Where to from here?

[Kriterion_BD]

Very few series like this Ireland one, where there is absolutely nothing on the line, from a broader context point of view.

I think this sentiment if at all shared by the players is extremely counterproductive and also causative of the current state of affairs. For Zimbabwe there are no "meaningless" games or dead rubbers. The Uganda game, that UAE game...all had tremendous importance obviously. But even the bilaterals must be important if the following two criteria are met:

1) The other team views them as important and
2) The other team is capable of winning (ie beating ZIM)

From 2005 onwards, Bangladesh-Zimbabwe may have seemed to be useless. Both teams were ranked 9th and 10th year after year with no movement up or down. The top 8 teams didn't care, and only rarely lost a game to either side. But Bangladesh used the experience to slowly hone their craft and eventually move up the rankings. Zimbabwe moved down the rankings. Granted its more of a case of the lower ranked Associates moving up...

From 2014 Afghanistan did the same thing. Again meaningless bilaterals, Rashid Khan isn't really 19, yada yada...but at the end of the day its about the results. Again Afghanistan moved up the rankings and ZIM continued moving downwards.

Ireland have hung around...but if they win this ODI series, then they might follow BD and Afghanistan's trajectory. Namibia are probably already there in the T20 format. The Big 3 cannot keep Ireland at bay forever, and 5 years from now the combination of Tector, Little, Campher, and Tucker will still be quite young and Dockrell will likely still keep ticking.

[Pat_Bee]

Rashid khan has been 19 the last 30 years yo.

[sam_ahm]

Very few series like this Ireland one, where there is absolutely nothing on the line, from a broader context point of view.

I think this sentiment if at all shared by the players is extremely counterproductive and also causative of the current state of affairs. For Zimbabwe there are no "meaningless" games or dead rubbers. The Uganda game, that UAE game...all had tremendous importance obviously. But even the bilaterals must be important if the following two criteria are met:

1) The other team views them as important and
2) The other team is capable of winning (ie beating ZIM)

From 2005 onwards, Bangladesh-Zimbabwe may have seemed to be useless. Both teams were ranked 9th and 10th year after year with no movement up or down. The top 8 teams didn't care, and only rarely lost a game to either side. But Bangladesh used the experience to slowly hone their craft and eventually move up the rankings. Zimbabwe moved down the rankings. Granted its more of a case of the lower ranked Associates moving up...

From 2014 Afghanistan did the same thing. Again meaningless bilaterals, Rashid Khan isn't really 19, yada yada...but at the end of the day its about the results. Again Afghanistan moved up the rankings and ZIM continued moving downwards.

Ireland have hung around...but if they win this ODI series, then they might follow BD and Afghanistan's trajectory. Namibia are probably already there in the T20 format. The Big 3 cannot keep Ireland at bay forever, and 5 years from now the combination of Tector, Little, Campher, and Tucker will still be quite young and Dockrell will likely still keep ticking.

Very valid.

[Pat_Bee]

From wherever “here” was when the thread was made we’ve come to using a witch doctor to pray for rain in an LOI vs Ireland and literally being pleased it came we’re total losers on the world cricketing stage. Naqvi should run away now if he has any sense.

[sam_ahm]

From wherever “here” was when the thread was made we’ve come to using a witch doctor to pray for rain in an LOI vs Ireland and literally being pleased it came we’re total losers on the world cricketing stage. Naqvi should run away now if he has any sense.

It's the harsh truth. You are right, none of us want to say this although we know it. Zimbabwe cricket, at the moment, is looking like a lost cause. We are just hoping against hope.

[zimfan1]

From wherever “here” was when the thread was made we’ve come to using a witch doctor to pray for rain in an LOI vs Ireland and literally being pleased it came we’re total losers on the world cricketing stage. Naqvi should run away now if he has any sense.

It's the harsh truth. You are right, none of us want to say this although we know it. Zimbabwe cricket, at the moment, is looking like a lost cause. We are just hoping against hope.

Lost cause, 12th in the world. You guys crack me up.

[Pat_Bee]

It's the harsh truth. You are right, none of us want to say this although we know it. Zimbabwe cricket, at the moment, is looking like a lost cause. We are just hoping against hope.

I’ll say it bro all day long never exaggerate me hey, 100% cold hard truth is what I deal in. Yo.

[Pat_Bee]

Lost cause, 12th in the world. You guys crack me up.

12th in the world but not at a 20 team World Cup the Dave and raz show cracks me up lol.

[TapsC2]

I know if we had beaten Ireland without Stirling, Tector and Balbirnie in a T20 series we would have been writing it off saying they were missing key players. The irony of it all.

[Pat_Bee]

Ya we’d have found something to complain about hey