Phangiso hasn’t done a lot of homework

Spin bowler Aaron Phangiso is determined to prove significant amid a bowling attack lined with seam bowlers, come South Africa’s three-ODI series against New Zealand, which will get underway at the Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui on Tuesday.

Phangiso and leg-spinner Imran Tahir are the only specialist slow bowlers in a squad otherwise completed by the services of fast bowlers Morne Morkel, Dale Steyn, Vernon Philander, Kyle Abbott, Wayne Parnell and Ryan McLaren.

“It’s my first time in New Zealand and I haven’t done a lot of homework on the statistics here, but for me it really is about taking situations as they come and not looking too far ahead,” said Phangiso.

“The conditions have been known to be quite slow in some of the areas, so hopefully they will assist a bit of spin, so Imran and I are able to play a part. Past history does suggest that the seam bowlers tend to get a bit of assistance here but if we do play two spinners again our roles will be similar to what they were in Zimbabwe.”

Left-armer Phangiso hailed the positive influence of spin bowling coach Claude Henderson, who was appointed alongside assistant coach Adrian Birrell last year, while performance consultant Paddy Upton and fast bowling coach Allan Donald have been retained.

“Claude was a brilliant spinner in his days. To have a guy like him to work with and to gain some confidence has been great. I can relate a lot to him because he was a left-arm spinner and that does help a lot, its great being able to feed off that,” added Phangiso.

“It also helps to have someone who understands what spinners go through on match days and in our preparation.”