a bit ironic considering that for so long England used a certain Ashley Giles in a very similar role."
Misfired
Adams believes there won't be any "tinkering" with the winning South African team from Headingley, despite the credentials of a second spinner in the squad, Robin Peterson, who offers more with the bat and in the field.
"We saw how England fiddling with the balance of their side misfired in the second Test. And you don't mess with a winning team: keep the vibe, the momentum, the morale. Plus Harris will feel more comfortable at Edgbaston, where he did pretty well in a stint with Warwickshire.
"If we go down at Birmingham, maybe then some thought will be given to "Robbie P". He's possibly a bit more attacking, and does give better balance to the lower-order batting.
"But you should generally pick your spinner on the grounds of his chief trade. There's more continuity in the Proteas team these days: there were times when I felt I'd be out if I didn't get a fifer."
Both Harris and Peterson are expected to play in the Proteas' three-day weekend tune-up against Bangladesh A at Worcester - Peterson's opportunity, perhaps, to play himself into Test contention.
Adams is no stranger to Edgbaston himself: he played the 1998 Test there, a rain-affected draw, bagging 3/83 in a marathon 42 overs and then 2/36 in England's shorter second innings.
- Sport24
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