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Botha: Big Bash was a benefit

Cape Town - Proteas off-spinning all-rounder Johan Botha feels his recent spell in Australia's Big Bash Twenty20 league was good preparation for the ODI series against Sri Lanka.

Botha returns in good form after four matches for the Adelaide Strikers, for whom he has taken five wickets at an average of 19.80 and tidy economy rate of 6.90, whilst averaging 37.50 with the bat.

Botha told the Volksblad newspaper that there lacks nothing with the quality of the tournament down under.

"I benefited from it because it was of a high quality. I really enjoyed it; it's exactly what I wanted to get out of it.

"It was especially a challenge against Chris Gayle, who hit that hundred for the Sydney Thunder against us," said Botha.

Botha was one of the opening bowlers in that game, during which Gayle smacked 100 not out off just 54 balls. Botha opened the bowling in that game and conceded no runs - bar five extras - in his first over. Gayle was lucky to survive an lbw shout in the fifth ball of that over.

Proteas coach Gary Kirsten gave Botha special dispensation to go and play in the Big Bash event to help prepare him for the ODI series against the Sri Lankans.

With the Sri Lanka series ending on January 22, he would presumably be available to fly back to Australia should his services be required for the Big Bash final six days later.

Botha also warned that the South Africans should not take the touring Sri Lankans lightly in the upcoming series. He said they did not make the World Cup final (in India last year) for nothing and "know how to play one day cricket".
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