Cape Town, Feb 14 : South African batsman Richard Levi is gearing up to master New Zealand''s bowlers in the upcoming T20 and one-day series with the help of a special bowling machine. Levi has prepared himself with the help of one of Cricket South Africa''s most expensive bowling machines, the Merlyn.
"I set the machine up to bowl like (experienced Kiwi spinner Daniel) Vettori and it definitely helped me get used to the flight and turn of the ball," Levi said.
This machine, unlike traditional bowling machines, helps batsmen prepare to face spin bowlers, Sport 24 reports.
CSA has bought two of these machines for the High Performance Centre in Pretoria. It will be used by the national academy during the winter but is available for use by South Africa''s franchise teams during the summer.
The Merlyn was used by English players for the first time in 2005 when they were desperate to counter Australian leg-spin legend Shane Warne.
CSA''s cricket manager Corrie van Zyl said the machines are very useful as it can imitate any spin bowler.
"It also mixes up the pace and flight of the balls. It''s like a normal spinner and not all balls turn in the same way,” Zyl said.
© ANI
