DURBAN, March 19: The most successful leg-spinner at the 2003 World Cup is neither an Australian nor an Indian.

Collins Obuya began life as a medium pacer, copied Mushtaq Ahmed’s action, picked up tips from Shane Warne and Anil Kumble and works on the family vegetable stall in his spare time.

From such unpromising beginnings the Kenyan has emerged as one of the finds of the tournament.

The tall 22-year-old, with a looping delivery and capable of sharp turn and significant bounce, made his mark when capturing five for 24, at the time the ninth best analysis in World Cup history, in the shock first-round win over 1996 champions Sri Lanka.

He will get another opportunity to impress on Thursday when facing India in the semifinal.

An unassuming man from Nairobi, he puts down much to his success to an inquisitive mind and generous offers of help from the ‘spinners’ union’.

He had begun by trying to imitate Pakistan leg-spinner Mushtaq while watching the 1996 World Cup, he said.

Then former India pace bowler Balwinder Sandhu arrived to coach Kenya and taught him the basic grip before the under-19 World Cups in 1998 and 2000.

“I spoke to Shane Warne two years ago,” Obuya added. “He told me how to hold the ball, not to grip very tightly.”

“I also went to Anil Kumble. He taught me to bowl a googly, how I should come wide of the stumps.”

The softly spoken Obuya, who made his one-day debut in 2001 against West Indies, has taken 13 World Cup wickets at 25.69 runs apiece. He also impressed in the upset win over Zimbabwe, with three for 32 off 10 overs.

Only 10 players have taken more wickets in the Cup. India’s off spinner Harbhajan Singh has taken nine while his team mate Kumble has five.

It has been a sudden transformation.

Before the tournament, Obuya’s career figures showed seven wickets in 16 games at 89.42.

India have already had one look at him. He started well against them in the Super Six, conceding five runs in his first four overs and dismissing Rahul Dravid caught and bowled.

Although Saurav Ganguly counter-attack to regain the initiative, the India captain praised his young opponent.

“If the right people guide him properly, he can become a very good bowler,” he said.

Former India leg-spinner Laxman Sivaramakrishanan, in South Africa as a television commentator, agreed.

“His control is excellent,” he said. “He now has to bring more variety. He should also learn how to vary pace and length, especially when batsmen go after him.”—Reuters