ZC Launch Nationwide Search for Zimbabwe's Next Fast Bowling

[maehara]

http://sandbox.zimcricketnews.com/node/2291

While I like that they realise we need to get some quicks on the books, I'm not so sure X-Factor is the right inspiration for the method..!

[aydee]

Sounds like a good initiative to be honest. Hopefully something can come of it.

[maehara]

Sounds like a good initiative to be honest. Hopefully something can come of it.

Well, to be fair it's clearly a long-term initiative - the "winner" gets a franchise contract and years of hard graft to prove their talent. And we desperately need to find some...

[aydee]

Sounds like a good initiative to be honest. Hopefully something can come of it.

Well, to be fair it's clearly a long-term initiative - the "winner" gets a franchise contract and years of hard graft to prove their talent. And we desperately need to find some...

It couldn't really be any other way. If there was someone out there who was already capable of playing first class cricket, I can't imagine they would have gone completely under the radar. However, if some raw talent is discovered and given the coaching and opportunity to develop, then they may be ready to play some porper cricket in a year or so...

[sloandog]

Hmmm i'm not so sure. Ya it's a great idea to go looking for talent in the country, undoubtably there'll be plenty of youngsters who'll be up for the challenge. But i don't like the way in which they're conducting the "Auditions" as such. How can you notice talent and pace through 1 delivery ?? Ludicris !! If i was a youngster in Zimbabwe i'd be perplexed if i was given 1 ball to show what i can do with a cricket ball.

" Right son, i want you to bowl as fast as you can. If you can bowl in excess of 87mph you've got a good chance, but if not, i'm afraid you're not what we're looking for. Ready when you are...."

Bowlers reaction :

It's not all about pace. Swing is just as effective if not more. If they can find somebody who can swing the ball and bowl at 80-82mph, i think he should be given a go.

[eugene]

Are you going to enter sloandog? Any plans to enter the Zimbabwean cricket scene at this stage?

[sloandog]

Are you going to enter sloandog? Any plans to enter the Zimbabwean cricket scene at this stage

When i first noticed the thread i got really excited because i'm going back to whatch India and Zimbabwe. I'm certainly considering it because it's a great chance. But as i siad, 1 ball won't show anybody what i'm capable of. I'm not being big headed when i say that, but realisticly it won't. I'm in 2 minds at the moment Eugene

[ZIMDOGGY]

Dont Zim realise if you want to unearth a genuine quality fast bowler you sometimes need to look to the past?


One name:

Gus Mackay.

The G unit is still young (early 40s) and would strike fear into any batsman in the world for at least the next 3-4 years.


But if the ZCU do persist with the program,
What they are obviously looking to do is find some raw kid in the jungle that probably doesnt know cricket but has the physical attributes to be a natural. This kid is probably living in a mudhut near the Botswana border dodging lions and hippos and is too busy thinking about his next meal to worry about sport, when he does, its soccer..

ZC will provide that next meal.

A guy like that would fly straight under the radar. There would be a whole bunch of kids that fit that description.
Mathematics says at least one of them can bowl 140km/hr+.
Then its just a matter of getting the subtleties right. Raw fast bowling ( Shaun Tait etc) is 80% genes and 20% skill.

I wonder if they can do a reality tv series around this?
In Australia they are thinking of making a reality tv series in search of the next great leggie (although if i was Aus i would just poach Graeme Cremer).


P.S- All else fails=Gus Mackay is your man.

[eugene]

Are you going to enter sloandog? Any plans to enter the Zimbabwean cricket scene at this stage

When i first noticed the thread i got really excited because i'm going back to whatch India and Zimbabwe. I'm certainly considering it because it's a great chance. But as i siad, 1 ball won't show anybody what i'm capable of. I'm not being big headed when i say that, but realisticly it won't. I'm in 2 minds at the moment Eugene

Is this the first time you have been back to Zimbabwe? I will be interested to hear how the trip goes.

[zimfan1]

Are you going to enter sloandog? Any plans to enter the Zimbabwean cricket scene at this stage

When i first noticed the thread i got really excited because i'm going back to whatch India and Zimbabwe. I'm certainly considering it because it's a great chance. But as i siad, 1 ball won't show anybody what i'm capable of. I'm not being big headed when i say that, but realisticly it won't. I'm in 2 minds at the moment Eugene

Is this the first time you have been back to Zimbabwe? I will be interested to hear how the trip goes.

I think a photo album will definitely be needed, but it may end up making me homesick