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Williams keen to be the main spinner

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Opening post

http://www.dailynews.co.zw/articles/201 ... in-spinner


HARARE - All-rounder Sean Williams says he is ready to step in the shoes of Prosper Utseya as Zimbabwe’s main spin bowler at next year’s World Cup.

29-year-old off-spinner Utseya was this week cleared to bowl in international cricket again by the International Cricket Council (ICC) after he was earlier suspended for an illegal bowling action.

Utseya, however, will not be allowed to bowl off-spin after his action was condemned by the world cricket governing body.

In the wake of that development, Williams, who was left out of the recent disastrous tour of Bangladesh, has raised up his hand to lead Zimbabwe’s spin attack at the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

The 28-year-old Matabeleland Tuskers star was included in Zimbabwe’s provisional 30-man World Cup squad and is now hoping to make the final 15 touring party.

“Obviously a great feeling (to be selected) but still a long way to go before the tournament,” Williams told the Daily News yesterday.

“I would love to have an opportunity to be the main spinner, but I still have a lot to learn and also I have to make the playing 11 first.”

Williams, meanwhile, says he has got over his omission from the Bangladesh tour. Williams was dropped by coach Stephen Mangongo on disciplinary grounds, sparking an uproar from fans who opposed the decision.

“Mangongo and I always get on well I have no hard feelings about being dropped,” said Williams.

“I had the opportunity to play franchise and score some runs. I haven’t spoken to him since he has been back. At the moment, I just want to continue improving on my game with both bat and ball and hopefully put up big scores together and take my chances when they come.”


These are encouraging signs from a guy who has been pretty fickle minded in the past.
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Utseya has done a pretty good job of silencing his critics this year and I think you'd be hard pressed to find someone say he doesn't deserve to be in the first XI across all formats (the performance of our spinners in the recent Test series show he is a required player in the longest format too).

However, if he's going to try and make the WC squad as a slow medium bowler that's not going to cut it. When was the last time a slow medium bowler played at any reasonable level? Gentlemen vs Players in 1845? We all know Utseya doesn't spin the ball much and the Australian pitches aren't going to be conducive to spin anyway, but we'll be a laughing stock if we pick an offspinner who isn't legally allowed to try and spin the ball.

Either his stock offspin delivery is deemed to be legal, or he can't make the squad. Sadly I think it is as simple as that.

Williams as the frontline spinner would be good I think. It would give us the freedom to either play 8 batsmen or 4 quicks. It would solve a few problems in one hit.
ZCF OriginalZCF Hall of Famer

brmtaylor.com admin wrote:Either his stock offspin delivery is deemed to be legal, or he can't make the squad. Sadly I think it is as simple as that.


Mate, it's not as simple as that with ZC selectors around...
ZCF OriginalVeteran
I'm going to have nightmares tonight; dreaming about Utseya bowling medium pace in the world cup. :|
CremerCurrans
Veteran
Williams has been bowling pretty well this season too. I think his bowling has actually improved a lot in the past few months...


totoro wrote:I'm going to have nightmares tonight; dreaming about Utseya bowling medium pace in the world cup. :|


Imagine him opening the bowling!

Heck, with Mangongo and Makoni around, even this isn't impossible...
ZCF OriginalZCF Hall of Famer
Is Williams' action clean? Looks fine to me but then I didn't think Utseya would get called.
My All-time Zimbabwe XI
Neil Johnson, Brendan Taylor, Murray Goodwin, Andy Flower (w), David Houghton, Sean Williams, Heath Streak (c), Andy Blignaut, Paul Strang, Eddo Brandes, Blessing Muzarabani
Veteran
Williams' action looks clean enough to me.

To be honest, I found Utseya's action very suspect from the very start. He seems to straighten his arm, especially when he angles the ball into the right hander.

But, he wasn't the only one...

I find Lyon and Swann's actions clean. As for Ashwin, I did find his action suspect when he bowled with a 'Narine-like' action last year, but I think he has changed his action a bit. I haven't seen him bowl recently, so I can't be sure about him.

Ajmal - I don't know how he was even allowed to bowl for so long like that.
Veteran

Mangongo and I always get on well I have no hard feelings about being dropped


Hmmm...do we believe this or is he simply brown nosing to ensure his place in the World Cup squad?
ZCF OriginalZCF Hall of Famer

eugene wrote:Is Williams' action clean? Looks fine to me but then I didn't think Utseya would get called.


Yeah, even I thought Utseya's was clean. But Williams is more round arm this year and I really can't see and major beinding of the elbow. But you can never be confident anymore about any bowler other than a conventional leggie.
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