Twenty20 is dark art for Snape

Jeremy Snape has had much success for Leicestershire in the Twenty20 Cup © Getty Images

Buy this photo

Jeremy Snape will head out to South Africa as perhaps the most specialist of all the players selected to play in the inaugural ICC World Twenty20.

The 34-year-old Leicestershire all-rounder has been included in the 15-man squad as one of the specialists designed to give England the edge in international cricket's newest format.

Snape has been a front-runner in the domestic Twenty20 Cup competition, winning it twice with the Foxes and flourishing despite predictions the format could sound the death knell for slow bowlers.

In fact, as Snape rarely features for Leicestershire in first-class cricket, he is retained virtually for his expertise in limited-overs games, particularly Twenty20.

And five years after playing the last of his 10 one-day internationals, Snape is back on the international stage and determined to conjure up an unexpected success in South Africa.

Snape, who has caught the eye with his `moon' ball this season, said: “I've been very ambitious during my career and I've had one eye on my long-term future and that's why I decided to a Masters degree is sports psychology, which is a great string to my bow in terms of the thinking side of the game and planning teams.

Snape took the first hat-trick in Twenty20 - against Yorkshire

“Spin and taking pace off the ball has been a big strategy during the Twenty20 Cup, but it's all about unpredictability - I think predictable spinners have been hit, but the guys who have the ability to vary their deliveries have more success.

“I've often said that if you bowl what you regard as your best ball - which for an off-spinner might pitch off stump and try and hit middle - and keep doing that on a length you're going to go miles.

“But if you have the ability to see your best ball as the opposite the batsman is expecting, or the opposite of the plan he has to combat you, then you have a chance of success.

“To me it is the bowlers who have out-thought the batsmen who are the guys that have succeeded in Twenty20 cricket.”

Snape has been so successful in outwitting batsmen with his slow deliveries he was even used by England during their ill-fated World Cup campaign to help the side with their preparation and strategies.

England will not enter the tournament as favourites but as they have been playing Twenty20 since 2003, Snape believes they have the experience to become major challengers.

“It will depend on experience and the amount of planning that goes into it, so if some of the teams haven't had the experience of the hours of play or matches under their belt then they will have to learn pretty quickly,” stressed Snape.

“If they take a lot of time and place a lot of emphasis on this competition then they will probably do a lot of research from all the competitions around the globe.”

He added: “The more experienced you become, you know you're not always going to have great days. The strength of the Leicestershire side, and I think one of my strengths, is the ability to adapt to the situation of the day.

“I don't particularly go in with any prescribed view of how the game is going to go and being able to adapt your style and strategy to the demands of the day is crucial to how quick and dynamic Twenty20 cricket is.”