Harris is still waiting for a turning track |
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Monday April 7, 02:25 AM
For a spinner from outside one of the Asian countries, touring the sub-continent is a big occasion. Bred on pitches that suit the faster men, a tour of India remains one of the biggest challenges - bowling to good players of spin on helpful tracks.
And while there is no possibility of catching a South African who will complain about the wicket in Ahmedabad, there's one member of their squad who is looking forward to a good old-fashioned turner in Kanpur.
"Touring the sub-continent is a big occasion for spinners," Paul Harris told The Indian Express. "I was very excited about the tour, but I am still waiting for a turning track. Neither Chennai nor Ahmedabad had anything for spinners. Hopefully, Kanpur will be a better experience for me," the left-arm spinner said.
He toured Bangladesh recently, but only played the one-dayers there. "I couldn't bowl in the Tests as I was still recuperating after undergoing an operation," he said.
Missing Sachin
Harris is also upset about the fact that he will not get a chance to bowl to Sachin Tendulkar on this tour. In Chennai, Tendulkar got out cheaply. He was subsequently ruled out of the next two Tests with an injury. "I wish I could bowl to him. He is such a great batsman," said Harris, adding that the wicket of Sachin in his debut match at Cape Town is still his favourite scalp just because of the "class and stature" of the batsman.
The spinner plans to make the most of this trip. He wants to meet Harbhajan Singh after the series. "I want to talk to him for tips. He sends the ball up in the air in an amazing away. He spins it in the air. I would like to know how he does that," he said.
Harris had to wait for a while in the ranks as South Africa had in Nicky Boje a fairly competent left-arm option. In the 2005-06 domestic season, he picked up 49 wickets and was still ignored by the selectors. Only after Nicky Boje's retirement did he get his chance.
But Harris sees that as a blessing in disguise. "It's good that it happened later rather than sooner. I am a much more mature bowler now," said the 29-year-old, who has taken 34 wickets from 12 Tests.
But isn't it unusual for a player of his height to be a spinner? "I used to bowl fast till I was eleven. But then I hurt my back and became a spinner."
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