Imran Tahir

Tabraiz Shamsi (born 18 February 1990) is a South African professional cricketer. He made his international debut in June 2016 in the Caribbean. He is widely regarded as one of the best in T20 cricket, with him being the highest wicket taker in T20 history for South Africa. Quotes You always want more time at home, but at least we got something - other guys don't even get that much. The way the calendar has changed nowadays, you finish a series and the same night you're off to the airport. That's what happened for us when we played India. It's quite refreshing to get to a country and have two warm-up games - that's unheard of. There'll be some days where you're going to go home sad, but others where you go home very happy. That plays into the way I like to bowl. As a player who believes in himself and a team who believes in themselves, you want to play against the stronger teams; you want to test yourself against a team like England. I've always wanted to get the best guy out on the opposition team. England is blessed with many good guys, so that's really exciting for me. It's something I'm proud of when I play: it's a great opportunity to be bowling against very good players and having an opportunity to get them out. I've always wanted to get the best guy out on the opposition team. England is blessed with many good guys, so that's really exciting for me. It's something I'm proud of when I play: it's a great opportunity to be bowling against very good players and having an opportunity to get them out. You see what works, what doesn't, and then you play again on Sunday. That's the only way I think a player can improve: if he's backed and he's given enough opportunity. I always believed in my abilities but to be able to get that run to actually show the world, "Okay, cool, you know what, this is what this guy can do" - that was quite satisfying for me. I suppose so, but then again, the game has changed so much. Guys are batting left-handed when they're supposed to be a right-handed batsman, and reverse-whooping fast bowlers. That might previously have been the case when India came through with Kuldeep Yadav, but I think guys have adapted. That's the game: bowlers come up with something and then batsmen innovate. At the end of the day, you have to put the ball in the right area with the right variations, no matter whether you're bowling with the right arm or the left arm. That's the key. I don't think you get any freebies in international cricket, especially against the stronger teams . My basics don't change whether I'm playing against the guy for the first time or he's played against me a lot. It's more of your prep as a player that gives you confidence. If he's on the field with you playing international cricket, he's a pretty good player. It's either for you or it's not for you. You get some guys that are mavericks that just want to go out there on feel, but I feel that definitely, for me personally, it gives me an edge in my prep. I am a free-spirited person - you see that with my celebrations and the way I go about life - but if that [analytics] can give you a slight indication of what a batsman might be doing, why not take that opportunity? At the end of the day, you have to put the ball in the right area with the right variations, whether you're bowling with the right arm or the left You can be a maverick on the field but you can be better if you have prior knowledge - something that can maybe prepare you or make you aware of what the batsman might be trying to do. That's why I dive quite a lot into the analysis. And then I like to prepare according to how I feel I should be bowling against a specific batsman. It will be footage, stats, wagon wheels - all that stuff is pretty standard in international cricket now. But it's about how you interpret the information. The information can be there and each guy will take whatever works for them. I'm the same: I won't use every piece of information, but I take what I think is relevant for my bowling. When you're playing international cricket, there can't be a 70% difference between my skill versus your skill. We're all good players, that's why we've made it that far. It's more of a mental thing. I know I'm a good bowler, you know you're a good batsman. It's about how we tackle each other mentally and who has more faith in their ability and execution. Skill-wise, we're all on a specific level. Yes, some guys are slightly better than others, but I don't think the difference is as big as it is mentally. That's what makes great players great: their mental approach to the game and their belief in their ability. Earlier I would play one game, then another three months later. Now you play on Wednesday and if you make a mistake, you can correct that on Friday. That's the only way a player can improve: if he's backed and he's given enough opportunity My philosophy of my celebrations is that you're playing against the best players in the world and it's become our job to be doing it professionally, so that's my way of enjoying myself. All of us started doing this thing because we enjoyed it, then we got good at it because we were having fun, then we got higher and higher and now it becomes more intense because your performances are being scrutinised. Every move you make is being assessed and you're playing because it's your job. I don't want to lose that fun factor and celebrating helps to take the pressure off. Once I've taken a wicket, I'm enjoying myself because, flip, I've worked hard to be where I am and I'm well aware that it's not going to last forever - that's just how bodies work. I want to enjoy cricket while I'm playing and make memories that I'll have once I'm done, for my kids, for my family. Just because I'm earning money from the game and my job is dependent on my performances, I don't want to just be all serious or not be myself. I want to have fun. Tabraiz Shamsi: 'I've always wanted to get the best guy in the opposition out' July 2022,Cricinfo by Matt Roller I am excited to make mistakes along the way because now I have time to implement on them, Previously I was playing the odd game here and there and the mistakes I've made, it's only three months later that I can try and implement (lessons learnt). There wasn't that consistency. I'm excited and on the way there will be mistakes as well but for me, this feels like the beginning. I don't think much has changed because he was the keeper so our communication was always there. He is a man of a few words. When he speaks, he is clear on the instructions and off we go. It's a collective. It's nice that the guys up front take wickets. It makes my job easier coming in so it was nice to see a spinner taking a wicket," Over the years people have said he is a bits-and-pieces bowler but he is not that. He doesn't get enough credit. He is a lot better than that. This feels like the beginning' - Tabraiz Shamsi,Feb 2020, Cricinfo by Firdose Moonda External Links Category:Cricketers from South Africa Category:1990 births Category:Living people