Speaking about our future, I remarked to one Kenyan collegue of mine just how horrible his team is considering it's poor displays against our u19 team, let alone our franchise recently! Calmly, he took the liberty of reminding me of a series when the core of our current sides was simply outclassed by a Kenyan team deserving of Test status leading up to that time soon after our series against india. Painful reminder! :cry:
Thankfully a bright spot stood out in that while we were being toyed with by a Kenyan team grossly superior to our own, that boy Duffin took it upon himself to underline our potential! :D The sole match in which he was present is the only time there was actually a contest! He stood well and trully above everyone else! Likewise, one fondly remembers his masterful effort against a mighty Indian attack prior to that embarrasing tour by the Kenyans. It's a pity they are not calling on his impressive abilities as they embark on the tough task of tackling a wounded NZ in it's backyard.
Anyway, as then it would be wise not to undermine the Kenyans' efforts to rebuild their future! The way things are going, we won't have a Duffin to save face! :)
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Future looks very bright!
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Looking at those scorecards, I'm surprised you're not crying out loud for Mahwire to get a recall, hhm. Again so much unfulfilled promise, and the first national player to emerge from Masvingo. Does anyone know what has happened to him, has he quit playing, is he injured, or was he released by the Rocks?
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foreignfield wrote:Looking at those scorecards, I'm surprised you're not crying out loud for Mahwire to get a recall, hhm. Again so much unfulfilled promise, and the first national player to emerge from Masvingo. Does anyone know what has happened to him, has he quit playing, is he injured, or was he released by the Rocks?
He turned down a contract extension, and is now studying and playing club cricket in SA.
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aydee wrote:
foreignfield wrote:Looking at those scorecards, I'm surprised you're not crying out loud for Mahwire to get a recall, hhm. Again so much unfulfilled promise, and the first national player to emerge from Masvingo. Does anyone know what has happened to him, has he quit playing, is he injured, or was he released by the Rocks?
He turned down a contract extension, and is now studying and playing club cricket in SA.
Thanks for the info Aydee. I have been wondering about him for quite a while. The Rocks have sorely missed him! :(
I still rate Mawhire as a quality FC bowler, but at 29+ the reality is for a bowler we can't have him displacing/limiting the chances of the influx of good young fast bowlers, 8 years his junior, who are coming up. I may not have mentioned him foreignfiled, but that's not to say I've forgotten him! I value experience and loyalty(be it forced as Zimdoggy would argue, or by choice), especially if those individuals have displayed signs of quality! In fact I have mentioned him! A quick search reveals quite a few instances in which I've referred to him (here, and here)! I always look after my boys! :D
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hhm wrote:[ I always look after my boys! :D
:D
Thanks, aydee! And all the best with your studies, Blessing!
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hhm wrote:
I still rate Mawhire as a quality FC bowler, but at 29+ the reality is for a bowler we can't have him displacing/limiting the chances of the influx of good young fast bowlers, 8 years his junior, who are coming up. I may not have mentioned him foreignfiled, but that's not to say I've forgotten him! .... I always look after my boys! :D
For me its not so much his age (maybe to a less extent his experience) that should be the deciding factor, question is : is he better than the current lot? If not then sorry, and if he is then by all means let the youngsters fight for his place, or wait until he retires. Its a simple thing and we tend to complicate it unnecessarily...that's why we will argue about Rainsford, Panyangara, Ewing, Matsi...for me its simple, if they have the pedigree AND are performing (form) then they deserve to be in the team, if however young, there are better players, sorry...
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FP, you forgot Duffin! :D
And yes, they have the pedigree, and are performing. ;)
And yes, they have the pedigree, and are performing. ;)
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But Duffin isn't really performing. Ewing - he is. Panyangara - No. Rainsford - yes, Matsi - yesish.
The Third Innings
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Rainsford Rainsford Rainsford.
every topic
every thread
just becomes Rainsford.
ZCF flavour of the month. Continuing the great tradition from Dabengwa,Panyangara, Meth, Ervine and the team 11 lineup.
every topic
every thread
just becomes Rainsford.
ZCF flavour of the month. Continuing the great tradition from Dabengwa,Panyangara, Meth, Ervine and the team 11 lineup.
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Was just thinking I hadn't seen a team lineup for about 3 days.
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Don't you just love it Zimdoggy! :D
Until the last round of matches,in which Panyangara did not partake, he was ahead of Rainsford, so I don't see how you can really separate them when their figures look comparable, if his are not better. He's ahead of most in terms of SR,eco&avg, so who's to say in another 3 innnigs he won't be ahead of Eddie? What makes his figures even more impressive is the fact that due to the Rocks' poor batting lineup, he almost always has nothing to defend, and hardly gets a chance to bowl twice to the opposition, while he single-handedly carries that team's attack at the same time because there isn't quality around him! Look at the batting orders he's performed against this season, you be surprised!
Generally, in international cricket, a 40avg is good enough for openers, but a minimum of 50 is expected from middle order batsmen. New ball, assisting conditions, fresh opening and 1st/2nd change bowlers etc. That's why Mawoyo's seemingly poor stats were never taken into consideration when assigning him to open, and none of us(Bayhaus?) felt the decision was justified. One would go so far as to argue that neither Hami nor Taylor would have succeeded like Vusi&Tino if they were doing that job. Duffin is an opener, the most accomplished of all Zim batsmen playing FC in Zim, and he has shown that in the few opportunities he's got to play for us in Tests&ODIs! Did our current opening pair have a better record last season, or in the lead up to pre-post WC? I think not! Neithe were they opening in EVERY match!
Anyway, we'll see when he gets a chance!
Jemisi wrote:But Duffin isn't really performing. Ewing - he is. Panyangara - No. Rainsford - yes, Matsi - yesish.
Until the last round of matches,in which Panyangara did not partake, he was ahead of Rainsford, so I don't see how you can really separate them when their figures look comparable, if his are not better. He's ahead of most in terms of SR,eco&avg, so who's to say in another 3 innnigs he won't be ahead of Eddie? What makes his figures even more impressive is the fact that due to the Rocks' poor batting lineup, he almost always has nothing to defend, and hardly gets a chance to bowl twice to the opposition, while he single-handedly carries that team's attack at the same time because there isn't quality around him! Look at the batting orders he's performed against this season, you be surprised!
Generally, in international cricket, a 40avg is good enough for openers, but a minimum of 50 is expected from middle order batsmen. New ball, assisting conditions, fresh opening and 1st/2nd change bowlers etc. That's why Mawoyo's seemingly poor stats were never taken into consideration when assigning him to open, and none of us(Bayhaus?) felt the decision was justified. One would go so far as to argue that neither Hami nor Taylor would have succeeded like Vusi&Tino if they were doing that job. Duffin is an opener, the most accomplished of all Zim batsmen playing FC in Zim, and he has shown that in the few opportunities he's got to play for us in Tests&ODIs! Did our current opening pair have a better record last season, or in the lead up to pre-post WC? I think not! Neithe were they opening in EVERY match!
Anyway, we'll see when he gets a chance!
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I lost the train of thought there towards the end of the second para.
But I do take on board the fact that Rocks suck and that Tinashe could have better totals to assist him.
But I do take on board the fact that Rocks suck and that Tinashe could have better totals to assist him.
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hhm wrote:.....Duffin is an opener, the most accomplished of all Zim batsmen playing FC in Zim, and he has shown that in the few opportunities he's got to play for us in Tests&ODIs! Did our current opening pair have a better record last season, or in the lead up to pre-post WC? I think not! Neithe were they opening in EVERY match!
Anyway, we'll see when he gets a chance!
.... :o :o :o :shock: :? :? :?
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FlowerPower wrote:
hhm wrote:.....Duffin is an opener, the most accomplished of all Zim batsmen playing FC in Zim, and he has shown that in the few opportunities he's got to play for us in Tests&ODIs! Did our current opening pair have a better record last season, or in the lead up to pre-post WC? I think not! Neithe were they opening in EVERY match!
Anyway, we'll see when he gets a chance!
.... :o :o :o :shock: :? :? :?
Agreed. Duffin's ODI record is pathetic. Fact. Especially when when you consider how many games he played against substandard opposition.
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aydee wrote:Agreed. Duffin's ODI record is pathetic. Fact. Especially when when you consider how many games he played against substandard opposition.
Considering he's an opener, it interested me to know how much value he's added to our opening partnerships in ODIs. Quite refreshingly, the cold facts reveal that not since the 'great' trio of Andy, Grant & Alistair, or should I say the beginning of the 21st century, have we had a more effective opening partnership, at least 5 innings old, apart from one involving Duffin! Most striking is the fact that Vusi's(his partner in that record) other partnerships gradually become less productive and less significant as he opens with other options, as is the case with their partnerships involving other players. Logical Conclusion: if you want to maintain the most productive opening partnership for Zim in ODIs , make sure the pathetic Duffin forms part of it!
NB: Going forward, kindly revisit me when a better ODI opening partnership for our beloved Zimbabwe, which excludes Duffin, has been achieved!
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hhm wrote:
aydee wrote:Agreed. Duffin's ODI record is pathetic. Fact. Especially when when you consider how many games he played against substandard opposition.
Considering he's an opener, it interested me to know how much value he's added to our opening partnerships in ODIs. Quite refreshingly, the cold facts reveal that not since the 'great' trio of Andy, Grant & Alistair, or should I say the beginning of the 21st century, have we had a more effective opening partnership, at least 5 innings old, apart from one involving Duffin! Most striking is the fact that Vusi's(his partner in that record) other partnerships gradually become less productive and less significant as he opens with other options, as is the case with their partnerships involving other players. Logical Conclusion: if you want to maintain the most productive opening partnership for Zim in ODIs , make sure the pathetic Duffin forms part of it!
NB: Going forward, kindly revisit me when a better ODI opening partnership for our beloved Zimbabwe, which excludes Duffin, has been achieved!
All of those partnerships, bar 4, were against 06 Bangladesh or Ireland...
Here are the facts:
Duffin averaged a shade under 24 at a strike rate of 54 (!). More than a third of his 23 innings were against non-test opposition, including the might of Canada and Bermuda. He also played another 7 of his games against Bangladesh, all 7 games were at home.
His record against Test oppo (excluding Bangladesh): 172 runs at an average of 21, and a not-quite-Sehwagian strike rate of 42...
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A strike rate of 54 is completely unacceptable in ODIs and anyone with that kind of strike rate shouldn't be allowed anywhere near the national side.
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
Neil Johnson, Brendan Taylor, Murray Goodwin, Andy Flower (w), David Houghton, Sean Williams, Heath Streak (c), Andy Blignaut, Paul Strang, Eddo Brandes, Blessing Muzarabani
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Considering all of the partnerships which his current peers were and continue to be involved in, also had opposition comprising largely of the likes of Kenya, Bangladesh, Canada etc along with other full members, I am not compelled to entertain your 'excuses'.
Some one said bottomline, and this is the bottomline:
Not since the 'great' trio of Andy, Grant & Alistair, or should I say the beginning of the 21st century, have we had a more effective opening partnership, at least 5 innings old, apart from one involving Duffin!!!!!!!!!
The pervading notion is that since our Test resumption we've been ALLROUND a much improved bunch. However, despite the weakened attacks we've faced so far(incl Ban), none of the pairings of our recent opening partnerships have come close to that record. I've even relaxed the minimum to a largely unfair single innings, but it remains very poor. Guess what, bar the dead rubber against a flawed NZ attack, we've lost all of them, including the one at home against mighty Bangladesh(with our two best batsmen together). In all a 14% success rate, in which case, I'll take Duffin's 42/54SR anyday!
Some one said bottomline, and this is the bottomline:
Not since the 'great' trio of Andy, Grant & Alistair, or should I say the beginning of the 21st century, have we had a more effective opening partnership, at least 5 innings old, apart from one involving Duffin!!!!!!!!!
The pervading notion is that since our Test resumption we've been ALLROUND a much improved bunch. However, despite the weakened attacks we've faced so far(incl Ban), none of the pairings of our recent opening partnerships have come close to that record. I've even relaxed the minimum to a largely unfair single innings, but it remains very poor. Guess what, bar the dead rubber against a flawed NZ attack, we've lost all of them, including the one at home against mighty Bangladesh(with our two best batsmen together). In all a 14% success rate, in which case, I'll take Duffin's 42/54SR anyday!
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Some cricinfo quotes regarding Duffin's ODI credentials:
"Terry Duffin's innings typified the problem. Where he might be expected to lead from the front, he struggled to get the ball off the square. When he brought up his fifty - balls rather than runs - he had scored six. By the time he was eventually run-out, his 38 had used up 107 deliveries, almost a third of his team's allocation. Not that he was alone. One or two tried to push things along. Brendan Taylor did well enough for a man with a limpet for a partner"
"4/10
Terry Duffin
Continued to look upbeat throughout the tour, but in one-day cricket he clearly lacks the range of strokes needed from a top-order batsman and was unable to press on when the situation demanded."
Here again are Duffin's figures since the beginning of franchise cricket 2 and a half years ago:
- The Tuskers have only considered him worthy of selection for one T20 game in 3 seasons, so we can ignore this format.
-
"Terry Duffin's innings typified the problem. Where he might be expected to lead from the front, he struggled to get the ball off the square. When he brought up his fifty - balls rather than runs - he had scored six. By the time he was eventually run-out, his 38 had used up 107 deliveries, almost a third of his team's allocation. Not that he was alone. One or two tried to push things along. Brendan Taylor did well enough for a man with a limpet for a partner"
"4/10
Terry Duffin
Continued to look upbeat throughout the tour, but in one-day cricket he clearly lacks the range of strokes needed from a top-order batsman and was unable to press on when the situation demanded."
Here again are Duffin's figures since the beginning of franchise cricket 2 and a half years ago:
- The Tuskers have only considered him worthy of selection for one T20 game in 3 seasons, so we can ignore this format.
-
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Please people! Why is it only hhm and myself that can see how truly incredible Duffin was as an ODI opener?! I think hhm undersold the argument. I can't figure out why more people don't agree with us that Terry Duffin is the best Zimbabwean opener of this century, maybe even in history. As hhm was not able to get the point across, I will try my best to further his argument (which I thought was very clear and accurate, but obviously I am in the minority).
Not since the days of Bradman, or should I say the beginning of time, has a player dominated their chosen sport like Duffin has! The cold hard facts don't lie. When Zimbabwe plays a bi-lateral series in Africa, not under flood lights, but loses the toss and are told to bowl first Duffin and Sibanda average 91.00 for the opening wicket. Bradmanesque! I will not entertain your 'excuses' about Sibanda scoring the bulk of those runs; if you ask me, it was the sheer experience that Duffin exudes which was the true reason for the overwhelming success of their partnerships.
Not since the days of Bradman, or should I say the beginning of time, has a player dominated their chosen sport like Duffin has! The cold hard facts don't lie. When Zimbabwe plays a bi-lateral series in Africa, not under flood lights, but loses the toss and are told to bowl first Duffin and Sibanda average 91.00 for the opening wicket. Bradmanesque! I will not entertain your 'excuses' about Sibanda scoring the bulk of those runs; if you ask me, it was the sheer experience that Duffin exudes which was the true reason for the overwhelming success of their partnerships.
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