'I don't want cricket to be a nine-to-five job'
Tabraiz Shamsi talks about playing the game for fun, the tour of Sri Lanka, and bowling wristspin in the limited-overs game
"For me, when I'm enjoying myself, that's the time I'm bowling at my best" • Ishara Kodikara/AFP/Getty Images
I actually began my career as a fast bowler. I thought I was a fast bowler, but I really wasn't fast enough (laughs). So, up until I was 14, I bowled left-arm medium pace. Later, when I was in high school, my coaches at the Under-14 level said I wasn't fast enough, and because I used to bowl a bit of spin as well, they suggested I become a spin bowler. One coach suggested I become a left-arm orthodox spinner and the other wanted me to become a left-arm wristspinner. The coach who asked me to bowl left-arm orthodox said it's much easier to control and bowl fingerspin, as opposed to wristspin. I always want to fight - that's my personality. So I asked myself, why should I take the easier option? I wanted to be that guy who does the hard stuff. Wristspin was tougher to control and I had it in me to work harder to turn into a left-arm wristspinner.
In addition to the conventional leggie, wrong'un and the slider, I work at changing my angles in the crease and changing my lines smartly. Those are also variations. Switching pace from slower to quicker is also part of the learning.
It was very pleasing for me, personally. It was nice to see that I did well in conditions that didn't suit my style of bowling. The World Cup is coming up in England next year and the pitches don't really spin much there as well. Being the top wicket-taker [in the domestic competitions] has given me so much confidence. And recently in Dambulla, I felt the pitch was like a Wanderers wicket, but I still got four wickets.
"I always want to fight - that's my personality. I asked myself, why should I take the easier option? I wanted to be that guy who does the hard stuff"
Maybe at the death, other bowlers are trying to contain the batsman as opposed to taking wickets. But I usually think wickets, and and if you take wickets at the death, you won't let the opposition score much either. Batsmen are under pressure to hit sixes and that's when your variations come into play. So I see bowling in the death as a wicket-taking opportunity
Bowling to Dhoni was one of the defining moments in my life. I was just an uncapped player from South Africa who had joined Royal Challengers Bangalore as a replacement player. On the eve of the match I did not even know whether I would be in the XI. I had not played international cricket in 2016 and suddenly I was up against the greatest finisher the game has seen - in my opinion.
Usually you play international cricket, then make your way into these leagues like CPL and IPL. In my case, I played leagues before I was picked for South Africa.
I agree with him 200%. You can just free yourself in the Caribbean and it's all about entertaining the people and having fun yourself. There is so much pressure in cricket these days. Every time you walk onto the field, you are scrutinised, and people often forget we are humans and make mistakes as well.
Most of us didn't start playing cricket with the aim of becoming a professional. I started playing because as a kid I wanted to have fun. After beginning to like the game, we make an effort to progress, and because of all the pressure, you forget to have fun. Celebrating is my way of having fun.
Shamsi on his celebrations
The bus driver jig is because I can spin the ball both ways. I spin my body this way and then that way while celebrating.
The walking stick came up because I had missed a couple of matches because of a bad hamstring. That was my first game back and I acted like an old man with a walking stick - the stump. In hindsight, I could have got into trouble with that.
The Mortal Kombat celebration is from the Sub-Zero character in the game.
The shoe-telephone is because sometimes when you appeal for a wicket, the on-field umpire refers it to the TV umpire. The shoe-telephone is me "confirming" with the TV umpire if it's out.
Carlos, Rahul and Virat are good friends of mine. Sometimes the guys come up to me in the change room and tell me they want to do the celebrations with me. I say: "Sure, let's do this." Like I said, I want to entertain. Watch this space, maybe a new celebration is coming up in the CPL playoffs this year.
No, I will always be myself. I just don't want cricket to be a normal nine-to-five job. If that situation happens again, I will celebrate again.
"The way the limited-overs game is moving, those days of loopy legbreaks are gone"
Ha ha ha, not faster than Immy. I can't beat his celebration.
Immy has been playing for many, many years and he's been like an elder brother to me. Sometimes people see you as competition - he's a wristspinner and I'm one as well - but he's like an open book. When I need any advice or have a question, I go to Immy. And even though I'm much younger than him, sometimes if he needs help, he calls me on the phone.
Playing with AB is the best thing because you don't have to bowl to the great man. We all know how destructive he can be. He is also very knowledgeable. He has helped me with some game plans at Titans and RCB. To get a second opinion from him - he is one of the best - when I was playing with him helped me plan against him in the CPL.
Yes, very special. I have basically found a home at Titans. The path wasn't laid out just like that for me. I had to leave my house at the age of 20 and shift to Durban for more chances. I did not get much game time, lost my contract, moved a level lower. Fighting again and finding a home at Titans is some journey.
I feel sad that I missed out on the Champions Trophy because I've never been to an ICC event before. My ambition is to put in consistent performances and go to the World Cup and do some damage in England. I don't want to just participate, I want to be somebody who makes a big difference in a big game and win it for South Africa. I firmly believe I will do something special at the World Cup, if I get picked.
The spin department in the country looks much better than it has been before at any point. [Shaun] von Berg, and Tahir are legspinners. I bowl left-arm wristspin, Keshav [Maharaj] bowls left-arm orthodox, and there's Senuran Muthusamy with the A team, who also bowls left-arm orthodox.
The amount of stats and game plans Prasanna can give for the second-team players in South Africa, in addition to the senior side, is exceptional. Especially in T20s, these stats and match-ups are important. I sit down with Prasanna the evening before T20s and analyse the scoring options of batsmen and work out how we can contain them.
"We South African spinners get criticised for not doing well in the subcontinent. But when their spinners come to South Africa, they don't do as well as our spinners"
I don't mind getting swept. I look to get wickets. When the ball bounces and turns extra, you have the chance of finding the top edge. I don't mind a batsman sweeping me for five fours in a row because I believe I can attack the stumps and get him with my variations off the sixth ball. I don't get flustered by the sweep, I enjoy it.
For me, it was personal tragedy and it was difficult. There was no pressure from the team management, but I wanted to make myself available. I just felt that I needed to be back and do the job for my country. So I just spent one day at home and returned the next day.
I played the Galle Test - my second, after two years. I was happy with the way I went. I also did well in the one-day and T20I series, which made me believe that I had progressed as a player. I won my first Man-of-the-Match award in Dambulla. But that series is gone now and I need to start again from zero and go to hundred.
I definitely want to play Test cricket. Things happen a lot slower in Tests, and you need to have the mindset to be a bit defensive and adjust from limited-overs cricket, where the action is quick. Keshav is the No. 1 spinner in Tests now and he did an exceptional job in Sri Lanka. I know I have to wait for my turn. But whenever I'm called up, I'll ensure I'm ready for it.
Deivarayan Muthu is a sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo