NAGPUR, Feb. 4: The demands on a visiting spinner in India are manifold. The mighty have fallen, egos have been bruised and reputations left in tatters. Even the likes of Muttiah Muralitharan and Shane Warne have found the going tough.

At the same time two-not so high on pedigree bowlers, Paul Adams and Nicky Boje, have created Test wins. Barring Saqlain Mushtaq, no other slow bowler has exercised control over the Indian top-order at home over an entire series.

The pressure on Paul Harris and Johan Botha will be high but the duo are not ready to get sucked into that. Their mind is firmly on the task in hand. "The Indians play spin well. The performance of Jason Krejza here gives a lot of confidence but he also went for a few runs. We have to be at our best but let me assure you that there is absolutely no pressure on me," said Botha.

Harris is likely to pip Botha for a spot in the team. Given J.P. Duminy’s form with the ball, the visitors would prefer Harris ahead of the off-spinner. "I have been working on my bowling in the last couple of months. The tracks here might assist spin and if I get the opportunity hopefully I’ll do my bit," said Duminy.

Harris, who has 82 wickets in 27 Tests at an average of 33.64 was practical in assessing his own bowling. "It’s going well but sometimes there is a slip and that’s how it goes. Sometimes they expect us to be like an Indian spinner and run through a side, but that’s quite hard work. I’ve always wanted to have a shot at India in India, it’s the Mecca of spin bowling. You never know what can happen."

Variation is not Harris’ strength. The left-armer is a percentage bowler who relies on accuracy. Spinners who have done well here have not necessarily been huge turners of the ball. "To be patient is a necessity. I don’t have the doosra. I don’t have the carom ball, I am not a miracle bowler. I’m just a steady left-arm spinner.

"When I get the ball in my hands I’m not afraid of hard work. All good spinners around the world have some aggression in them. You cant bounce batsmen out but you have to be cleverer than the seamers and talk them out once in a while," said Harris.

The ICC disallowing his doosra has already handicapped off-spinner Botha. "It was a wicket-taking option. You have to do the best with what is available. I can’t spin and bounce every ball, there are natural variations that helps.

"I can afford to bowl a little quicker and wider here it would all depend on how we execute our plans," said Botha who added that gripping the SG ball was not easy but something the spinners were getting used to.

Harris who was 29 when he made his Test debut added that it didn’t bother him much when he did not get his due. "We have a role to play here and we are up for it."

The biggest task ahead could be bowling to Sehwag. "If you have fielders in the boundary and he hits them over it I cant do much. Hopefully the seamers will get him before I come on to bowl."

Botha agreed with his colleague and said they would have a specific role from Day Three of the Test. "We will be the wicket-taking option at some point. The captain will expect the big wickets from us and also look at 30-40 tight overs," concluded Botha.

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