Firstly I do not intend to humiliate Duffin as a person, he strikes me as decent bloke and a cousin who went to school with him says he was a great bloke and headboy...nothing against the bloke at all and my hand has been forced on this one...
I was
very specific, and I will bring you back to the debating table, I spoke of
Duffin and Mawoyo, and for the record, Duffin debuted in
2000/2001 and Mawoyo a year later
2001/2002 both way before the rebel saga....
hhm wrote:Tino may have been around earlier as well, but if you have a good memory (if not ask some of the guys) you will know that his stats weren't much better than those of a good tailender in the early part of that decade.
Not that you are right, but what's the point? Are you saying Mawoyo has benefited from the declining bowling? In which case Duffin who was sublime then, and subsequently has declined, in face of the same declining bowling????
...I'm slow, but this is mind boggling logic
hhm I've always rated you, but this time you are way too far from what I can comprehend...
hhm wrote:Duffin would be averaging 40+ with more than double the number of centuries if that was the case! He wasn't around for a long time remember, particularly during that 'free-for-all' period!
???Again I'm clueless as to what you are talking about? The post rebel era? The one where he actually captained the national side, surely he was there, again enlighten me...
hhm wrote:How on earth do you think Forster got such a high FC average compared to some of our top national batsmen right now!
Again, I will not allow you to duck and dive, its about Duffin v Mawoyo, NOT Foster...(but see prior point)
hhm wrote:So once more form is temporary - class is permanent!!!!
He may be off-form so far, but of the Zimbabwean batsmen out of anyone who played more than 3 matches last season (or to put you into perspective, 3 games and 5 months ago), he was top 10 in runs and average, with the second highest score of 193 to Hamilton's 201. And he joined the season late. Having had no off-season. This time around he was injured (hence couldn't play despite being chosen in that crazy 32). We could say he's still shaking off his injury. In terms of average balls faced per innings, again he is top 10, but the majority of the guys topping the list with him are middle order players while he's an opener, hence more valuable in his case.
A bit better, but even then, correct me if I am wrong, but isn't form over a shorter period, and class a bit longer say over a career? If so, his form in the period (of 3 games) you talk of was great, but his class is an average of 29, and 3 FC 100s no test 100 or no ODI hundred, that is his class, very similar if not marginally less than Mawoyo...and his current form, well ordinary...
hhm wrote:To be fair take into context the fact that Matsi (whom you tolerate) was horrible last season. It helps little to focus on the present two months and ignore the rest of the last 12 months! Consistency and class are adjudged over a long period. Even after that season when Matsi was poor, and before this one I still maintained faith in him. I REPEAT - BE CONSISTENT.
Again I DID say based on
FORM I will accept your argument for their inclusion, I have been consistent. You on the other hand have not, you want Duffin in over Mawoyo, because he is of more experience, something I have proved a fallacy both quantitatively (number of games played) and qualitatively hundreds, fifties and general achievements...from the same number of outings Mawoyo has more runs (hence average) achieved, better HS, and more 100s at Test level...they are about the same at FC...so "I REPEAT - BE CONSISTENT" my friend...
hhm wrote:Sure form influences selectors' choices and supporter sentiment, but that's exactly why those who subscribe to that 'open' school of thought SHOULD NOT COMPLAIN when like Ncube, Chinouya, Shingi, Manatsa, Mutombodzi, Mutumbami etc don the red in the next 6-12 months. See where that takes us. I'm not complaining and I'll stick to my preferred players because I'm certain it makes more sense! You're all entitled to your differing views. Time will tell, and at this rate, I have a clear picture what it will look like 2 years from now. Don't worry I'll still be around the ZCF!
You seem to let your inability to accept that you, my esteemed friend
hhm can also like other mortals be wrong, to an extent it blinds you to the fact that I too subscribe to that line of thought, countless times I have told fellow forumers not to rush the likes of Qurel, as you have also done...that is not my line of argument at all...and if you do listen(read) you will find we speak a similar argument, but as far as Duffin-Mawoyo is concerned you are wrong, accept it and lets move on...you are human mate, you are capable of mistakes too....
1. Mawoyo 2. Duffin 3. Sibanda 4. Taylor 5. Masakadza 6. Williams 7. Chakabva 8. Creamer 9. Jarvis 10. Rainsford 11. Mpofu
Once again, I think Duffin played half or to be fair 60% of the matches/innings others played! That doesn't help.
. Look I will not abandon OUR stance of old heads albeit for different reasons, for me more the bowling than the batting. I'm happy to have a performing Matsi and Ewing (as is the case currently), and in line with fusing youth (not age but experience wise) with old heads, I'm happy for Foster and Waller to come through surrounded by "experience" in the form of the top five (Taylor, Hami, Vusi, Taibu and Mawoyo). But for me battingwise I'm pretty happy, even if it means Ewing and Matsi displace Waller and Mutizwa, but if its just for experience sake, I think we have enough in the top five batters. Its the bowling that I'm really worried about, the gung ho approach where each flavour of the week is thrown a cap (mind you these are kids with great potential, don't get me wrong) with no one to turn to when things come apart. I believe we are doing more harm than good. There I am definitely with you. Once again, accept my apology if I was OTT. I continue to see your viewpoint and on the whole enjoy engaging with you, well most of the times... even if I may not totally agree, as you aptly put it, happy to shake hands and move on.
