Paul Strang
Encyclopedia
Paul Andrew Strang is a Zimbabwe
an cricket coach and former international player. A leg-spinning all-rounder
, he played in 24 Tests
and 95 ODIs for Zimbabwe
between 1994 and 2001. He played Test cricket alongside his brother, Bryan Strang
; their father, Ronald Strang, was a first-class umpire
and was TV umpire for two of Zimbabwe's Test matches in 1994/5.
He studied at the University of Cape Town
, and toured Pakistan with the Zimbabwe side in 1993/4. He played his first Test in 1994, and became a professional cricketer in 1995. He was one of the leading wicket-takers in the 1996 Cricket World Cup
in India
, taking taking 12 wickets with a bowling average
of 16, although the team was knocked out in the preliminary stage, beating Kenya
(with Strang taking 5 wickets) but losing its other 4 matches.
His scored his only Test century in the 1st innings of the 1st Test against Pakistan
at Sheikhupura
in 1996-7, batting at #8, including a stand of 87 with his brother for the 9th wicket. He also took 5 wickets in Pakistan's 1st innings in the same match. Strang's achievement was overshadowed by a double century, 257 not out, scored by Wasim Akram
, and the match was drawn.
He played two seasons of county cricket
as an overseas player for Kent
in 1997 and for Nottinghamshire
in 1998.
He played in the 1999 Cricket World Cup
in England
, where Zimbabwe beat Kenya, India
and South Africa
to qualify for the "Super Six" stage. He obtained his best Test bowling figures of 8-109 in the 1st innings against New Zealand
at Bulawayo in 2000-1, although Zimbabwe lost the match by 7 wickets. This remains the best bowling figures recorded by a Zimbabwean in an innings in Test cricket (the best match figures belong to Adam Huckle
). He only played in three further Tests, with his international career curtailed by a chronic injury to the muscles of his right hand in 2000.
Strang has since moved into coaching, joining the Auckland Aces
as a high performance coach in 2008 http://www.cricinfo.com/newzealand/content/story/365114.html and becoming the full-time coach soon afterwards. http://www.cricinfo.com/newzealand/content/story/392341.html
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
an cricket coach and former international player. A leg-spinning all-rounder
All-rounder
An all-rounder is a cricketer who regularly performs well at both batting and bowling. Although all bowlers must bat and quite a few batsmen do bowl occasionally, most players are skilled in only one of the two disciplines and are considered specialists...
, he played in 24 Tests
Test cricket
Test cricket is the longest form of the sport of cricket. Test matches are played between national representative teams with "Test status", as determined by the International Cricket Council , with four innings played between two teams of 11 players over a period of up to a maximum five days...
and 95 ODIs for Zimbabwe
Zimbabwean cricket team
The Zimbabwean cricket team is a national cricket team representing Zimbabwe. It is administrated by Zimbabwe Cricket...
between 1994 and 2001. He played Test cricket alongside his brother, Bryan Strang
Bryan Strang
Bryan Colin Strang is a Zimbabwean cricketer who played in 26 Tests and 49 ODIs from 1995 to 2001. Cricket is his passion...
; their father, Ronald Strang, was a first-class umpire
Umpire (cricket)
In cricket, an umpire is a person who has the authority to make judgements on the cricket field, according to the Laws of Cricket...
and was TV umpire for two of Zimbabwe's Test matches in 1994/5.
He studied at the University of Cape Town
University of Cape Town
The University of Cape Town is a public research university located in Cape Town in the Western Cape province of South Africa. UCT was founded in 1829 as the South African College, and is the oldest university in South Africa and the second oldest extant university in Africa.-History:The roots of...
, and toured Pakistan with the Zimbabwe side in 1993/4. He played his first Test in 1994, and became a professional cricketer in 1995. He was one of the leading wicket-takers in the 1996 Cricket World Cup
1996 Cricket World Cup
The 1996 Cricket World Cup, also called the Wills World Cup after its official sponsors, was the sixth edition of the tournament organized by the International Cricket Council . It was the second World Cup to be hosted by Pakistan and India, and for the first time by Sri Lanka...
in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, taking taking 12 wickets with a bowling average
Bowling average
Bowling average is a statistic measuring the performance of bowlers in the sport of cricket.A bowler's bowling average is defined as the total number of runs conceded by the bowlers divided by the number of wickets taken by the bowler, so the lower the average the better. It is similar to earned...
of 16, although the team was knocked out in the preliminary stage, beating Kenya
Kenyan cricket team
The Kenya national cricket team is the team that represents the country of Kenya in international cricket matches. They are considered one of the strongest of the associate member nations of the International Cricket Council, especially since reaching the semi-final of the 2003 Cricket World Cup...
(with Strang taking 5 wickets) but losing its other 4 matches.
His scored his only Test century in the 1st innings of the 1st Test against Pakistan
Pakistani cricket team
The Pakistan cricket team is the national cricket team of Pakistan. Pakistan, represented by the Pakistan Cricket Board , is a full member of the International Cricket Council, and thus participates in , and cricket matches....
at Sheikhupura
Sheikhupura
Sheikhupura or Shekhupur , formerly Kot Dayal Das or Singhpuria or Virkgarh , is an industrial city in the province of Punjab slightly northwest to Lahore in Pakistan. It is known for its historical places, and is commonly known locally as Qila Shaikhupura, because of the fort in the city,...
in 1996-7, batting at #8, including a stand of 87 with his brother for the 9th wicket. He also took 5 wickets in Pakistan's 1st innings in the same match. Strang's achievement was overshadowed by a double century, 257 not out, scored by Wasim Akram
Wasim Akram
Wasim Akram is a former Pakistani left arm fast bowler and left-handed batsman in cricketer and model. who represented the Pakistan national cricket team in Test cricket and One Day International matches....
, and the match was drawn.
He played two seasons of county cricket
County cricket
County cricket is the highest level of domestic cricket in England and Wales. For the 2010 season, see 2010 English cricket season.-First-class counties:...
as an overseas player for Kent
Kent County Cricket Club
Kent County Cricket Club is one of the 18 first class county county cricket clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the county of Kent...
in 1997 and for Nottinghamshire
Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club
Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Nottinghamshire, and the current county champions. Its limited overs team is called the Nottinghamshire Outlaws...
in 1998.
He played in the 1999 Cricket World Cup
1999 Cricket World Cup
-England:-Outside England:-Group A:-Results:-------------------------------------------------------------Group B:-Results:------------------------------------------------------------...
in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, where Zimbabwe beat Kenya, India
Indian cricket team
The Indian cricket team is the national cricket team of India. Governed by the Board of Control for Cricket in India , it is a full member of the International Cricket Council with Test and One Day International status....
and South Africa
South African cricket team
The South African national cricket team represent South Africa in international cricket. They are administrated by Cricket South Africa.South Africa is a full member of the International Cricket Council, also known as ICC, with Test and One Day International, or ODI, status...
to qualify for the "Super Six" stage. He obtained his best Test bowling figures of 8-109 in the 1st innings against New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
at Bulawayo in 2000-1, although Zimbabwe lost the match by 7 wickets. This remains the best bowling figures recorded by a Zimbabwean in an innings in Test cricket (the best match figures belong to Adam Huckle
Adam Huckle
Adam George Huckle is a former Zimbabwean cricketer who played in 8 Tests and 19 ODIs from 1997 to 1999.In his second Test in 1997, against New Zealand, he took 11-255 in the match . As of 27 April 2006, this remains the only occasion when a Zimbabwean bowler has taken 11 wickets in a Test...
). He only played in three further Tests, with his international career curtailed by a chronic injury to the muscles of his right hand in 2000.
Strang has since moved into coaching, joining the Auckland Aces
Auckland Aces
The Auckland domestic cricket team represent the Auckland region and are one of six New Zealand domestic first class cricket teams. Governed by the Auckland Cricket Association they are the most successful side having won 26 Plunket Shield titles, eight Domestic One Day Championships and the HRV...
as a high performance coach in 2008 http://www.cricinfo.com/newzealand/content/story/365114.html and becoming the full-time coach soon afterwards. http://www.cricinfo.com/newzealand/content/story/392341.html