Skip to main content
ZCF

Home of cricket conversation, community and memory

Discussion

Blessing Muzarabani hints at Zimbabwe Cricket comeback

Zimbabwe Cricket Forum 60 posts 996 views

Discussion

Veteran

Opening post

England based fast bowler Blessing Muzarabani has opened the door for a sensational return to international cricket for Zimbabwe following confirmation that his Kolpak contract with Northamptonshire is set to be nullified at the end of the year.

https://www.thestandard.co.zw/2020/03/0 ... y2Ar4zTm3k
ZCF OriginalLegend
You would think he would be an instant inclusion, but does nullifying the contract also mean that he has not performed well enough and not really progressed?
ZCF Hall of Famer

zimbos_05 wrote: ↑Wed Mar 04, 2020 2:59 am

You would think he would be an instant inclusion, but does nullifying the contract also mean that he has not performed well enough and not really progressed?


3rd seamer behind KJ & TLC no doubt
Veteran
Zimbabwe needs more comebacks before ICC Odi League & T20 Qualifiers, present set of players arent consistent.

Murray, Ives, Matigamu & Cremer....

Young players in domestic cricket should be promoted at the top spot
ZCF OriginalVeteran
Would he have much of a choice? Where else would he go?

Next year will be a good year if ZC plan properly. Blessing Murray and I'm hoping Myers also gives it a go instead of going to uni. They need to start talking to him now. Add Wes Mumba Kamunhukamwe Shumba Burl and Tari. We can build from there around our top 6 guys (BT Ervine Williams Raza Jarvis Chatara). That's 15 guys who can compete. A whole squad.

Only thing we are missing right now is a leg spinner and Matigimu. Nyangani can be worked with. I also have a feeling Matigimu might be back if he fails to get that S.A. domestic contract he has been pushing for
ZCF Hall of Famer

TapsC wrote: ↑Wed Mar 04, 2020 5:16 am

Would he have much of a choice? Where else would he go?

Next year will be a good year if ZC plan properly. Blessing Murray and I'm hoping Myers also gives it a go instead of going to uni. They need to start talking to him now. Add Wes Mumba Kamunhukamwe Shumba Burl and Tari. We can build from there around our top 6 guys (BT Ervine Williams Raza Jarvis Chatara). That's 15 guys who can compete. A whole squad.

Only thing we are missing right now is a leg spinner and Matigimu. Nyangani can be worked with. I also have a feeling Matigimu might be back if he fails to get that S.A. domestic contract he has been pushing for


Surely Mavuta is still worth persisting with ?

Crazy how he has fallen to the wayside after the manner in which he hit the scene in South Africa
ZCF Hall of Famer
Blessing isn’t that good.

He’s light years behind KJ and Chats.

I would say slightly ahead of Mumba and on par with Mpofu, and a lot of that is due to potential still.

Just look at the Logan Cup. He isn’t doing that much in his appearances, and from my understanding he has been underwhelming and drifts in and out of the County B side he is playing for.

Still, I welcome his return. Any fast bowling depth is good atm.
ZCF OriginalLegend

jaybro wrote: ↑Wed Mar 04, 2020 3:08 am


zimbos_05 wrote: ↑Wed Mar 04, 2020 2:59 am

You would think he would be an instant inclusion, but does nullifying the contract also mean that he has not performed well enough and not really progressed?


3rd seamer behind KJ & TLC no doubt


But why? Other than his height, does he have real pace? Does he know how to vary his bowling really well or build his attack? Is he just another run in and bowl and see what happens, or is he a genuine international quality bowler?
ZCF OriginalZCF Hall of Famer

zimbos_05 wrote: ↑Wed Mar 04, 2020 6:53 am

But why? Other than his height, does he have real pace? Does he know how to vary his bowling really well or build his attack? Is he just another run in and bowl and see what happens, or is he a genuine international quality bowler?


Yeah his pace is real. He is consistently hitting 140 and that was a couple years ago before left for County cricket. If he wasn't do you think the counties would even bother to sign him to a contract. He had raw potential.
Bangladesh cricket fanatic, observer of all others.
ZCF OriginalVeteran
If you watched the game yesterday and saw Mumba getting some extra bounce just know Blessing would have been a real handful because he is faster and taller. He is only 23. As much as I didn't like the way he left I think it's unfair to count him out yet. Do you guys know how badly Jarvis struggled when he initially left? It took him almost 2 seasons to get it together
ZCF OriginalZCF Hall of Famer
I never saw him bowl anywhere near that speed
ZCF OriginalZCF Hall of Famer

sloandog wrote: ↑Wed Mar 04, 2020 6:52 pm

I never saw him bowl anywhere near that speed


Blessing you mean?

I'm pretty sure I remember him clocking 140+ in Bangladesh in the 2018 tri series. His average speed was probably around 134-135, but he got well into the 140s, IIRC. His max was probably in the 88-89 mph range. Don't think he hit 90/145 clicks, but he was getting close at times from what I remember.

Think of it this way. What use would the Counties have of a Zimbabwean bowler who's just a 130-135 kph trundler? His height? There are probably a dozen guys in English cricket who are 6'6" or taller. He didn't really swing the ball or anything. He had raw pace, and potential if he could get in the mindset of cracking some helmets.
Bangladesh cricket fanatic, observer of all others.
ZCF Hall of Famer
My hazy memory says Blessing hit 140 twice back in that 2018 region. And it was a surprise BUT was mentioned here.
ZCF OriginalLegend

jaybro wrote: ↑Wed Mar 04, 2020 10:11 am

My point was if you bothered to watch the current bunch of seamers bowl you’d know Blessing is easily better than them.

Also enjoy how people phrase things to fit their narrative lol “they are so willing to let him go” the article points at the demise of the Kolpak ruling as to why his three year deal will finish after two


Calm down buttercup. I have not watched Blessing since he left us, and when he did play for us, I did not think he was overly fast. He had height going for him and on the odd occasion, control. I was merely asking if the hype is valid based on how he has performed since going to the UK.

Hahaha, phrase things to fit my narrative. Are you any conservative party? Players already signed under a Kolpak will be allowed to stay on in their current deal through to January 2021 if they stay with their current club. So the club could keep him on if they wish too.
ZCF OriginalVeteran
In the end the question is who would not want him back ? The rest does not matter. We all know the March 2018 team was the best team we have had since 2004. He was part of it. Whatever else people think we can only judge when we see him. He is only 23. Nobody has watched him recently here so we can't make judgement. Maybe Mr Ward but nobody else
ZCF OriginalZCF Hall of Famer
I faced him in 2018, I bet nobody here can claim that.

He was playing for Denton West in our GMCL Prem and your truly was tasked to open again him, had a yard, but not stupidly quick
ZCF Hall of Famer

zimbos_05 wrote: ↑Thu Mar 05, 2020 3:49 am

Calm down buttercup. I have not watched Blessing since he left us, and when he did play for us, I did not think he was overly fast. He had height going for him and on the odd occasion, control. I was merely asking if the hype is valid based on how he has performed since going to the UK.

Hahaha, phrase things to fit my narrative. Are you any conservative party? Players already signed under a Kolpak will be allowed to stay on in their current deal through to January 2021 if they stay with their current club. So the club could keep him on if they wish too.


Ok 'Buttercup' my point is if you were watching the same games I've been watching you'd know the likes of Tshuma, Mumba, Tiripano & Nyauchi are well below what Blessing has already showed.

Going off this from you I guess you don't watch as much as you say?


zimbos_05 wrote: ↑Wed Mar 04, 2020 2:59 am

Did not expect to wake up to a result where it was so close. Nice to see Wes getting a good score. Hopefully he can actually develop the way a talent of his should. He could open doors if he is consistent and develops his game well.
ZCF Hall of Famer

zimbos_05 wrote: ↑Thu Mar 05, 2020 3:49 am

Hahaha, phrase things to fit my narrative. Are you any conservative party? Players already signed under a Kolpak will be allowed to stay on in their current deal through to January 2021 if they stay with their current club. So the club could keep him on if they wish too.


I'm not certain on what exactly is going with Kolpak deals but the article clearly states that Kolpak deals will be terminated at the end of 2020, as I said I don't know but this is what the article states. So your comment that his County is happy to let him go, or that they could keep him on if they wished hasn't been formed from this article hence my comment that you're phrasing things to fit your narrative

Really nothing shocking to what I've said Buttercup but as per usual you're too busy being negative to realise
Veteran
He was easily our quickest seamer. I remember him clocking 140+ kph on multiple occasions (as high as 144 kph). His pace was a little inconsistent though. His pace was usually around the 135-136 kph mark, which even Mumba struggles to reach consistently.
ZCF OriginalLegend

jaybro wrote: ↑Thu Mar 05, 2020 5:08 am

Ok 'Buttercup' my point is if you were watching the same games I've been watching you'd know the likes of Tshuma, Mumba, Tiripano & Nyauchi are well below what Blessing has already showed.

Going off this from you I guess you don't watch as much as you say?


zimbos_05 wrote: ↑Wed Mar 04, 2020 2:59 am

Did not expect to wake up to a result where it was so close. Nice to see Wes getting a good score. Hopefully he can actually develop the way a talent of his should. He could open doors if he is consistent and develops his game well.



Firstly, you clearly are using the term buttercup wrong.

Secondly, I have been watching the games and seeing the bowling, but i do apologise about the time I had to go to sleep because I had work at 5am the next morning and could not stay up till stupid o'clock to watch the game. Clearly that makes me a terrible fan who never watched any games live or even the highlights that get posted.

I never said these guys are any good, I was merely asking, how much better is Blessing at this moment? Does he have more to work on or are we actually saying that he is at the level of which he can come in and will be this world class beater who is moving the ball, changing it up well, and knocking high speeds consistently...Will he really form this potent attack akin to countries like Aus/Eng/India, with KJ and TC that many are alluding to?


jaybro wrote: ↑Thu Mar 05, 2020 5:15 am

I'm not certain on what exactly is going with Kolpak deals but the article clearly states that Kolpak deals will be terminated at the end of 2020, as I said I don't know but this is what the article states. So your comment that his County is happy to let him go, or that they could keep him on if they wished hasn't been formed from this article hence my comment that you're phrasing things to fit your narrative

Really nothing shocking to what I've said Buttercup but as per usual you're too busy being negative to realise


Jeez mate. I asked a genuine question from those who have watched him more in the county scene. If he was genuinely good, then a club would want to try and sign him on for the last year of deal even if meant as a foreigner, rather than 'just' let him go. They committed to 3 years initially and if a player is genuinely good or of a high quality, surely you do everything you can to sign them...no?

So again, not negative. Not fitting a narrative. Just asking questions that normally get asked.

Reply

Login to reply.