SA Domestic Competition
Printed From: Cricket World
Category: Letter To The Editor
Forum Name: Domestic News
Forum Discription: Your Views
URL: http://www.cricketworld.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=4254
Printed Date: 19 June 2013 at 9:51pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.71 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: SA Domestic Competition
Posted By: Sledger
Subject: SA Domestic Competition
Date Posted: 24 October 2007 at 7:06am
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The South African season has started and locals feel free to post scores and comments in this thread. I initiated it though because of an interesting development. Cricket SA yesterday announced that Zimbabwe will play in all the SA domestic competitions this season. The Supersport Series (4 day cricket) had already had two fixtures completed for the provincial sides here , but now additional fixtures incorporating Zimbabwe have been drafted. All Zimbabwe's fixtures will be played in Zimbabwe (their union probably can't afford the flights!) and the Highveld Lions are due to play there later this week. This decision has been such a surprise that the Lions haven't named a squad yet! Do you think this'll help the cause of Zimbabwean cricket? What will the SA francises get out of it? Will they send B teams and rest their top players? I think this is some kind of kneejerk reaction and hasn't been thought through well enough. Yes , the Zimbabweans should benefit financially and in cricketing terms (the matches are all televised) , but will the money be used to uplift the game there? Corruption is rife in that country and that revenue could well end up in the wrong hands. I hope it helps our northern neighbors , but the sceptic in me says that money will disappear. ------------- Mental disintegration works for me !! |
Replies:
Posted By: Clobber
Date Posted: 24 October 2007 at 10:08am
| I think you can see both sides - allowing the teams to go and play there gives credence to the corrupt Zimbabwe Cricket Union, and the chances of the money generated going back into the game are slim at best. For the players however it will be a huge boost, the chance to compete with quality players beneath the Test match quality where they may well be able to compete over the course of 4 days, and at the least learn more about staying in a game, which can only do them good. |
Posted By: Sledger
Date Posted: 24 October 2007 at 11:07am
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I'll go with that mate - the youngsters will get to play regular 4 day
cricket for the entire summer against decent opposition and that can
only make them better players. The money might well be another matter entirely and I'll be interested to know just how much the Zim players actually receive for these matches. ------------- Mental disintegration works for me !! |
Posted By: -JP-
Date Posted: 24 October 2007 at 11:17am
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I doubt that the franchises will send understrength teams as there are points at stake for them when they play Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe won't score in the SuperSport series, but they will in the one-day and the Pro20 as they will have a full set of fixtures. |
Posted By: Sledger
Date Posted: 24 October 2007 at 1:18pm
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That's likely JP , the franchises will want the points.
The sides they'll send won't be full strength though as the
international players won't be available. ------------- Mental disintegration works for me !! |
Posted By: -JP-
Date Posted: 24 October 2007 at 3:33pm
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The plans have now been postponed pending a CSA board meeting on Friday. http://www.cricketworld.com/zimbabwe/article/?aid=13686 - http://www.cricketworld.com/zimbabwe/article/?aid=13686 |
Posted By: Sledger
Date Posted: 25 October 2007 at 5:49am
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What a can of worms !! The franchises are up in arms as
CSA just bulldozed Zimbabwe into the domestic competitions and
completely ignored the concerns of the provinces The Lions game
was cancelled simply because they refused to travel - it's a great
embarrassment for the CSA Board , they look like the incompetents that
they are. The main grievance of the provinces is that Zimbabwe have a series of ODI's later this year against Pakistan. They've made it clear that all their international players will not be available against the SA franchises. So they'll be matches against a full strength Zim and the rest against something akin to an under 16 side ! Another grievance is the bizarre scoring system. Just how they've come up with points being awarded to the franchises whilst the Zimbabweans will treat the games as friendlies and will not score is ludicrous. With the franchises revolting I think we'll see this project scrapped and rightly so too. If you didn't think the CSA as a bunch of amateurs before , you surely must now - clowns ! ------------- Mental disintegration works for me !! |
Posted By: Clobber
Date Posted: 11 November 2007 at 1:49pm
| I see young Master Harmison took 9 wickets (out of 15 to fall) in his game, and more importantly got 55 overs under his belt |
Posted By: spin wizard
Date Posted: 11 November 2007 at 5:12pm
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Taking wickets is always good for the team but I heard he was still erratic with extras! Still, if a guy can give me those wickets, I don't care about extras! ------------- In troubled times, being philosophical helps a great deal, it helps you to remain sane and not do any further damage. |
Posted By: inswinger
Date Posted: 11 November 2007 at 6:29pm
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maybe so. but if the team are in a good position to win you cant play him because he will be giving away too many runs and then you lose a bowler
------------- RightFastMedium RightHandBat |
Posted By: canadiancricket
Date Posted: 12 November 2007 at 2:08am
| Extras are never a good thing but I will take a lot of wickets over extras. A bowler who doesn't concede a extra but also doesn't take wickets isn't very helpful most of the times. But if a bowler who takes wickets along with conceding extras will always do his team more help than harm. |
Posted By: Sledger
Date Posted: 12 November 2007 at 7:37am
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Harmy was erratic in the 1st innings but still took 6 wickets in the process.
2nd time around he bowled a lot more consistently and only took three -
funny game , cricket. The improvement suggests that the cobwebs were getting shaken off in the 2nd innings and that can only be good for England and Harmison. The pitch at Paarl (stunning ground in the wine region) is very slow and low , so his return is very encouraging. Later this week he's playing for the Lions against the Dolphins at Potch. That wicket is quicker , but is still very much a batting track. It'll be hard work for Harmy and a lot hotter than it was in Paarl. Against a decent Natal side (they're not much weakened by international withdrawals , just Pollock missing) he should get plenty of work - it'll be interesting to see just how many he knocks over. ------------- Mental disintegration works for me !! |
Posted By: Sledger
Date Posted: 14 November 2007 at 5:25am
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Pleasant surprise on Inside Edge last night , Harmy was the
studio guest alongside New Zealand's ex-quick , Danny Morrision.
An interesting programme for a change , with the men discussing
workloads of current cricketers (especially bowlers) with Morrison's
era. Surprisingly , it's 10 years since Morrison last turned his arm over and he was the first to admit that , whilst they're well rewarded , the schedule is brutal today. Injuries and the recovery from them was chewed over too , with Harmy saying the pressure on players to get back in the middle is neverending. He debuted for England in 2002 and played without injury until after 2005 Ashes - he missed a single test in that period , but with nothing seriously wrong. Since then he's never been completely fit and has struggled. What appealed to me was his self-deprecation , he chuckled at that ball in Brisbane and was quite philisophical about the number of wides and the resulting media hysteria. He's very keen to get to Sri Lanka and feels he's not far away now. The match in Potch later this week is vital if he's to go. He had nice things to say about Gibson , but little when questioned about Donald. He only played in 2 tests with AD at the helm , after that he was crocked. Finally he was questioned about Freddie and true to form , he backed his mate. Disappointment was the buzz word in his response , with the old adage that what happens in the dressingroom should stay there. He ended by echoing quite a few Freddie supporters by saying just where were the positive comments about Fred , it all seemed so negative. The lad looked happy and downplayed all the homesick jibes that come his way. He's a family man , misses them , but loves playing cricket and is mad keen to get to Sri Lanka and then New Zealand. Footnote : I've just read the Telegraph and Charles Randell reports that Harmy's got a stomach bug. All I can say is that he obviously was lacking a story as the lad looked perfectly alright last night ! ------------- Mental disintegration works for me !! |
Posted By: spin wizard
Date Posted: 14 November 2007 at 10:44pm
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The workload is definitely plenty these days. What people need to know is when cricketers aren't playing matches, they're practicing too so they hardly have anydays break. Now, that's one positive of being left out of the final xi. ------------- In troubled times, being philosophical helps a great deal, it helps you to remain sane and not do any further damage. |
Posted By: venom2011
Date Posted: 15 November 2007 at 1:25pm
| Dammit. I miss one episode and it turns out to be a good one. Ah well, i prefer BVP anyways. Nice to see Harmison hitting his straps. Plunkett on the other hand has been less impressive..... |
Posted By: Sledger
Date Posted: 16 November 2007 at 7:39am
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Harmy had a nice day yesterday - sat with his feet up ! Neil
McKenzie hit 150-odd and has shot off to Centurion and will play if De
VIlliers doesn't recover from a back complaint. If SA are
unchanged then McKenzie has a long drive back to Potch ! It's hot , very hot , in Potch and that wicket is perfect for batting. Harmy will get a go today and will do well to take a couple. From an England perspective it's the perfect test for the lad , the humidity will be lower than in Sri Lanka , but it'll still be very hard graft. ------------- Mental disintegration works for me !! |
Posted By: venom2011
Date Posted: 17 November 2007 at 2:27pm
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Seems he's doing well. Got a couple this morning and the captain's not over-working him, which they often seem to do to the overseas pro's in the county circuit. Also I see Rudolph's been getting a full run with his leg spin of late and he's getting some results too. Would be nice to have a leg spinning allrounder in the side  |
Posted By: Sledger
Date Posted: 19 November 2007 at 4:49am
Not always venom. Dale Steyn is on record saying that Warwickshire used him sparingly throughout his short stay this season. 4 and 5 over bursts and then a nice rest in the deep was a successful ploy too - he took plenty of wickets. It looks like it's brought him on too , he's bowling with aggression and control at the moment. ------------- Mental disintegration works for me !! |
Posted By: venom2011
Date Posted: 19 November 2007 at 6:05am
| Yep. And good to see the SA bowling coach doing something about his run-up. Bringing him closer to the stumps really has made a huge difference. Batsmen are having to play a higher percentage of deliveries now. |
Posted By: Sledger
Date Posted: 19 November 2007 at 9:11am
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That's been his failing in the recent past , wasting the new ball. He certainly had them playing in this test.
------------- Mental disintegration works for me !! |
Posted By: spin wizard
Date Posted: 19 November 2007 at 1:27pm
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Did Donald coach Steyn is his youth days. I'm seeing some Donald in him! ------------- In troubled times, being philosophical helps a great deal, it helps you to remain sane and not do any further damage. |
Posted By: venom2011
Date Posted: 19 November 2007 at 5:39pm
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Yes, he did play a part in his development spin-wizard, but his smooth Donald-like action came naturally ie before Donald met with him. I wish you could have seen Mfuneko Ngam back in 2000 spin-wizard. His action was almost a mould of Allan Donald's and he bowled over 150Kph and swung it both ways. Then he had 7 stress fractures and that was the end. |
Posted By: spin wizard
Date Posted: 19 November 2007 at 10:47pm
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Ok, thanks for the confirmation! Steyn's action is what made me ask. ------------- In troubled times, being philosophical helps a great deal, it helps you to remain sane and not do any further damage. |
Posted By: -JP-
Date Posted: 21 November 2007 at 1:15pm
Not scrapped, but compromised - Zimbabwe are now to play as a seventh franchise in both the MTN Domestic Championship and the Pro20 Series later in the season. They will play three four-day games against a wait for it, South African Composite XI made up of franchise and provincial players. With Pakistan due in Zimbabwe in December, that should rule out any question of Zimbabwe fielding under-strength sides seeing as the limited overs tournaments start in February. http://www.cricketworld.com/zimbabwe/article/?aid=13920 - http://www.cricketworld.com/zimbabwe/article/?aid=13920 |
Posted By: Sledger
Date Posted: 22 November 2007 at 4:40am
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So Zimbabwe play their 1st match again the Compost side today at
Potch. I've seen the starting XI for the garden supplements and Stephen
Cook is the best of an extrememly average bunch. He's nowhere close to
the class of his Dad , Jimmy , but not bad all the same. Still , I expect they'll win comfortably and no-one will bother to go and watch. ------------- Mental disintegration works for me !! |
Posted By: -JP-
Date Posted: 22 November 2007 at 4:18pm
Cook out for 45, caught by Matsikenyeri off of Maruma, presumably playing an agricultural shot and caught in the deep. Lots of rain around on day one, should help the Compost side bed in nicely for day two, where they will resume on 236 for 6. Elton Chigumbura took three wickets for fifty four. |
Posted By: venom2011
Date Posted: 22 November 2007 at 11:32pm
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Well, If they're struggling against that side then thank goodness they're no longer playing test cricket. I wonder how many of Zims talented youngsters will leave the country and wind-up playing franchise cricket in SA 
|
Posted By: Sledger
Date Posted: 23 November 2007 at 4:39am
Like it JP , like it a lot !!  ------------- Mental disintegration works for me !! |
Posted By: -JP-
Date Posted: 24 November 2007 at 6:06pm
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Prosper Utseya registers a maiden first-class century on day three as Zimbabwe's batting germinates nicely, ending on 493. Compost respond well, closing the day on 137 for 2, still 68 runs behind. |
Posted By: spin wizard
Date Posted: 25 November 2007 at 2:17am
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West Indies must be shaking! ------------- In troubled times, being philosophical helps a great deal, it helps you to remain sane and not do any further damage. |
Posted By: Sledger
Date Posted: 26 November 2007 at 5:39am
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Well the Compost XI got well and truly buried by the Zimbabwean under
12's by 10 wickets ! A good performance by the children ,
but it might be an idea if the next match pitches them against eleven
cricketers. ------------- Mental disintegration works for me !! |
Posted By: Sledger
Date Posted: 13 December 2007 at 7:14am
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Dale Steyn continues to impress , this time in domestic
competition. In a Titans win he took 14 wickets - that's 34 wickets in
3 successive matches !
------------- Mental disintegration works for me !! |
Posted By: spin wizard
Date Posted: 13 December 2007 at 1:28pm
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Only one hope for West Indies against him then. Gayle have to try and beat him over the park. It's either he lose his wicket to try and get Steyn away from that fragile batting attack or let him settle and wreck them. ------------- In troubled times, being philosophical helps a great deal, it helps you to remain sane and not do any further damage. |
Posted By: Sledger
Date Posted: 13 December 2007 at 1:46pm
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Steyn's quick and swings the new ball nicely. If Gayle goes gungho at
him he'll have his feet up in the pavilion for most of this series.
------------- Mental disintegration works for me !! |
Posted By: spin wizard
Date Posted: 13 December 2007 at 2:09pm
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Yeah, I know that and that's why I saw he have to try and belt him out of it. Steyn swings the ball back into the left handers from what I've seen and Gayle has been dismissed in the first over by Lee like that on occassions - fast inswingers. I think Steyn will get him anyhow so it's worth the gamble. Anyhow, back on SA domestic competition. ------------- In troubled times, being philosophical helps a great deal, it helps you to remain sane and not do any further damage. |
Posted By: Niv!
Date Posted: 13 December 2007 at 5:10pm
| Could someone rename it to RSA? cause I thought people were talking about South Australia. XD |
Posted By: spin wizard
Date Posted: 14 December 2007 at 1:15am
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Haha yeah, that's true. You're dealing with a man that grew up in a country where tabloids are famous so he knows how to catch attention. ------------- In troubled times, being philosophical helps a great deal, it helps you to remain sane and not do any further damage. |