Spin bowling talents in Zimbabwe

[Zimco]

Good research there

[Jemisi]

Absolutely. He's shown as much promise as Sean Williams did during the first 2 years of his international career

This made me just dig up the stats to see how they compare, not a serious exercise but for fun. Sean debuted in Feb 2005 and Burl in Feb 2017. So, took the first 4 years of both players across formats. This is what it looks like:

Sean Williams:
889 runs from 35 matches. 9 fifties, 0 hundreds, average of 30.65
10 wickets at 55.80 with the best of 3/23
Williams' 50s: Ban * 4, WI * 1, SA * 1, Pak * 2, Ken * 1

Ryan Burl:
554 runs from 38 matches. 2 fifties, 0 hundreds, average of 21.30
18 wickets at 28.80 with the best of 4/32
Burl's 50s: Ire * 1, Ban * 1

Obviously Burl is significantly better with the ball and Sean significantly better with the bat.

Yep

[CrimsonAvenger]

Williams' 50s: Ban * 4, WI * 1, SA * 1, Pak * 2, Ken * 1

And I think I remember watching every one of those knocks except the Kenya one. Was a huge fan then and was certain that Sean was the heir apparent to Andy Flower. Specially those 50s he scored against Pak and another 48* in a single series - he was the lone warrior. Overall, he hasn't disappointed through his career. Had he been a bit lucky with injuries in the first half of his career, his records would have been even better. How long it took for Williams to play a test match!

[sloandog]

Yea I remember the 2008 ODI series in Pakistan and was equally as excited. He played some seriously good knocks in that series. His 72 runs in one of the games had a cover drive which emulated Flower in so many ways.

This is why I keep saying that every time we say Taylor, Williams, Ervine or Chatara in a Zim shirt we should be grateful. When they eventually retire we'll have lost the last connection to a zimbabwe cricket system which functioning and producing top quality cricketers

[Jemisi]

Yeah, agree fellas. My main disappointment with Williams has been domestic. He ought to have played a lot more.

[CrimsonAvenger]

Yeah, agree fellas. My main disappointment with Williams has been domestic. He ought to have played a lot more.

Yes, lot of unnecessary run-ins with the system, breaking momentum, going away, coming back, of course also the system having run-ins with Williams, completely abandoned domestic seasons due to this, etc. It is astonishing that this partnership has lasted this long, given how much of an emotionally charged up character he has been. He has definitely matured well over the years and that has helped the situation.

Also, I have always felt that from the outside, it looks like Hamilton and Williams have shared a really good relationship over the years, looking at their camaraderie on field. That might have helped with the captaincy and him settling in with it as well. Just a guess.

[Zimco]

Yeah I wonder how well Taylor and hami get on?

Who were the two that went to the ICC? I doubt they get on too well with hami after that messaging saga.

[gargamel]

What do you guys think of Malcolm Chikuwa and Brighton Chipungu

The Malcom Chikuwa story would be something out of a movie. He is a solid guy who is my workman cricketer a genuine guy who bowls to his strengths and has been rewarded by being a top performer in what should become the entry level into provincial cricket through his performances during the NPL. He is also one of the best grass roots cricket coaches who has been the one to bring through Shumba , Madhevere , and Marumani . He can only get better with exposure . I believe Spinners only get better by the more they bowl and the different surfaces that they are exposed to. The sad thing is that our setup has no specialist coaches to help these propects along on developing variations , use of the crease , ang;es and understanding a situation and adjusting to it.