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 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
Botha 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,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,Botha 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 T20I and ODI 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]
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