Future looks very bright!

[aydee]

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.

Oh my god. You're right! How had I not seen it before?

[hhm]

I'm pretty sure you guys have tried to get statsguru to throw our figures that are damning to Duffin's partnerships but simply couldn't! Can't get a computer to lie now can you! Had to resort to cheap shots! Easier than saying 'you're right' I guess!

Anyway this thread is about our future, and by the time we review their national team performances, Duffin will be 38-40yrs old! Let's keep the focus on them! There's plenty to be commented on about each one

[Flower power]

I cant believe Duffin is turning into an obsession . The man is finished .......he cant prove himself in First Class ,I dont see a reason why we would even waste our resources in trying him out . In history we will tell our kids once upon a time there a man called Terrence Duffin.Lets look to future guys .....
I should be hearing names such as Kaia , Muzhange,Kasuza, Sauramba , Mugava, Nat Waller ,Chatara, Querl.
or up and coming boys in schools cricket Burl ,Jongwe ,Lake ,Keegan Higgins

[eugene]

What you have to remember Flower power is that hhm wants to give everyone a go in the national side. There are plenty of bad stats on Duffin, namely his strike rate. Maybe he could be the specialist non-striker, oh wait he can't do that either because he can't run fast enough to ever make it back for two runs and thus remain at the non-strikers end.

[Jemisi]

Specialist non-striker - I like it. Duffin certainly does have the experience for it, but I grant, probably not the pace.

[hhm]

The man is finished .......he cant prove himself in First Class ,I dont see a reason why we would even waste our resources in trying him out...

There are plenty of bad stats on Duffin, namely his strike rate. Maybe he could be the specialist non-striker, oh wait he can't do that either because he can't run fast enough to ever make it back for two runs and thus remain at the non-strikers end.

Keep them coming guys! I need all the arsenal I can get in order to have a field day when the inevitable strikes!!!!!!

Not too long ago terms bordering on obscene to derogatory were directed at Rainsford, Matsi & Ewing. Surprise! Suprise! A few are starting to warm up to them being in the national team(some are even eating their words after Matsi dished out a masterclass to be our standout batsman in the T20)! Panyangara and Duffin remain, but not for too long in my view.

Duffin was called up to the WC squad but injury prevented him from that plus the stupid 32man trials! For the last 3 seasons of our Logan Cup, he's been THE best opener. A Panyangara who was regaining form after long periods of inaction, went to the WC, and despite falsehoods proliferated by most about his pace and ability, I thought he acquittted himself well(especially considering many of his current colleagues can do no better against similar opposition), and continues to do so as a new ball bowler this season.

You're setting yourselves up real nicely!

If you think the national team players will henceforth be restricted to just the current players or only improved by youngsters or fresh faces then you're highly mistaken eugene! Think of the number of players WI, Bang, Aus & India have gone through in just the last two years! It's not easy to strike the right balance, and WI themselves are a huge example of a team that has gone back to it's most senior players of distant times!

It's funny that people see Hami(together with his brother struggling at international cricket then goes on to do very well in the T20, a hit&miss Mutizwa&Waller Vitori&Jarvis being dropped for ODIs/T20s, Meth misfiring moreoften than not, Utseya regressing, Vusi&Mawayo delivering despite poor form/records behind them, while Ncube came from nowhere etc, then assume we've got the perfect group! Trust me, as far as selection is conceerned, the periods of turbulence have neither started nor ended! So a lot of these experienced players WILL get a chance justifiably so! You would do yourself a great service by assessing my points deferentially instead of scornfully, because more often than not they are reasonable and have a 80%+ likelihood in comparison to your arguments!

[sloandog]

He's been the best opener over the past 3 Logan cups ? Mate where is your info from ?

[aydee]

He's been the best opener over the past 3 Logan cups ? Mate where is your info from ?

2009/10 - 254 runs @ 21.16 (his opening partner, Dion Ebrahim - 746 runs @ 46.62)
2010/11 - 466 runs @ 38.83 (his opening partner, Paul Horton - 773 runs @ 70.23)
2011/12 - 208 runs @ 34.66

Therefore his overall record in franchise Logan Cup - 928 runs @ 30.93 from 19 matches, with 4 50s & 2 100s.

Admittedly, there have not been a whole heap of openers who have been covering themselves in glory, but nonetheless these figures are far from outstanding, and do not come remotely close to the figures of the likes of Masakadza, Taylor, Sibanda or Mutizwa across the same period.

[eugene]

I think hhm tends to just make stuff up and hope that no one will actually do any fact-checking. Duffin is a limited player who may have some success in international cricket but will soon be found out once bowlers see enough of him. He is kind of like a poor-man's Mark Richardson.

[eugene]

If hhm had his way this is what our national side would look like:

1. Terry Duffin
2. Dion Ebrahim
3. Gavin Ewing (c) (w) (opening bowler) (death bowler) (specialist fielder)
4. Stuart Matsikenyeri
5. Alester Maregwede
6. Friday Kasteni
7. Keith 'the spinning allrounder' Dabengwa
8. Mluleki Nkala
9. Tawanda Mupariwa
10. Edward Rainsford
11. Tinashe Panyangara