Is Streaks involvement starting to pay off?

[ZIMDOGGY]

Perhaps im fuelling unneccessary hype here but if the latest performances are anything to go by (And Mpofus notable improvement) it makes me wonder if Streak- our fast bowling coach (i say fast because im not so sure how much a streak could help with a Cremer type of bowler) is having his efforts starting to bear fruition....

because this time last year we were in all sorts struggling to find any bowler who can bowl on the wicket, whereas now I feel almost* we have a surplus of bowlers fighting there way in, and it's our batting that is our downfall. in the past it was not like this.

[takleg]

I think Mpofu's improvement in the last couple of months tells how much work has been put in by the coaching department esp Streak. He(Streak) still needs still needs to put in a lot of work to help groom other young upcoming fast bowlers, but no doubt he has had quite an impact. One thing though, if Streak is workingmainly with the quicks, who is working with Cremer and the other spinners?

[ZIMDOGGY]

Guys my original message wasn't finished as I had to jet, I finished it now.

As for taklegs q. I'd outsource that. Zim has only ever produced one spinner of quality that predates the current team (strang) and I don't think hes in the country.

Just send cremer and co to Australia or somewhere on a holiday where he can bunker up with warnie and let that be it. With crmer, Ti be honest he's almost complete he just needs to turn it a little more. Warne or Macgill will teach him how to put a few revs on it and I think ppl like them will get through to cremer as cremer is a party animal like them and from what I understand..... A little impulsive and dare I say it, dense.

[bayhaus]

I think what streak has been able todo to has mainly been on the psychological side. And I think he has made the fast bowlers believe in themeselves more, hence the performance. Now we need to clone streak and where bowler is checked we uncheck that and check the batsmen option and then send him to our batsmen...

[eugene]

Zimdoggy, I think you are forgetting Adam Huckle. He was a quality spinner who's career was sadly very brief.

Back to the original point of the thread, I think Streak certainly deserves some credit for the improved fast bowling. I am not sure what Grant Flower has achieved with the batsmen yet.

[Boundary]

Just send cremer and co to Australia or somewhere on a holiday where he can bunker up with warnie and let that be it. With crmer, Ti be honest he's almost complete he just needs to turn it a little more. Warne or Macgill will teach him how to put a few revs on it and I think ppl like them will get through to cremer as cremer is a party animal like them and from what I understand..... A little impulsive and dare I say it, dense.

I'm surprised you didn't mention his hairstyle there!

Anyway, part of Streak's success with Mpofu is because he spends a lot of time with him at the Tuskers, whereas others probably see him sporadically during national team training sessions. But another factor in favour of fast bowling (or rather medium-fast bowling, in truth) is because there's genuine competition for spots. Besides Mpofu, who's now nailed his position, many others have been tried at various times and all of them believe they can get in permanently and that raises everyone's game. The spin Big 3 have maintained a fairly high standard, though, and people like John Nyumbu will have to be exceptional to get in.

The batting, on the other hand, has largely been static despite the many collapses. How long has it taken Foster Mutizwa to get a proper look in? The top order is benefiting from the search for Taylor's partner: Vusi and Hammie both seem hungrier but the middle order is stale. Experience is probably being valued more but the idea that under performance is rewarded contributes more to the Zimbabwe Collapse rearing its head so often. And there's little that Grant can do about that.

[eugene]

Huckle would have been up there with Strang had he played for as long. Huckle was also one of crickets great sledgers and general troublemakers on the pitch. Intimidating umpires, telling NZ batsmen to f*ck off when he dismissed them, and then claiming to the match referee they weren't out there playing netball as a defence for his actions. What a character he was.

[Kriterion_BD]

Mpofu has been bowling very well of late, I think Streak deserves at least some of the credit if not most of it. Hats of to Chris as well.

[Lostart]

As for taklegs q. I'd outsource that. Zim has only ever produced one spinner of quality that predates the current team (strang) and I don't think hes in the country.

Ahem..... John Traicos!!!!!!!!

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