Johan Botha (cricketer)

Johan Botha (born 2 May 1982) is an South African-Australian cricket coach, cricketer and long-distance runner, who played for the South African national team between 2005 and 2012. He moved to Australia in 2012 to play in that country's domestic leagues, and in 2016 became an Australian citizen. In January 2019, he retired from all forms of the game.[1] However, in December of 2020, he made a comeback as a replacement player for the Hobart Hurricanes in the 2020–21 Big Bash League.[2]

For other persons by the same name, see Johan Botha (disambiguation).

Johan Botha
Botha training with South Africa in 2009
Personal information
Full nameJohan Botha
Born (1982-05-02) 2 May 1982
Johannesburg, Transvaal, South Africa
BattingRight-handed
BowlingRight-arm offbreak
RoleAll rounder
International information
National side
Test debut (cap 299)2 January 2006 v Australia
Last Test20 November 2010 v Pakistan
ODI debut (cap 80)16 November 2005 v India
Last ODI3 March 2012 v New Zealand
T20I debut (cap 13)9 January 2006 v Australia
Last T20I2 October 2012 v India
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
2001–2004Eastern Province
2004–2005Border
2004–2011Warriors
2012–2014South Australia
2012–2014Adelaide Strikers (BBL)
2015–2018Sydney Sixers (BBL)
2009–2012Rajasthan Royals (IPL)
2013Delhi Daredevils (IPL)
2015Kolkata Knight Riders (IPL)
2011Northamptonshire (T20)
2015Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel (CPL)
2018–Hobart Hurricanes (BBL)
Career statistics
Competition Test ODI T20I FC
Matches 5 78 40 90
Runs scored 83 609 201 4,015
Batting average 20.75 19.03 18.27 31.61
100s/50s 0/0 0/0 0/0 1/27
Top score 25 46 34 109
Balls bowled 1,017 3,823 774 14,656
Wickets 17 72 37 220
Bowling average 33.70 40.50 22.24 32.28
5 wickets in innings 0 0 0 7
10 wickets in match 0 n/a n/a 1
Best bowling 4/56 4/19 3/16 6/34
Catches/stumpings 3/– 36/– 17/– 63/–
Source: Cricinfo, 7 December 2020

Early life and career

Botha was born in Johannesburg but attended Grey High School in Port Elizabeth, the same school that other notable South African cricketers such as Graeme Pollock attended, and captained a South Africa Schools cricket team.[3] In the early parts of his cricket career he was a medium-pace bowler, but when he was playing cricket for the Warriors, future South African coach Mickey Arthur suggested that he should switch bowling style to off break, which Botha then bowled for the rest of his professional career.[3][4] Once he had made the switch he also focused on learning to bowl a doosra, a ball which turns in the opposite direction to a normal off break.[4]

A year after changing bowling styles, Botha went travelled with South Africa A, South Africa's second XI team, to Sri Lanka. He took key wickets and scored runs to put his name up as a potential future Test spinner for South Africa.[4]

Test debut and throwing allegations

He made his Test debut against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground in January 2006 during the 2005–06 tour, and claimed batsman Mike Hussey as his first Test wicket. However, he was reported for throwing the ball at the conclusion of the match.[5] He was allowed to play several games during the 2005–06 VB Series, but in February, was suspended from bowling following an analysis by bowling expert Bruce Elliott.[6] He hoped to return to bowling after an examination by the ICC in August 2006, but he was found still to be straightening his arm more than the acceptable 15 degrees.[7]

On 21 November 2006, Johan Botha's action was passed by the International Cricket Council and he was again eligible for selection by the South African national team.[8]

On 14 April 2009, he was again reported for suspected illegal action. The match officials cited concern over two components of Botha's repertoire, his quicker ball and his doosra, after the completion of fourth ODI against Australia at Port Elizabeth.[9]

Captaincy of the Protea T20 team

On 20 August 2010 Graeme Smith announced that he was to surrender the captaincy in T20 Internationals but continue playing in the format. Cricket South Africa subsequently handed over the captaincy to his deputy Botha. Botha also took the One-Day International captaincy after the 2011 Cricket World Cup when Smith gave up his ODI captaincy. The deciding factor was that Botha had led South Africa to a series win against Australia earlier in 2010 when Smith was absent with injury.[10]

Coaching career

He has been the fielding coach for the Islamabad United and Karachi Kings in the 2017 and 2020 seasons of the Pakistan Super League respectively. He has been the Assistant coach and the Head Coach of Multan Sultans in 2018 and 2019 seasons respectively. In 2020 he was appointed the Head Coach of Islamabad United.[11][12] He is also the Head Coach for the Guyana Amazon Warriors in the Carribean Premier League since 2018. [13]

See also

References
  1. "South Africa all-rounder Johan Botha retires from all cricket". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
  2. "Marathon man Botha makes shock comeback for BBL|10". cricket.com.au. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
  3. Hartman, Rodney (27 January 2009). "Here's to the captain". The Star.
  4. "Johan Botha". The Cricinfo Guide to International Cricket 2009. Hardie Grant Books. 2008. ISBN 978 1742732 169.
  5. S Africa spinner Botha reported, from BBC Sport, published 6 January 2006
  6. Spinner Botha banned from bowling, from BBC Sport, published 7 February 2006
  7. Botha's action declared illegal, from Cricinfo, published 2 September 2006
  8. Botha's action passed by ICC, from Cricinfo, published 21 November 2006
  9. Botha reported for suspected 'illegal action' Archived 8 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine, from Cricdb published 14 April 2009
  10. http://www.cricinfo.com/southafrica/content/story/473641.html
  11. "South Africa's Johan Botha appointed Islamabad United's head coach for PSL6". Geo.
  12. "PSL6: Islamabad United announces South Africa's Johan Botha as new head coach for PSL6". The News International.
  13. https://www.cplt20.com/coach/johan-botha
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