Cricket
Exclusive: “I’ve Grown a lot Since I Made My Test Debut in India,” says Proteas All-Rounder Senuran Muthusamy.
Proteas all-rounder Senuran Muthusamy reflects on his growth since his Test debut in India and his readiness for the upcoming Bangladesh tour. As the series draws near, many will be looking for cricket betting tips.
Image Credits: Lee Warren/Gallo Images/Getty Images
Proteas coach Shukri Conrad has re-called spin all-rounder Senuran Muthusamy for the upcoming Test tour to Bangladesh.
THE CALL-UP AND GROWING AS A CRICKETER
Being a spinner in South Africa is no easy feat. The wickets are spicy, and bouncy and tend to favour seam bowling a lot more with the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg and SuperSport Park in Pretoria having some of the world's most bouncy and fast wickets.
With the legendary fast bowlers that have come out of South Africa, the likes of Makhaya Ntini and Dale Steyn, every kid grows up wanting to bowl fast, spin is rarely an option any kid would immediately go for.
However, there are always those individuals who are just drawn to spin bowling from a young age and Proteas spinner, Senuran Muthusamy, is one of those.
The 30-year-old has almost 250 wickets bowling spin in South Africa, a feat not many spinners have been able to achieve in South African First-Class cricket. With the bat, Muthusamy averages just over 30 and has eight First-Class centuries in his name.
It is these numbers that saw Muthusamy get his maiden Test call-up for a tour to India back in 2019. It is the same numbers that have led to Proteas Test coach Shukri Conrad calling Muthusamy up for the upcoming Test tour to Bangladesh next week.
In an exclusive interview with SportsBoom, Muthusamy expressed that it is always a privilege to receive a national call-up. The 30-year-old also explained that his game has grown in leaps and bounds since maiden Test tour back in 2019.
"It's another Test call-up. It's always a real privilege to represent our country. It was a phone call with the head coach Shukri that I've been selected," Muthusamy told SportsBoom.com.
"I've grown a lot from the time I made my Test debut in India five years ago. I think the all-around aspect is far more locked in. I've gotten a lot more first-class cricket under my belt, and I've learnt a few different skills playing T20 cricket.”
In terms of the aspects that I've grown, I think just all-round middle-order batting and I've learnt a lot about spin bowling and what it takes to be consistent. I've been to a few 'A' tours now, so I've been able to grow.
Senuran Muthusamy
HOW TO PLAY IN THE SUBCONTINENT
The conditions in Bangladesh are expected to be more or less the same as those that one would find in India. The wickets will spin, and Bangladesh will attack with spin seeing that they have quality spinners in Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Shakib Al Hasan.
However, having had a taste of the spin-friendly conditions, Muthusamy knows what to expect and how to adapt. The 30-year-old stressed that one needs to stay in the battle to be able to succeed in the subcontinent conditions.
"I've learned that in the subcontinent you have to stay in the battle and keep competing from a batting and bowling aspect," said Muthusamy.
"No matter what position you're in, you're always in with a chance. From a bowling perspective, you have to bowl straight at the stumps, to be smart with the way you set out your field and have plans for each batter.
"From a batting perspective, you have to have a solid base and foundation to work from and then accept that you're going to face a lot of spin in spin-friendly conditions. It's making those adjustments.
I see myself playing as an all-rounder, probably playing a third spin option and lengthening the batting. I see that sort of role for myself for this Test tour.
Senuran Muthusamy
Ongama Gcwabe is an experienced Sports Journalist based in South Africa. In his career, Ongama’s work has been published in the country’s biggest newspapers company, Independe Newspapers, and some of the leading news and sports websites including IOL Sport.