Comments on: The ‘big men’ of the field http://www.sportsleader.co.za/adamwakefield/2009/11/05/the-big-men-of-the-field/ Thu, 09 Feb 2012 10:10:28 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2 By: Adam Wakefield http://www.sportsleader.co.za/adamwakefield/2009/11/05/the-big-men-of-the-field/#comment-7042 Adam Wakefield Tue, 10 Nov 2009 14:36:53 +0000 http://www.sportsleader.co.za/adamwakefield/2009/11/05/the-big-men-of-the-field/#comment-7042 Thanks for the comments guys. Ian, fair point about the boring cricket, and hopefully the McLarens of the world (I'm really hoping he kicks on in the England series) will step up and show the old hands how it is done. Motivation is never a problem when there is a man going for your spot. Smith doesn't command the same respect as Smit certainly, but is importance to the Proteas is undeniable. Banana, true, Smithy certainly hasn't brought home the goods (2007 WC, 2009 20/20, 2009 ICC CT) but he still a fine batsmen and I will admit my bias in supporting him. Ooo, that is a tough question on Habana. He has signed till 2011, which means he will be a certainty for the WC in NZ. I would agree that the Stormers certainly suffered from celebrity culture in the past, but Watson did do a good job (as you noted) in harnessing the team's talents towards the field and this year's CC showed some great results for WP. How can a guy like Habana do more? He has won everything (CC, S14, WC, TN) as a player so perhaps the question will be down to motivation rather then ability but being based in the Cape I would like to think he made the move for a combination of reasons: Cape Town for the life the city offers, and perhaps for a change of scenery. I think he will do well since WP rugby appears to be on the up, and if Jacques Fourie ends up in the Stormers backline that will make a big difference since Habana and Fourie know eachother quite well which would help both of them adapt to the new environment. Also, how the Stormers play (kicking vs running the ball) will influence his effectiveness but he is a class player. After all that, I don't think he will win as many domestic honours as he did with the Bulls but I think he won't go backwards either. He will continue to be a class player. If his team comes to the party, next year's S14 is going to be quite interesting with the talent a little more evenly spread amoungst the franchises. Keep the comments coming. Thanks for the comments guys. Ian, fair point about the boring cricket, and hopefully the McLarens of the world (I’m really hoping he kicks on in the England series) will step up and show the old hands how it is done. Motivation is never a problem when there is a man going for your spot. Smith doesn’t command the same respect as Smit certainly, but is importance to the Proteas is undeniable.

Banana, true, Smithy certainly hasn’t brought home the goods (2007 WC, 2009 20/20, 2009 ICC CT) but he still a fine batsmen and I will admit my bias in supporting him.

Ooo, that is a tough question on Habana. He has signed till 2011, which means he will be a certainty for the WC in NZ. I would agree that the Stormers certainly suffered from celebrity culture in the past, but Watson did do a good job (as you noted) in harnessing the team’s talents towards the field and this year’s CC showed some great results for WP.

How can a guy like Habana do more? He has won everything (CC, S14, WC, TN) as a player so perhaps the question will be down to motivation rather then ability but being based in the Cape I would like to think he made the move for a combination of reasons: Cape Town for the life the city offers, and perhaps for a change of scenery.

I think he will do well since WP rugby appears to be on the up, and if Jacques Fourie ends up in the Stormers backline that will make a big difference since Habana and Fourie know eachother quite well which would help both of them adapt to the new environment. Also, how the Stormers play (kicking vs running the ball) will influence his effectiveness but he is a class player.

After all that, I don’t think he will win as many domestic honours as he did with the Bulls but I think he won’t go backwards either. He will continue to be a class player. If his team comes to the party, next year’s S14 is going to be quite interesting with the talent a little more evenly spread amoungst the franchises.

Keep the comments coming.

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]]> By: Banana http://www.sportsleader.co.za/adamwakefield/2009/11/05/the-big-men-of-the-field/#comment-7031 Banana Fri, 06 Nov 2009 07:55:22 +0000 http://www.sportsleader.co.za/adamwakefield/2009/11/05/the-big-men-of-the-field/#comment-7031 Not sure Graeme Smith commands the kind of respect that Smit does or Ricky Ponting due to the fact that they have won everything, Smith, while a decent cricketer, has won nothing! A question Adam...Do you think that Habanas career is going to move sideways following a move to the Cape. I get the feeling that Luke Watson did a brilliant job of ridding the province of that whole pop star culture that riddled the team, created by players like Percy, Bobby Skinstadt and Robbie Fleck. Watson however has left and I believe that in the Cape the going out culture of hitting trendy clubs, being constantly hit on by model types etc etc might just curtail what has so far been an amzing career for Habana? The klippies and cola at a braai in Pretoria is far different from the mountain....thoughts? Not sure Graeme Smith commands the kind of respect that Smit does or Ricky Ponting due to the fact that they have won everything, Smith, while a decent cricketer, has won nothing!
A question Adam…Do you think that Habanas career is going to move sideways following a move to the Cape. I get the feeling that Luke Watson did a brilliant job of ridding the province of that whole pop star culture that riddled the team, created by players like Percy, Bobby Skinstadt and Robbie Fleck.
Watson however has left and I believe that in the Cape the going out culture of hitting trendy clubs, being constantly hit on by model types etc etc might just curtail what has so far been an amzing career for Habana?
The klippies and cola at a braai in Pretoria is far different from the mountain….thoughts?

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]]> By: Ian http://www.sportsleader.co.za/adamwakefield/2009/11/05/the-big-men-of-the-field/#comment-7030 Ian Fri, 06 Nov 2009 07:11:14 +0000 http://www.sportsleader.co.za/adamwakefield/2009/11/05/the-big-men-of-the-field/#comment-7030 Graeme Smith? He certainly is a BIG man of the field - I would rather watch new players who actually want to play cricket! Bring on Johann Botha, Mclaren etc. - I cant watch the 'financially secure' play more boring, unimaginative cricket, secure in the knowledge that they have lots of money from past glories. I'll be on another channel... Graeme Smith? He certainly is a BIG man of the field - I would rather watch new players who actually want to play cricket! Bring on Johann Botha, Mclaren etc. - I cant watch the ‘financially secure’ play more boring, unimaginative cricket, secure in the knowledge that they have lots of money from past glories. I’ll be on another channel…

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