If Keegan Meth were to return, would he walk into the first XI?

[pariah]

Barney Rogers would have gone on to be our greatest ever ODI opener.

After Neil Johnson

[sloandog]

Barney Rogers would have gone on to be our greatest ever ODI opener.

After Neil Johnson

Yea Johnson was a talent and a half wasn't he. We speak about Andy Flower in test Cricket (and batting in general), but this blokes talent is often missed. Easily one of the most gifted stroke players to have ever played for Zimbabwe. Made is look effortless.

What was his bowling like? Sadly never really saw him bowl live, have only seen the videos from the CWC In 99'

[pariah]

Barney Rogers would have gone on to be our greatest ever ODI opener.

After Neil Johnson

Yea Johnson was a talent and a half wasn't he. We speak about Andy Flower in test Cricket (and batting in general), but this blokes talent is often missed. Easily one of the most gifted stroke players to have ever played for Zimbabwe. Made is look effortless.

What was his bowling like? Sadly never really saw him bowl live, have only seen the videos from the CWC In 99'

To be quite honest he's a bit like Jarvis in my view. Needs conditions to make him come alive, attacks the stumps as often as possible, and can get it to seam, but got hit often. I'm actually interested to find out if Johnson too had an injury at a young age, because I think both could bowl very fast when young, but injuries affected them and they've got an action which suggests more pace is coming at you than you actually get.

Thinking about the recently ended Champions Trophy in England, this side would have won it if you think about it. It actually looks stronger than what Australia sent over there:
Johnson, Grant, Goodwin, Andy(wk), Campbell, Carlisle, Guy, Streak, Paul Strang, Brandes, Olonga

I think Paul strang and Streak might have a fight to decide who bats higher than the other.

[eugene]

Neil Johnson was a truly remarkable player.

[Googly]

You’ve all forgotten that he had a very questionable action. If you think Brian is marginal then you should watch this guy.

Are you thinking of Querl?

I don't remember Meth's action being suspect.

Humblest apologies. Yes.

[jaybro]

He did return didn't he? I seem to recall he played some franchise cricket.

He did return to franchise cricket when it was revamped in 2009 ( for List A matches only ) but didn’t make himself available for Zimbabwe

[jaybro]

The saddest thing about Barney is that he didn't leave for alternate opportunities (like Ervine or Jarvis) and didn't go overseas for a better future long term, he left, stayed around Harare and to my knowledge became a used car salesman and stayed to that.

That's quite an effort to burn an up and coming international that hard that he gave up the game full stop, no return!

I thought he owned a moto cross park ??

Yeah what ever went down between himself Neil Ferreira and ZC was pretty bad, when I met this young chap and he told me he was Zimbabwean first thing I asked him was about cricket then he said he worked for Barney.

This was 2009 so Rogers had just returned to franchise cricket at this point so I mentioned about him playing for Zimbabwe again and the kid said there was zero chance and Rogers had been burnt too bad to return.

[Googly]

Neil Johnson never quite gelled in our system, so I was told by a couple of the players, and never felt quite at home. He was also reluctant to bowl too often. He was a fringe Proteas player and came here as he had the option and did very well as we all know. I guarantee there are hundreds of players like him World wide that get overlooked but would be fantastic if given the opportunity. I think he coaches either Hilton or Michaelhouse, either way he has a coaching establishment that both those schools tap into.
Barney R, last time I saw him, had a butchery/meat trading business. I’m not sure if he still does that. He’s a great guy. One of the many that got mistreated by ZC.

[sloandog]

Neil Johnson never quite gelled in our system, so I was told by a couple of the players, and never felt quite at home. He was also reluctant to bowl too often. He was a fringe Proteas player and came here as he had the option and did very well as we all know. I guarantee there are hundreds of players like him World wide that get overlooked but would be fantastic if given the opportunity. I think he coaches either Hilton or Michaelhouse, either way he has a coaching establishment that both those schools tap into.
Barney R, last time I saw him, had a butchery/meat trading business. I’m not sure if he still does that. He’s a great guy. One of the many that got mistreated by ZC.

Nice to know that Johnson still lives and coaches within Zimbabwe. I thought he was a fantastic commentator as well; on the 2013 tour of the West Indies. Fell out with Michael Holding on air which was quite funny, one of the few guys who didn't agree with everything the arrogant Holding said, and he didn't like it. I remember holding saying, on air, 'it's time for a change in the commentary box as we hand over to Tonzy Cozier, and if he doesn't retract those statements, the late Neil Johnson' He replied with '....always a pleasure Mikey'

But yea, would love to have seen this man play.
I never knew he was a fringe proteas player though? Although I remember famously hearing from my old man that he said, after being made man of the match award against South Africa at Chelmsford, that he would love to one day represent the Proteas.

[Googly]

No Hilton/Michaelhouse are in Natal which is where he originally hails from. He played for Natal and was awesome, but knew he’d never get the nod for the SA side because there were slightly better all-rounders. Maybe the likes of Brian Macmillan? I’m trying to think who their all rounders we’re back then?