What is up with SA's Fast Bowler, Makhaya Ntini?

[shahidrazzaq]

What has happened to him?
He is barely even taking wickets. In this WC, his average is 49.
He bowled very well against Pakistan. In this WC he has only taken 4 wickets from 6 matches. I see he is losing his ability to take wickets.
He is becoming worse. I think they should give him a rest for one day, then bring in maybe Langeveldt. Then Pollock and Nel may open the bowling. Then after bring in Langeveldt and Hall. Then bring in Kemp, Kallis, and Smith. Win or lose the match, they still need to bowl and bat good. The whole point is that he needs to improve in One-Days. Any comments?

[JustAnotherFan]

His wife had a child just before WC.

[161]

ntini hasn't done much this wc .. then again i've heard that he doesn't perform well in general abroad.

[shahidrazzaq]

Does that really matter?
If his wife had a child just a while ago, then he should be happy and getting wickets.
That wouldn't really be a dumb reason for bowling bad. I mean if I was him, I would be taking wickets right now and bowling good. When good stuff happens, you get happy, and when bad stuff happens you get sad or mad or frustrated or distracted. I don't think having a child is a good reason for missing out on getting wickets. The only man who is getting lots of wickets is the man, Shaun Pollock. And no hard pressure to Makhaya Ntini, but that is a dumb reason and dumb excuse if using it as one.

[Imy]

Without Bounce Ntini is becomes a regular bowler

[Bouncer]

Originally Posted by Imy Without Bounce Ntini is becomes a regular bowler

spot on, he needs the wicktes with bounce and some lateral movement as he is a bowler who relies heavily on getting help from the pitch to get his "intimidating length" which troubles batsman

[shahidrazzaq]

Yes. Ntini uses the bounce in the pitch very well.

[JustAnotherFan]

Originally Posted by kashif77 ntini hasn't done much this wc .. then again i've heard that he doesn't perform well in general abroad.

People have theories, but stats show info ...

Last 30 ODI games at home. Took 50 wickets with a bowling average of 22.90.

Last 30 ODI away from home (tour). Took 54 wickets with a bowling average of 22.94.

Last 30 ODI away from home (neutral). Took 46 wickets with a bowling average of 23.06.

[shahidrazzaq]

he has done good. Besides that neutral section.

[161]

Originally Posted by JustAnotherFan People have theories, but stats show info ... Last 30 ODI games at home. Took 50 wickets with a bowling average of 22.90. Last 30 ODI away from home (tour). Took 54 wickets with a bowling average of 22.94. Last 30 ODI away from home (neutral). Took 46 wickets with a bowling average of 23.06.

well the stats certainly seem to indicate he does well everywhere ... soooo lets he does on some flat tracks when rsa tour pak in a few months.

[shahidrazzaq]

indicates very well.
but if he does, then why is he not bowling well now?

[JustAnotherFan]

Originally Posted by shahidrazzaq Does that really matter? If his wife had a child just a while ago, then he should be happy and getting wickets.

Lol, I was making a remark about his private life. He arrived at the WC late and didn't play in the warmups.

Anyway, Polly is bowling worse at the WC. 4 Wickets in 6 games. Bowling average of 50. Australia smacked him for 0/83. SL 0/46. At least Ntini got some wickets in those games.

[DOOSRA95]

Originally Posted by kashif77 ntini hasn't done much this wc .. then again i've heard that he doesn't perform well in general abroad.

with those south african dodgy speed gun he is bowling at 150 kph now he is at his useal speed in high 120kph.

and pakistan and india are not playing those green tops .

[i m gr8]

Originally Posted by shahidrazzaq indicates very well. but if he does, then why is he not bowling well now?

Cant someone be out of form ?

You expect someone to perform well all the time ?

[saffer]

so he gets wickets from a dodgy speed gun ?

interesting theory....just as interesting as the theory that the world is carried on top of a silver platter ...itself carried by 4 huge pink elephants...


(there's no doubt he doesn;t bowl as quick these days...but since he slowed down he;s got far more wickets....he's only 29....and fitter than anyone...if he wanted he could still bowl fast...but when you been the best fast bowler in the world for 3 years...why change anything ?)

[ahsan17]

He is a green track/fast/bouncy track bully. On pitches that don't suit him, he is an ordinary bowler.

[shahidrazzaq]

Originally Posted by i m gr8 Cant someone be out of form ? You expect someone to perform well all the time ?

I'm saying that he is not playing well. And he needs improvement because look at his stats, look at his previous matches. He has been getting hit for over 6.00 per over. I don't think I good bowler like him should have that happening nowadays.

[arhamkarim]

Maybe he is like Ifty from the apprentice...his wife and kids are more important than anything and he just missed them poooooooor makky..............

On a serious note yeah , he does dominate green track/left handers...... otherwise he just bangs it in from a wide angle........still would not like to be on the receiving end of his bowling

[DOOSRA95]

Originally Posted by ahsan17 He is a green track/fast/bouncy track bully. On pitches that don't suit him, he is an ordinary bowler.

I thought it was only me .But some people have green tinted glass.

[ahsan17]

Originally Posted by DOOSRA95 I thought it was only me .But some people have green tinted glass.

The pitch doesn't need to be green to help fast bowlers. It can be fast and bouncy or have a lot of moisture and still help fast bowlers.

[jackal786]

Ntini needs assistance from pitch. Remember how he struggled in SL. He doesn't have whole lot of variation.

[CricketBuff]

Maybe he is going thru a bad patch. Think he will perform when it really matters !!!

[Zechariah]

All players go out of form, Rana Naved is an example.. he is the best bowler at death in the world and look at him now.. I think Ntini is still angry with the way Afridi played his full length balls ;) u know those Jharoo shots lol

[Invictus]

Ntini like most SA bowlers relies on the bounce off the pitch. Pitches with no bounce and/or assistance and he isnt the same bowler.

[FAQ]

Originally Posted by JustAnotherFan His wife had a child just before WC.

The thread poster wasnt saying that his wife is not taking wickets, it was about Ntini himself

[voodooray]

ntini is in pathetic form .... but funnily the SA team management decides to drop their highest wicket taker in this WC ( langeveldt) for the match against WI !

[Long_Live_Pakistan]

He needs green top bo be effective.
its simple.

[Long_Live_Pakistan]

Originally Posted by saffer so he gets wickets from a dodgy speed gun ? interesting theory....just as interesting as the theory that the world is carried on top of a silver platter ...itself carried by 4 huge pink elephants... (there's no doubt he doesn;t bowl as quick these days...but since he slowed down he;s got far more wickets....he's only 29....and fitter than anyone...if he wanted he could still bowl fast...but when you been the best fast bowler in the world for 3 years...why change anything ?)

thanks dude
u really made my day
needed something funny really to cheer myself after a long & busy double shift

[Sultan Yusuf]

Well his speed has dropped significantly - he could be carrying an injury...

[Saj]

His biggest problem is that he was selected for my Fantasy Cricket team which is nornally a jinx for any player

Seriously though on flattish tracks Ntini is no big deal. Any pitch offering extra pace and bounce and he looks a world beater.

[The Godfather]

its because the pitch's are slow and not enough bounce for him

[Jonty]

pitches are too flat for Ntini.. where is amoeba? wasn't he the best bowler in the world? bowl out teams on ANY track - thats what a good fast bowler does..

[mos123]

Ntini is really a dengerous bowler but i dint know why he is not taking wickets

[KalAhmed]

He's just an idiot, trying to get and edge of left hander all time, go 4 the stumps mate or fuller. He int even fast, about 85mph fastest ive seen, what an idiot. crap player.

[JustAnotherFan]

Originally Posted by KalAhmed He's just an idiot, trying to get and edge of left hander all time, go 4 the stumps mate or fuller. He int even fast, about 85mph fastest ive seen, what an idiot. crap player.

In the ICC rankings for bowlers Pollock, Ntini, Hall and Nel are all rated higher then any Pakistan bowler. The Pakistan team is at home watching the WC. SA is in the WC playing. Pakistan has won 3 of their last 10 games. SA has won 7.

Do you get my point? If Ntini is crap, then what is the Pakistan team?

[Noman]

Ntini is a moving track bowler,, if the bowl doesnt move or the pitch doesnt have any bounce he is close to useless..

[Noman]

Originally Posted by JustAnotherFan In the ICC rankings for bowlers Pollock, Ntini, Hall and Nel are all rated higher then any Pakistan bowler. The Pakistan team is at home watching the WC. SA is in the WC playing. Pakistan has won 3 of their last 10 games. SA has won 7. Do you get my point? If Ntini is crap, then what is the Pakistan team?

what did NITNI do back in Pakistan 2003 when SA was playing odi and test matches in Pakistan.. Our bad openers made big centuries against this Ntini and Pollock... Sa coundnt crontrol Shoaib Akhtar back in 2003 and now in 2007 he with his 11 took 4 wicket or something like that......

NTINI is an average bowler when the pitch doesnt have any bounce or movement....

[KalAhmed]

Originally Posted by JustAnotherFan In the ICC rankings for bowlers Pollock, Ntini, Hall and Nel are all rated higher then any Pakistan bowler. The Pakistan team is at home watching the WC. SA is in the WC playing. Pakistan has won 3 of their last 10 games. SA has won 7. Do you get my point? If Ntini is crap, then what is the Pakistan team?

Im on about in the current world cup, if you go by the past, then his record looks good, but he is appaling in this world cup i hate him, absolute idiot

[Gujar]

Originally Posted by JustAnotherFan In the ICC rankings for bowlers Pollock, Ntini, Hall and Nel are all rated higher then any Pakistan bowler. The Pakistan team is at home watching the WC. SA is in the WC playing. Pakistan has won 3 of their last 10 games. SA has won 7. Do you get my point? If Ntini is crap, then what is the Pakistan team?

Wasn't this thread called 'What's up with Ntini?' and not 'What's up with Ntini, why is he not as good as Pakistani bowlers?'.

[JustAnotherFan]

Originally Posted by Noman Sa coundnt crontrol Shoaib Akhtar back in 2003 and now in 2007 he with his 11 took 4 wicket or something like that...... NTINI is an average bowler when the pitch doesnt have any bounce or movement....

Hmmm ... how dare you compare a druggie with a super fit sportsman?

[the_game]

Originally Posted by JustAnotherFan Hmmm ... how dare you compare a druggie with a super fit sportsman?

JAF, I know we have some stupid comments in this thread, but even you have to admit that Ntini needs suitable pitches to be effective, while Shoaib doesn't. That is just due to the difference in the nature of their bowling, and Ntini is definitely a harder worker than Shoaib.

[JustAnotherFan]

Originally Posted by KalAhmed Im on about in the current world cup, if you go by the past, then his record looks good, but he is appaling in this world cup i hate him, absolute idiot

OK, so have you met the guy? Why do you hate him? Why do you think he is an absolute idiot?

He went to my school and is a local hero where I grew up. He intends opening a cricket academy. Voted most popular sportsmen in SA. So I'm interested in your animosty.

[JustAnotherFan]

Originally Posted by the_game JAF, I know we have some stupid comments in this thread, but even you have to admit that Ntini needs suitable pitches to be effective, while Shoaib doesn't. That is just due to the difference in the nature of their bowling, and Ntini is definitely a harder worker than Shoaib.

I fully agree there about Ntini needing the correct pitch to help him get wickets. One thing though is that I did a check on his stats out of interest (see elsewhere) to see where Ntini bowls best (home, away, neutral).

Also Pollock is actually bowling worse at the WC (OK, this thread started before last game).

Shoaib is one of the true quickies, but I don't really like him anymore after the latest fiasco. So, is he really injured?

[KalAhmed]

Originally Posted by JustAnotherFan OK, so have you met the guy? Why do you hate him? Why do you think he is an absolute idiot? He went to my school and is a local hero where I grew up. He intends opening a cricket academy. Voted most popular sportsmen in SA. So I'm interested in your animosty.

I have not met him
He isn't a fiery, bowler
And, he bores me becuase of lack of wickets so it's pointless watching

[volcyz]

He was never frighteningly fast.
I remember on the nZ tour of 2004, the way Cairns smoked him for six with ease straight into the stands was like smashing a spinner.

[JustAnotherFan]

Originally Posted by volcyz He was never frighteningly fast. I remember on the nZ tour of 2004, the way Cairns smoked him for six with ease straight into the stands was like smashing a spinner.

Not the first quicky to be smoked for a six.

[Ntini]

Originally Posted by KalAhmed I have not met him He isn't a fiery, bowler And, he bores me becuase of lack of wickets so it's pointless watching

lol this proves it is YOU who are the idiot.

[Jayed]

Originally Posted by Ntini lol this proves it is YOU who are the idiot.

wow...so much fire from a girl!

[Majestic_Inzi]

Hes Been Found Out!

[KalAhmed]

Originally Posted by Ntini lol this proves it is YOU who are the idiot.

why?

[Long_Live_Pakistan]

Originally Posted by JustAnotherFan In the ICC rankings for bowlers Pollock, Ntini, Hall and Nel are all rated higher then any Pakistan bowler. The Pakistan team is at home watching the WC. SA is in the WC playing. Pakistan has won 3 of their last 10 games. SA has won 7. Do you get my point? If Ntini is crap, then what is the Pakistan team?

If everything is about WC then you very soon will be among 11 teams who will be planning to work for 2011 worldcup, and discussing what went wrong in 2007.

[Long_Live_Pakistan]

and yes pakistan cricket team is a crap at the moment & understandabally they are going through very tough times. but they have won tournaments like WC n others to their credits??????
anyone you can remind me of?

[KB]

As has been mentioned by others, Ntini is heavily reliant on obtaining disconcerting bounce. On lower, slower pitches, he has been on the vast majority of occasions pretty ineffective throughout his career, never mind this tournament.

You sometimes wonder what he has actually learnt, from bowling on slower, lower pitches. Not a lot it seems.

South Africa’s problems are compounded by the performance of other bowlers on slower, lower pitches. Robin Peterson is labelled a spinner, but he barely spins it. Shaun Pollock is a defensive bower, unable to provide cutting edge on unresponsive pitches.

Might have been worth a gamble on Dale Steyn to provide something a bit different to the attack, even though he is erratic.

[Savak]

I think the biggest mistake Ntini made was cutting down on his pace. He is only 29 years old he should have been at his peak right now. When he used to charge in bowling in the late 80's to early 90 mph he added that variety which the SA attack needed so badly. He would still easily pick wickets in SA, Aus, NZ where most of the wickets favor fast bowlers but he is going to struggle on dead tracks. Whats the point of beeing super fit if you cant use it to your advantage as a fast bowler. He needs to up his pace if wants wickets in the carribean.

[shahidrazzaq]

the late 80s?

[FAQ]

Originally Posted by shahidrazzaq the late 80s?

He meant speed in the late 80s (mph) not in 1980s

[shahidrazzaq]

lol