South Africa can afford three-spinner luxury: Botha

NEW DELHI: South Africa can afford to field all three frontline spinners in some of the World Cup matches because they can deftly handle bowling power plays, off-spinner Johan Botha said on Monday.

From a team that has not cared enough about spin bowling in the past, South Africa look determined to win their first World Cup as they arrived with three slow bowlers in Botha, left-arm spinner Robin Peterson and Pakistan-born leg-spinner Imran Tahir.

"It is very exciting for the guys," Botha told reporters after the team's training session on Monday.

"I am looking forward to all three frontline spinners playing in some of the matches."

"Of course the kind of wicket and opposition will determine team combination. The good thing is that all of us can bowl in the bowling powerplays with three men out there. If we can do that, then you can play three spinners if you want," said Botha.

Overall, Botha envisages an enhanced role for the South African spinners in subcontinent's turning tracks.

"In South Africa, obviously it turns less, so hard to bowl there. (But) there will be a bit more assistance here, so we can play a more attacking role. In South Africa we try and keep it tight and restrict other team. Here we have more chance to get wickets," added Botha.

South Africa kicks off their Group B campaign against West Indies in Delhi on Thursday