Fast Bowlers camp starting today

[Wanderer]

10 Bowlers were invited to this camp run by Allan Donald and Vince Barnes.

Charl Langeveldt
Johan van der Merwe
Monde Zondeki
Mfuneko Ngam
Albie Morkel
Mornè Morkel
Cliffe Deacon
Ryan McLaren
Rory Kleinveldt
Friedel de Wet

Camp ends Thursday. It would have been nice to have one for the spinners as well.

[darksideofthemoon]

Does that mean bowlers over the 85mph mark? Who would you say is the fastest on that list?

[Wanderer]

These are bowlers that bowl between the 130-140 km/h mark. The criticism leveled against these are that they're too much alike...No real express pace like an Akhtar or a Lee. Mfuneko Ngam was certainly the fastest of the lot a couple of years back, but with all his injury problems, he's probably never going to regain that pace.

At this moment, Andre Nel and Dale Steyn are definitely SA's quicks. And according to Alan Donald, Steyn is definitely the new-ball partner for Makhaya for some time to come.

[darksideofthemoon]

Originally Posted by Wanderer

These are bowlers that bowl between the 130-140 km/h mark. The criticism leveled against these are that they're too much alike...No real express pace like an Akhtar or a Lee. Mfuneko Ngam was certainly the fastest of the lot a couple of years back, but with all his injury problems, he's probably never going to regain that pace.

At this moment, Andre Nel and Dale Steyn are definitely SA's quicks. And according to Alan Donald, Steyn is definitely the new-ball partner for Makhaya for some time to come.

There are not many express bowlers that bowl in the nineties consistently. Brett Lee is the fittest but players like Bond and Ahktar won't be taking 500 wickets. I can see Ntini getting 500 as he is the fittest bowler in world cricket. I like the opening bowling pairing of Ntini and Steyn. Maybe Pollock will just be kept for ODIs as he is a great all rounder.

Our 10 bowlers identified by Troy Cooley are

Harmison (6' 4)
Hoggard (6'2) (can bowl 88 mph but bowls 78-80mph)
Jones (6'3)
Anderson (6'2)
Plunkett (6'3)
Mahmood (6'4)
Tremlett (6'7)
Broad (6'6)
Footitt (6'2)
Stiff (6'6)

About half of them can reach 90mph and the others have the height to get bounce. Those that can reach 90mph don't bowl that speed consistently as they are not used as strike bowlers and given a 5 over burst when wickets are needed but end up bowling 40+ overs in a game. Harmison went into the Pakistan series bowling in the low 80's and didn't get many wickets while Ahktar bowled at 90mph and had results. So you can have fast bowlers but they need to be used correctly.

[Wanderer]

Ntini does not have the same pace he had a couple of years ago. But he's still SA's and one of the world's best new ball bowlers. Since Pollock lost his pace, SA's been searching for a replacement, and Steyn seems to be it.

The only thing Ntini lacks is a slower ball.

Cliffe Deacon us a name to watch. Left arm seamer. (SA don't have many of those)

Interesting list there of yours. The only names I don't recognise are Footit and Stiff. Ages?

[darksideofthemoon]

You wonder how such a talented bowler as Ntini can get a slower ball working. So Ntini and Steyn with Nel and Pollock. If there are injuries who is next in line? All Hands Zondeki? I see Langeveldt more in the one day team. Remember his hat trick in the West Indies. I love watching Steyn bowl. He is my favourite in the SA team.

How old is Deacon? Footitt is 20, left arm seamer as well. Has been out in India working with Dennis Lillee in the Fast Bowling Academy there. Stiff 21 was in the Under 19 team for 2 years. Both still a way to go. Still have to get into their county first X1.

[Wanderer]

Cliffie turns 26 this year...

Yes, I definitely agree that Langeveldt is seen more as an ODI bowler than a test one. And I still recall that hat-trick of his last year. Perfect outswinger he can bowl..

Steyn is good. Still needs about a year to develop. What's really great about him, is that he doesn't only have pace, but he can also move the ball.

Stiff and Footit are still young then...Will grow into their roles still.

[gibbs_fan]

I do not agree with you saying that Langeveldt is only a one day bowler. I think that he is one of the most talented bowlers in SA. He can swing the ball both ways and he is rarely expensive. He has been performing season after season in domestic cricket, yet he has never been given a proper chance.

2 years ago SA struggled to bowl England out. Langeveldt was the in form man but the selectors ignored him and picked Steyn instead, who at that time had absolutely no experience. Steyn got taken to the cleaners but the selectors picked Steyn again on Smiths insistence. Why was Langeveldt ignored all the time. Eventually after going 1-0 down in the series and Steyn being hit all over the place the selectors bring in Langeveldt. He takes a five for and SA win the test. Unfortunately Langeveldt got injured and never played again. SA never won another match in that series.

While I agree that Steyn is young and is a good prospect, why is Andre Nel still in the team. Langeveldt should be there. Nel is all bark and no bite. In fact Langeveldt even bowls quicker than Nel. Nel is a has been and the selectors should not persist with him.

Langeveldt should have played many more tests for SA but the blind selectors never gave him that opportunity. He is now 31 years old. SA have never had a genuine swing bowler since Fanie de Villiers, athough some people think that Shaun Pollock is one. Langeveldt averages 18 for SA in SA, he is a genuine swing bowler and adds some variety to SA's 1 dimensional attack.

Before you make sensless statements, check the facts first. Langeveldt is far better than Andrew Hall and Andre Nel. He deserves a long run in the team. SA persist with their medium pace attack which includes a 90km/h slow left armer. OOPS, Nicky Boje is a spinner, i thought that Nicky Boje was a slow-medium pacer, he certainly bowls like one. In reality Langeveldt was never really given a run in the SA team

[Wanderer]

Really angry aren't ya? ...I agree with you that Langeveldt has never been given enough chances at top level. Perhaps because of the following? : Lower back problems, broken finger, chest infections..etc. The man is what I'd call "injury prone"...

Originally Posted by gibbs_fan

I do not agree with you saying that Langeveldt is only a one day bowler.

In fact, this is what I actually said:

that Langeveldt is seen more as an ODI bowler ..

Can't help for SA's selectors now, can I?

[darksideofthemoon]

Well Langeveldt is fast. I have seen him in the late eighties. I would prefer him in ODIs though.
6 Tests 16 wickets at 37.06 econ 3.56 s/r 62.43
29 ODIs 38 wickets at 29.00 econ 4.89 s/r 35.57

Nelly
22 Tests 83 wickets at 28.78 econ 2.98 s/r 57.92
45 ODIs 58 wickets at 29.58 econ 4.71 s/r 37.65