Imran Tahir believes his current run of success can be attributed to meticulous studying of the opposition batsmen.

Tahir has been in sensational form for South Africa throughout the summer. He was Man of the Series in the T20s against England and took 3-21 in Friday’s first game against Australia in another big performance.

Tahir said his success was due to having simple and clear game plans against the opposition.

‘As a bowler there are many times where I bowled a good ball and never got a wicket,’ he said of the full toss to dismiss Aaron Finch.

‘I will take that international wicket any day even though it was a full toss. The good and satisfying thing for me is the way I bowled after that, I didn’t bowl any bad balls; that was pleasing. I don’t look at the bad balls and put myself under pressure, In T20 cricket, if you get one or two wickets, that changes the game very quickly.

‘I am the type of bowler who goes into the match with clear plans and goals of what I need to do. I try to work out the opposition batsmen, and work hard in the nets and see where I can succeed, especially in T20 and limited-overs cricket.

‘I feel I’ve been the same bowler over the last few years,’ Tahir said of his current form. ‘Taking wickets or not taking wickets doesn’t matter to me, as long as I’m doing well for the team, that’s what I look to do. If the wickets do come I am always happy to take that.’

The second T20I against Australia takes place at the Wanderers on Sunday.