Murray Goodwin
Muzza as he is known, born in Harare, Zimbabwe grew up in Australia. If that sounds strange he later returned to Zimbabwe and played international cricket for Zimbabwe and when things got difficult he moved back to Australia. In all of this a true quality cricketer was lost, I say lost because most people do not recognize the man and his talent. Goodwin after returning to Australia was a regular member in the Western Warriors line up of Western Australia domestic team. He possessed what quality top-order batsmen required. He has played a lot of cricket for Sussex domestic side as well where his numbers boast of his caliber. He scored a club-record 335* against Leicestershire to seal Sussex's first Championship title in their 164-year history. Later he broke his own record scoring 344* against Somerset in 2009. In the 2008 pro-40 championship requiring 3 runs off the last ball, Murray hit a 6 off Charlie Shreck against Nottinghamshire CCC, his 87 not out from 64 balls steered Sussex to victory. He also featured in the controversial ICL (Indian Cricket League) in which he represented the Ahmedabad Rockets. Later quit the league to commit to Sussex and rightly so. To describe his potential, he is most definitely a talent we have missed watching.
Salim Durani
Salim Durani is described as an unpredictable genius for his potential of changing games be it with the bat or with the ball. His numbers were not the greatest so, he never would be listed in the likes of Sir Gary Sobers, Sir Richard Hadlee, etc.. But his ability to knock the ball over the ropes was no less ordinary. With the ball he won quite a few games for India, and it was then he was hero-worshipped across India. Durani had a special rapport with the spectators, who once agitated, when he was inexplicably dropped for the Kanpur Test in 1973, with placards and slogans like ``No Durani, no Test''. Durani a very good looking gentleman, with huge public admiration featured in a film in the 70’s as a point to showcase his charm that he had amongst the public.
Subhash Gupte
Gupte is regarded as one of test cricket’s finest spinners. So as to say Sir Gary Sobers described him as the best leg spinner and it was a pleasure to see. Gupte was a big spinner of the ball with a very effective googly as well. In fact he possessed two variants of the googly in his armory. Gupte had a very immaculate line and length which proved why he was very effective. In fact his average suggests he was more effective away than at home. He once took 9 wickets in an innings against West Indies. Lance Gibbs, the only wicket he missed was dropped by the wicket keeper. But, he did manage to take all ten in an innings in first class cricket against Bahawalpur CC, and once in Lancashire league for Rishton. It is sad that a man of his talent is not well known and not recognized with the likes of Bedi, Chandrasekhar or Prasanna. The manner in which he was sacked is a tale for another post. He later settled in the West Indies as he was married to a girl from Trinidad.
Tim Southee
Amazing how we have written about quite a few kiwi pacers already, Tim Southee is another to join the bandwagon. When we spoke of either Ian Butler or Chris Martin it shows the quality and the numerous options of seam bowlers right now available in Kiwi-land. The only things to have changed since then are the injury to Bond (nothing new) and O’Brien announcing his retirement. This doesn’t mean that New Zealand is on a drought of seam bowlers. They have ample storage in their kitty. Tim is fairly young (turns 21 today) and is a great find. He moves the ball, particularly away from the right handed batsman. He impressed a lot during the u-19 World Cup picking 17 wickets @ 6.64 and was rightly awarded the player of the tournament. On his test debut against England he took 5-fer and destroyed the English top order. He dented quite a few reputations like Strauss, Vaughan, Pieterson. Southee to me is an exciting talent in the days to come. And if, you haven’t seen much of him, you better watch out.
