Why can't Zimbabwe develop a tearaway quick?

[brmtaylor.com admin]

I guess Vitori is the closest we've had for a while?

But even with him (and Chatara, Mumba, etc) it's their effort balls that reach 140 not their stock balls.

Why can't Zimbabwe find some bloke who's erratic and inconsistent, but always gets it up around 145? What is it about our system (compared to SA for example) that means why don't find these sorts of bowlers?

[aydee]

I guess Vitori is the closest we've had for a while?

But even with him (and Chatara, Mumba, etc) it's their effort balls that reach 140 not their stock balls.

Why can't Zimbabwe find some bloke who's erratic and inconsistent, but always gets it up around 145? What is it about our system (compared to SA for example) that means why don't find these sorts of bowlers?

I don't think it is a case of the system, more the size of the talent pool. Zimbabwean cricket is roughly the size of the cricket in one of SA's provinces, in terms of clubs, schools, facilities, etc. Therefore, the chances of "finding some bloke" are much, much smaller.

[Bulawayo Boy]

Excellent question. It's a massive disadvantage for international cricket. Jarvis seems to have gotten slower than what he was too - it's extremely worrying. Is it to do with our small population? lack of coaching? Our pitches? The air density? It's mind boggling.... The Aussies have 4! The Pakistanis normally have a couple at least, as do the South Africans and Kiwis. Even the Bangladeshis have produced some good quicks. Are we India in drag?

[ZIMDOGGY]

It's half being a small cricketing population and half racial.

The white population is too small and the shonas appear short and stocky by nature, doesn't lend itself to quick bowling as opposed to lean and muscular.

If Nigeria played cricket they would have 4 year away quicks

[aydee]

Excellent question. It's a massive disadvantage for international cricket. Jarvis seems to have gotten slower than what he was too - it's extremely worrying. Is it to do with our small population? lack of coaching? Our pitches? The air density? It's mind boggling.... The Aussies have 4! The Pakistanis normally have a couple at least, as do the South Africans and Kiwis. Even the Bangladeshis have produced some good quicks. Are we India in drag?

Not the national population, but the cricketing population, which is truly tiny.

[aydee]

The white population is too small and the shonas appear short and stocky by nature, doesn't lend itself to quick bowling as opposed to lean and muscular.

I don't buy this at all. Genuine quicks come in all shapes and sizes.

[Bulawayo Boy]

I tend to agree. Look at Dale Steyn - he isn't tall. Akhtar was only 6 foot. Harold Larwood was 5ft 8"! Malcolm Marshall was under 6 foot too and he was probably the best of all the Windies pace men. I know "fast twitch" fibres in the muscles are an important component but there must be more to it than just height.

[Black Mamba]

Excellent question. It's a massive disadvantage for international cricket. Jarvis seems to have gotten slower than what he was too - it's extremely worrying. Is it to do with our small population? lack of coaching? Our pitches? The air density? It's mind boggling.... The Aussies have 4! The Pakistanis normally have a couple at least, as do the South Africans and Kiwis. Even the Bangladeshis have produced some good quicks. Are we India in drag?

Indians have also got above 145+kph bowlers

Mohammad Shami
Umesh Yadav

[Bulawayo Boy]

Excellent question. It's a massive disadvantage for international cricket. Jarvis seems to have gotten slower than what he was too - it's extremely worrying. Is it to do with our small population? lack of coaching? Our pitches? The air density? It's mind boggling.... The Aussies have 4! The Pakistanis normally have a couple at least, as do the South Africans and Kiwis. Even the Bangladeshis have produced some good quicks. Are we India in drag?

Indians have also got above 145+kph bowlers

Mohammad Shami
Umesh Yadav

True that's a fair point, but they never seem to have produced really good quicks in numbers like the Pakistanis have. And I've never understood that because virtually EVERYONE plays cricket in India - the talent pool is huge - 1.1 billion people. That said, maybe they are now placing more importance on fast bowling - and maybe we should too!

[eugene]

Zimbabwe needs to investigate what NZ is doing which seems to have a conveyor belt of fast bowlers.