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Ant Botha

Born: 17/11/76, Pretoria, South Africa

Nickname: Botox

What’s your first cricket-related memory? Playing backyard cricket with my brother back in South Africa

When did you first realise you had the talent to become a professional cricketer? From the age of about 15 or 16 I always had that inner belief that I’d be okay

Who were your cricketing heroes growing up? Steve Waugh and Jonty Rhodes; maybe not the most talented players but their work ethic allowed them to get the most out of their ability

Which people have been the big influences on your career? Graham Ford gave me my first professional contract at Natal and has been involved with me since I was 15; Peter Roebuck – who I played club cricket with in Devon and is an incredible coach with a great cricket brain – and Ray Jennings

Can you sum up your game in just three words? Adaptability; understanding situations

What’s been your happiest moment on a cricket pitch? In 2003 we won the four-day competition in South Africa just after the Provinces had been amalgamated, that was a pretty big feat at the time, and a few individual things – but I don’t really count those

What are your goals for the 2010 season? To be Warwickshire’s player of the year

Which Warwickshire player are you tipping for a big season in 2010? Ian Westwood has trained hard this winter, and with the confidence that’s come from getting the captaincy I’ve got a feeling he could have a good run this year

If you could meet one famous historical figure, who would it be? Nelson Mandela; an amazing man. I’d love to pick his brains on a few things

What’s the funniest thing you’ve ever seen on a cricket pitch? That night game we played last year when the lights were so ridiculously bad that the boys couldn’t see the ball coming out of the sky. Neil Carter dropped one that landed two metres from where he was standing

You’re down to the last £10 you’ll ever have, how do you spend it? I like to go fishing, so I’d get all my gear together and take a bus ride to a quiet beach somewhere and wait to be picked up

Who is the fittest member of the squad? Darren Maddy

Who is the biggest joker in the squad? Clarkey

Which member of the Warwickshire squad would you most like under a skyer? Clarkey again – no, myself!

If you had to marry one of your Warwickshire team-mates, which one would it be? Neil Carter – he’s a good lad

How do you spend your time away from cricket? I like to visit the warmer countries, and if there’s water I’m there; that and doing the odd bit of currency trading