Why can't Zimbabwe develop a tearaway quick?

[eugene]

2002 I think, was just before Namibia played in the World Cup I think.

[pariah]

2002 I think, was just before Namibia played in the World Cup I think.

!Kabbo the bushman

April 1, 2002

Mystery Namibian speedster may challenge Lee and Shoaib for fastest bowler crown
http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/ ... 10794.html

Intriguing reports of a previously unknown fast bowler are coming out of Namibia in advance of the Six Nations Challenge to be played there next week. Namibia were the surprise qualifiers for the 2003 World Cup at the ICC Trophy in Toronto, and insiders within the national cricket team believe they have discovered a player who might just make them a force with which to be reckoned. Bowling at what some estimate to be close to 100 mph from a run of only three paces, and standing a shade over 5' tall, this small man with the unlikely and unpronounceable name of !Kabbo has the potential to surprise even the best of players.

!Kabbo (the ! symbol indicates a clicking sound difficult to reflect in English spelling) comes from a most unlikely background and his story is a fine example of how truth can be stranger than fiction. He is a member of the San tribe of Kalahari Bushmen - southern Africa's first residents who survive in the harsh environment of the Kalahari desert due to their traditional hunter-gather lifestyle. His family was part of a group of San who were forced off their traditional homeland by settlers in northern South Africa in the 1920s, and have been living in the remote Xai Xai region of Namibia, preserving their unique culture and language.

In their brief exposure to Europeans in the 1920s, evangelical missionaries tried to convert the San, and as part of their attempts to "civilise" them showed them the rudiments of cricket. Hunter-gatherer societies have been shown to be highly efficient leaving ample time for recreation, and the only trapping of western civilisation the San took with them into the wilderness was their primitive version of the game of cricket. Far removed from the game as we know it, it involved the bowling of small hard gourds at the body of the "batsman" who would defend himself with a stick. Perhaps the only vestige of "normal cricket" that remained in their version was the propulsion of the gourd with a nearly straight arm. The San are tremendous hunters and are able to throw short spears distances of 30 to 40 yards with great accuracy. Accordingly, the game became an important teaching tool for aspiring youths, and has remained popular to the present day.

Canadian anthropologist and socio-linguist Loof Lirpa came across the San three years ago, in his quest to document the !Kabe language. The language was thought to be extinct and he was astonished to find a small group of San living in southern Namibia who were still speaking it. He spent much time with the group and was intrigued by their strange games. Being North American he thought their ball game was closer to baseball, but recognised the exceptional pace and control developed by the San youths. 18 year-old !Kabbo was clearly the star of the group and a chance conversation in a bar in Windhoek led to interest from the Namibian Cricket Association, and the youngster being brought into town for a try-out in the nets in September of last year.

He cut an unlikely figure, standing only just over 5 foot tall, and looking uncomfortable in the western garb that had been loaned to him, but with in a ball in his hand it was immediately clear that he was something special. From a run-up of only three paces he launched the ball at a tremendous velocity in a whirlwind of arms and legs. Batsmen from the Namibian team refused to face him at first, as true to the game he knew, he bowled fast full tosses at the body. Once a more appropriate target was explained to him, he showed the ability to bowl extremely fast with incredible accuracy.

!Kabbo initially demonstrated little interest in staying in the capital and playing cricketoffers of money meant little to him, and he was set to walk the 200 miles back to Xai Xai. His traditional homelands however have been threatened by mineral exploration, and he was convinced to stay only after talks with officials from the Ministry of Mines and Energy assured him that no development would take place if only he would stay to represent the country through 2003.

Since then he has been training extensively, and playing regularly in local club matches, where his bowling has been devastating. No accurate timing devices exist in Namibia but the batsmen who have faced him include those who have faced some of the quickest bowlers in South Africa and they believe him to be faster than anyone they have previously seen. Lacking subtlety, with no swing or seam, and little variation, he takes wickets with sheer pace - average reaction times seem too slow to cope with his quickest deliveries. He is a phenomenal fielder, capable of direct hits from almost everywhere on the ground, and despite some early problems has adjusted well to the rules of the game. Surprisingly, he is not a great bat, but when he makes contact the ball can travel a long way.

Up to now, !Kabbo's abilities have been a closely guarded secret, but with the advent of the Six Nations Challenge, it has been learned that he is likely to be drafted into the Namibian squad as a last minute addition. Concerns had arisen about his ability to take wickets against top-class batsmen, and it was decided to give him the opportunity to show what he could do against Kenya, Canada, the Netherlands, and A teams from Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka. It will also provide an opportunity to have his somewhat unusual action examined by top-class umpires before the World Cup.

The big question however is whether this polite, unassuming young man can be the first to break the 100 mph barrier. Brett Lee and Shoaib Akthar have been bowling in the high 90s but so far have failed to reach the magic mark. !Kabbo is clearly very fast indeed, but until he is timed in scientific conditions it is not clear how fast he really is. The absence of timing devices at the Six Nations Challenge means that we might have to wait until the World Cup before that question is answered. Indeed how effective his simple bowling method will be on true wickets against top-class batsmen is questionable. He has a year to learn his craft, and perhaps a fairy tale ending to this unlikely story will unfold in 2003 on the fields of southern Africa.

[Kriterion_BD]

I wouldnt put Steyn on the list of quickest bowlers. He rarely hit 150. Heck most of the time he doesnt even bowl 140. That was even in his prime.

[eugene]

!Kabbo only exists on April 1 seemingly.

[Googly]

I will tell you who could have been a 140+ bowler is Jongwe. He was a great bowling prospect, but I only ever saw him really giving it 100% when he was at school, thereafter he seemed to bowl within himself. Although I haven’t seen Matigumu of late, he was another. His quickest over used to be his first one only. You need a bad attitude as a quick. Bollinger used to say that he would always aim for the box! His intent used to be to scare and hurt. Our guys get fired up often for just a few deliveries and then they back off a bit. They have to get used to making it a sustained barrage of body line. Maybe Zimbos are just too nice? I remember in the old days when there were big club rivalries, the guys just didn’t hold back, it was intense, these days they just seem to go through the motions.

[brmtaylor.com admin]

What were the main club rivalries Googly?

[Googly]

Sunrise (Hindu) and Universals (Moslem) used to be wild, especially in hockey. It occasionally ended with fights in the crowd and feuds that lasted years. There was really bad blood between Universals and Old Hararians (ex Prince Edward boys mostly). I was once at the indoor stadium when players and spectators got involved in a violent brawl. Old Georgians (ex St George’s) and OH was
also very intense in all the sports. OH and Old Miltonians (ex Milton Byo) was another. In fact OM’s vs any Harare side was exceptionally unfriendly. Alex Sports Club became strong and they were added to the mix. It was a huge no no to move clubs and I recall a couple of guys being lured to play there and it caused much animosity. If you did that you basically weren’t welcome back at your old club, even for a drink in the pub, you essentially had to change your social circles to some degree. There were some fantastic personal rivalries as well and when you knew so and so was up against so and so people used to go and watch the outcome regularly. The week prior used to be a time for hot debate and the days after would be bragging rights or sheepish silence and excuses. They were great great days.

[Googly]

I left out the Harare Sports Club lads. Sports Club and OM clashes were outstanding as well. It was great fun. I miss those days so much.