Paul Harris tells Proteas team to stick with spinner Tahir for India Test series

Johannesburg: Former Proteas stalwart Paul Harris has told his team to stick with the attacking spin qualities offered by Imran Tahir for the first Test against India at the Wanderers from next Wednesday, according to reports.

According to Sport24, the now-retired left-arm spinner, who earned 37 Tests caps, was speaking at the Momentum Cricket Sixes at Claremont CC here on Saturday, where South Africa stars both past and present rubbed shoulders on the field with more `social` cricketers. The Proteas squad for the Bullring encounter contains two specialist spinners in leg-spinning incumbent Tahir, plus seasoned left-arm option Robin Peterson, who was replaced for the second Test against Pakistan in Dubai by the former earlier in the season, the report said. Peterson undoubtedly also offers greater potential in the batting and fielding department, although if South Africa stick to their `seven batsmen` policy, they should not need to obsess too much about beefing up the tail, the report added. Harris said that he thought Imran must play as he did very well against Pakistan in the UAE and always gives the extra attacking option, adding that he deserves it as he has done well enough to keep his spot.