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Tabraiz Shamsi’s exuberance has put some Australian noses out of joint but the South African spinner says his antics are simply a case of having fun.
Shamsi made his one-day international debut in the recent tri-series clash in Guyana, taking one wicket as the Proteas rolled Australia for just 142.
The left-arm tweaker regularly went up for voracious lbw appeals, while he celebrated the dismissal of Glenn Maxwell with trademark vigour.
The 26-year-old’s flamboyance frustrated some Australians during this year’s Indian Premier League.
David Warner condemned his ‘bus driver’ celebration, quipping it was a “bit too fancy.”
“In my team if someone does that at 150 off 15 overs, I wouldn’t accept that at all,” Sunrisers Hyderabad skipper Warner said.
Australia legspinner Adam Zampa and coach Darren Lehmann were also critical on Twitter.
“The whole thing got blown our of proportion and there’s nothing in it really,” Shamsi said in Georgetown.
“It was just a little fun thing.
“It’s about having fun on the field, just enjoying ourselves.
“As a child when you start playing the game, you play the game because you love it … that’s one thing I never want to forget.”
As for what sort of reception he was given by Australia on debut, Shamsi was tightlipped.
“I think we’ll leave that one out,” he laughed.
Shamsi, who was likened to Brad Hogg by teammate Farhaan Behardien, added the theatrics bring out the best in him.
“There’s a lot of people scrutinising you … a lot of pressure … we tend to forget that fun factor,” he said.
Shamsi noted the IPL helped him prepare for the challenges presented by Australia.
“It does really give you a bit of an edge … when you play against players like that (in the IPL) it gives you confidence,” he said.
Shamsi knows full well he was assisted by a spin-friendly pitch in Georgetown.
But he expects somewhat similar decks in St Kitts and Barbados.
Shamsi would know too, having represented St Kitts in last year’s Caribbean Premier League.
“In the Caribbean all the pitches do turn,” he said.
“The surfaces are quite friendly towards spinners … anywhere we go in the Caribbean I think spin will definitely play a part.”
The tri-series continues at 3am (AEST) on Sunday, when Australia face South Africa.
AAP rf/wf
Headline: Crik:Aussie foe says he’s just having fun
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