As part of the dream comebacks series, here's hoping for former left handed opener Barney Rogers' come back into the fold. He is, like Taibu, still 30, and those who have watched him play would remember how classy he was. A natural talent, and a rare left handed opener, he looked the part and came of age in the away series in Bangladesh where he got the man of the series award, but was out of reckoning after siding with the "rebels" soon after. Rogers did come back when the franchise cricket began, but presumably could only dedicate his weekends to cricket, having established a business for livelihood. After an up and down first season back, he walked away again, possibly not able to handle the rigors of cricket along with his business.
He is class, no doubt, and he will be back to his best with a few weeks of training for sure, should he decide to make a come back. Another 5 years of good cricket left there. Can Andy Waller or David Coltart entice him to reconsider the disinterest in cricket?
Can somebody throw some light on whether he is still involved in social cricket in Harare? Googly? Gargamel? He would be a great addition to the depth, and he would be knocking on the national side doors for the opener's job half way through the Logan Cup season for sure.
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Barney Rogers: Any hopes?
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Barney rogers wat a great talent he was a massive loss for Zimbabwean cricket. I knew some one who was good friends with him I asked this guy if barney would consider returning when he made a return to franchise cricket in 09/10 but this friend of mine said Barney would never return as long as the current people were in charge ..... The powers above haven't changed hopefully Barney's stance has .....
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One of my favourites. I think the actual reason he left (after coming back) was that he was not too happy opening and wanted to go down the order and the powers that be wanted him opening. Personally I thought he was a decent opener, healthy average and strike rate in ODI, (although one must take note most of his runs came from Bangladesh, and he did find it challenging against better opposition, WI, SA, and Pakistan).
Really wanted him to become a set opener. In the mold of Ballance, and unlike Ballance if he is willing and able there is a better chane of getting him back, start him off next FC season and take it from there. Yes at 30 he has a good 5 years in him at least.
Imagine: 1. Mawoyo 2.Rodgers 3. Sibanda 4. Williams 5. Taylor 6. Hami 7. Taibu (wkt) Test line up...
and with concrete convincing this is possible.
Really wanted him to become a set opener. In the mold of Ballance, and unlike Ballance if he is willing and able there is a better chane of getting him back, start him off next FC season and take it from there. Yes at 30 he has a good 5 years in him at least.
Imagine: 1. Mawoyo 2.Rodgers 3. Sibanda 4. Williams 5. Taylor 6. Hami 7. Taibu (wkt) Test line up...
and with concrete convincing this is possible.
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CrimsonAvenger wrote:As part of the dream comebacks series, here's hoping for former left handed opener Barney Rogers' come back into the fold. He is, like Taibu, still 30, and those who have watched him play would remember how classy he was. A natural talent, and a rare left handed opener, he looked the part and came of age in the away series in Bangladesh where he got the man of the series award, but was out of reckoning after siding with the "rebels" soon after. Rogers did come back when the franchise cricket began, but presumably could only dedicate his weekends to cricket, having established a business for livelihood. After an up and down first season back, he walked away again, possibly not able to handle the rigors of cricket along with his business.
He is class, no doubt, and he will be back to his best with a few weeks of training for sure, should he decide to make a come back. Another 5 years of good cricket left there. Can Andy Waller or David Coltart entice him to reconsider the disinterest in cricket?
Can somebody throw some light on whether he is still involved in social cricket in Harare? Googly? Gargamel? He would be a great addition to the depth, and he would be knocking on the national side doors for the opener's job half way through the Logan Cup season for sure.
I'm not sure you can make a comeback after years away, surely you lose some ability? Barney took up moto-x for a while and was really good at it. He's a really talented guy and a good bloke. I don't think he has even played social cricket for a while. I think he is doing ok in business and just trying to make a decent living. You can't ask a guy to jack that all in and start trying to play professional cricket seriously again unless the financial incentive is there, and unless you have a really big successful business these days you have to be hands on daily as life is tough here. Plus you have to be really hungry for it, which I doubt he could resurrect. I don't know what his issues were with ZC but pretty sure he had them, I see him now and then and will ask him next time. I've seen him play a couple of times and there's no doubt that he is abundantly talented, but definitely not single-minded. He has a good social life and likes his fishing, drinking, socializing etc. Too late for him I reckon. If they resurrect Club cricket (lasted 8 months before ZC f*&%ked that up as well) I will persuade him to play a game or two, if he's not hung over!
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Thanks for that update Googly, it would indeed be difficult for him to make a comeback if he has given up cricket completely, but one can never say never! May be some spark somewhere may trigger a serious thought towards this. Andy Waller might be able to bring that...
Do check with him the next time when you meet. In a Utopian (or a quasi-Utopian) world, would he consider a 4-5 season come back? Would be great if he did.
Do check with him the next time when you meet. In a Utopian (or a quasi-Utopian) world, would he consider a 4-5 season come back? Would be great if he did.
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