Wrist-spinner Tabraiz Shamsi is looking forward to becoming a relatively permanent fixture in the Proteas’ ODI XI.

Shamsi has collected 18 ODIs since debuting four years ago. The retirement of fellow wrist-spinner Imran Tahir after the 2019 World Cup will likely afford Shamsi more opportunity.

‘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,’ said Shamsi.

‘I’ve been involved with the team for a number of years but it was always the odd game here or there so I’m excited for this new chapter. It felt like I was starting my career in Cape Town.’

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Shamsi took three key wickets in Tuesday’s opener against England at Newlands. The Proteas won the and have an early lead in the three-match series. The second match will be played at Kingsmead in Durban on Friday. Shamsi and fellow spinner Jon-Jon Smuts will likely be retained in the XI.

‘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. Smuts is an all-rounder. 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,’ added Shamsi.

The Wanderers in Johannesburg will host the third on Sunday.

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