Most of the guys from late 90s and early 01/02 didn't get a privilege to taste t-20. But, I think they would make a formidable side. We had bunch of strong hitters, good spin players and exciting fast bowlers. Blignaut, Marillier and Friend were big strong guys who could be pretty suited to this format. Other teams would be scared to face them and also they possessed that killer instinct which we don't have in any Zim players at the moment.
Think about this team:
G Flower
Johnson
Goodwin
A Flower
Sean Ervine
Blignaut
Streak
Friend
Marillier
P Strang
Ray Price
Everybody could bat and almost all of them could bowl. We would be somewhat similar to the current New Zealand team or maybe slightly better. We could have easily beaten SL,WI,PK,Ban,RSA and also India( not to forget how they loved playing in Indian pitches).
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What if the guys from late 90s were playing this WC
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its really hard to say, potential was definitely there, but they would need to adapt their style to the format.
Sometimes, what seems like a logical crossover at face value with a big hitter isnt the case. Alot of big hitters hit big only when the field was up etc.
A case in point in my mind was Michael Slater.
He was Warneresque at times opening the batting in tests. Would hit them hard with finesse straight to the boundary.
Just could never replicate it in the ODIs when he had the pressure to do so on him.
Had a strike rate of only 60 in his ODI career. That Regis Chakabva stuff.
I could even argue that Craig Ervine is similar. He can hit the ball very well at his own progressing pace with his eye in, look at that NZ innings, or the fact he hit the fourth biggest six of the 2011 WC.
On face value you'd think he is a shoo in as one of our biggest hitters and a shoo in for the t20 side.
However, he cannot replicate it is forced too in a t20 scenario.
Sometimes, what seems like a logical crossover at face value with a big hitter isnt the case. Alot of big hitters hit big only when the field was up etc.
A case in point in my mind was Michael Slater.
He was Warneresque at times opening the batting in tests. Would hit them hard with finesse straight to the boundary.
Just could never replicate it in the ODIs when he had the pressure to do so on him.
Had a strike rate of only 60 in his ODI career. That Regis Chakabva stuff.
I could even argue that Craig Ervine is similar. He can hit the ball very well at his own progressing pace with his eye in, look at that NZ innings, or the fact he hit the fourth biggest six of the 2011 WC.
On face value you'd think he is a shoo in as one of our biggest hitters and a shoo in for the t20 side.
However, he cannot replicate it is forced too in a t20 scenario.
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I'm sure they all wish they had had a shot at T20, aside from anything else it would have earned them a lot more cash.
In those early days cricket here was semi-pro and a few of the guys were employed by understanding companies.
In those early days cricket here was semi-pro and a few of the guys were employed by understanding companies.
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I'd love to have seen Viv Richards, Beefy and Hicky in T20 format.
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Grant Flower I wouldn't have had anywhere near a T20 side; yea he offered a lot with the ball and in the field but i don't think he was diverse enough with the bat. Craig Evans would be somewhere in and around my 90's/early millennium squad. Throw in BRM there as well
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