Botha looks to resurrect career

Johan Botha is back in the South African side after an 18-month gap © Getty Images

Johan Botha, the South Africa offspinner, is looking to get his career back on track after being selected for the one-day side for the series against Pakistan, which ends his 18-month absence from international cricket.

Botha underwent a rehabilitation programme to correct his action after being reported while making his Test debut in Sydney against Australia in January, 2006. His action was deemed illegal after testing at the University of Western Australia, based on which he was banned.

In August, 2006, soon after the ICC had cleared his action, a second test found that he had continued to bend his arm beyond the permitted 15-degree angle. After further reworking, his action was cleared once again on November 21.

"Obviously I'm very excited and thrilled to be back in the national team", Botha told the Daily Dispatch, a South Africa-based newspaper. "It's been a quite a while now and it will be great to be back in the set-up and have another go."

"It's in the past now, it happened then and it's history to me. I won't lie, it was not a nice feeling, it was a tough period for me but I knew it will be over. I kept backing myself and I never thought it was over for one minute."

Botha, who had captained the South Africa Emerging Players to victory in a one-day tournament in Australia, is keen to make the most of his selection."This is an opportunity for me to put my hand up and do something special. I think Mickey [Arthur] and the selectors are just giving everyone a chance because they need a number one spinner. They had a look at Robin [Peterson] and Thandi [Tshabalala] and I think this is my chance."

"I think, contrary to some beliefs, spinners have a huge role to play in one-day cricket and it will be nice to play that role for my country."

Botha made his ODI debut in December 2005, against India in Hyderabad, and has taken 7 wickets in 13 matches.