Others to potentially target

[Googly]

There are three Currans. Tom has played international already. It would seem Sam is likely at some point to get a shot as well. Left arm seam with hoop is a rare commodity and he’s already played two years of pro cricket. He’s become a bowling all rounder, which is interesting for me. Here he was regarded as a batsman, and he was amazing. At age group level in Uk he was groomed as a bowling all rounder. Even in their u19 side he batted down the order. They made a big mistake with that, in my opinion. A few guys his age have overtaken him with the bat as a result. Alec Stewart I assume knows what he’s doing, but the jury is not in for me on their decision to make him concentrate on his bowling. . He was a sublime talent with the willow, but now is less so. Still damned good, mind you! The next year or so will be the telling for him. He’s currently not good enough to bowl at international level, so he needs to improve a bit, and I’m sure he has the capacity. Ben is the middle brother, he’s been 2 years with the MCC Young players and has become a very good opener and a gun fielder. I think they only usually let them be in that squad for two years so he’ll be needing a contract next year. I doubt he’ll get one at Surrey, so there’s potentially uncertain times ahead for him.

[PSR]

Waht about Ben Curran??..Is he any good compared to his two brothers?

[PSR]

I think there’s a good chance Lake may play here next year. He’s a top all rounder, just needs to sort out his cavalier attitude with the bat and knuckle down and grind and he could be exceptional. A little birdy told me at lunch that Ed Byrom is coming back for a few months and wants to play. I’m sure they’d watch him with interest. He’s got a two year contract with Somerset though, which he won’t pass up. It’s cutthroat out there and he needs to do exceptionally well in the next two years or he’ll be released. Nick Welch becomes eligible for county only at the end of next season and is doing time for his passport, he’s the overseas pro at Claremont this season. Surrey are liking him and he’s likely to play the whole season for their Two’s, he needs an exceptional season and he’s in with a sniff for 2019. Nick and Ed are the two good ones, Ed has probably edged ahead on account of the opportunities he’s had, but we’ll be watching Nick closely next season, it’s the big one for him.

U mean Ed Byrom wants to play franchise cricket in Zimbabwe?

[Googly]

I just heard at lunch that he was coming back next week and that might get some game time. It would be great to watch him. If they had any sense, which I doubt, they should get him to open for RS because those openers are not up for it.

It’s an interesting comparison between him and Curran. Two years ago Sam was a significantly better bat than Ed, but now Ed I would say has the edge, and that’s because Ed has focused completely on his batting as he’s not regarded as a bowler. If Sam had done the time Ed has with the bat he’d be a freak, as I said, I believe they missed a trick there. Anyway he’s so talented it probably won’t matter.

[Googly]

When Ben left here I thought he was decidedly average. It’s a helluva burden to have two freakish, world class brothers. I pray this young man is well grounded. I’ve watched him play a few times now and was really impressed. He holds the record at MCC YP for the highest score and there have been some very famous cricketers go through that YP system. I was astonished when I watched him. I wouldn’t have given him a snowball’s chance in hell when he left here, but now he might have a sniff. He’s absolute proof that top coaching and exposure to a high standard of cricket can make someone without the hugest talent become good through hard work and perseverance. Often these guys end up better than talented guys that get the opportunities and don’t apply themselves. They have had to fight every inch of the way.

[eugene]

Ben Curran sounds just like the sort of guy we need playing for Zimbabwe, someone with fight. Get him in the team! Benmania starts now!

[Googly]

Well I’m not sure if he’s good enough, he might be in a year or two if things work out for him, but it would not look good for this whole mercenary cricketer thing that the English have got such a hard on for. Two brothers in the England team and one in the Zim one? That would be a bizarre and questionable scenario.
Those ECB guys would frantically be rewriting their constitution and that would probably be the end of any non-England born players ever playing for England and maybe even county, they would not take kindly to that at all. There’s a rising tide of nationalism in the cricketing circles there. In my opinion it’s stupid, we live in a global village, largely created by Great Britain’s propensity for colonization and now they’re not enjoying the repercussions of that.

[jaybro]

Welch
Byrom
Lake

The 3 positions / roles Zimbabwe are struggling with, openers and seam bowling allrounder.

[jaybro]

Another one is Shane Snater I know he’s playing for Holland but because they don’t have ODI status the matches he has played have only been List A or first class matches so maybe he wouldn’t have as long of a cooling off period ??

Either way I liked what I saw from him in the matches against Zimbabwe, nice strong action looked like he was bowling mid to low 130’s

He’d add great depth to Zimbabwe’s fast bowling stocks.

Speaking of fast bowling stocks and ‘bringing players back’ what about one genuine match winner who hasn’t even left the country in Brian Vitori??

IMO now BT & KJ are back I’s Be doing everything to try and get this guys bowling action sorted and back bowling.

[Googly]

Ya Shane would be an interesting guy to add to the mix, he’s a damned good fielder as well. I’m surprised he didn’t do better against us. There’s also Gary King. Unfortunately that’s a lot of talented white guys, it may be construed as an MDC uprising. All these guys I’ve mentioned are friends and I’d love to see them in one team, it would be a kick ass young side.

I will be surprised if Vittori can change his action. His chuck is nearly always his effort short ball, and when he’s really bending his back. He’s a wicket taker though. Its just my observation but he was prone to weight gain and that also seemed to be when his action became more suspect. I’d love to see him make a successful comeback.