Tuesday 25 February 2014

Return of Za Mack



Anyone who has played at the Wick for any length of time will know what's its like to be embarrassed by Zammak ripper. Despite bowling slower than Keith, you somehow get beaten for pace, the bounce comes from nowhere, it bites in the pitch like a snake in the grass, and out of the corner of your eye you see a wee fella with the smuggest grin on his face. You weren't even close and you were laughing at the ball before it passed the stumps.

Zumba was part of the Wick Invincibles of 2006. And a vital part too. A quick scan of Play Cricket will tell you that he took 34@13, going for only 3.2 an over that year. His next great year came in 2008 when he took 29@18. In fact even in his poorer seasons he performed better than most of us would care dream about....and all this bowling leg spin. Bloody good leg spin too. As Nomi said a few weeks back, great cricket teams are made up of great individual talents - and in Tuggles we have one more to add to our list. Welcome back Tuggzy.

Speaking of individual talents, did anyone see that spell by Dale Steyn on Sunday? True cricket fans should appreciate the sight of a genuine fast bowler flying in at pace and controlling ball like a yoyo. Fair play to Mitchell Johnson, he has bowled some great balls in the past 18 months, but Mr Steyn has been at the top of the world game for 5 years and seems as hungry as ever for wickets - ideally Australian ones. Epic stuff.

Back to Zambezi - his challenge now is whether he can be as good as his brother, who has matured into one of the most feared hitters of the circuit. One Tughral is scary enough, but two gives me the giggles.

There were other people a nets on Sunday too - 17 others in fact (a low turn out by 2014 standards), each with a point to prove. MattyD's batting aside, the standard was as high as ever, so if if anyone who hasn't rocked up yet do get involved. Tiffin Boys School, Sundays, 11-1.

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