India call off Zimbabwe tour due to broadcast issue

[Kriterion_BD]

Agreed with grant, ZIM must blood young talent and give them an extended run - 10-12 ODIs, 5-6 tests before discarding them. If they don't pan out,more place them with other uncapped youngsters. Vusi, Hammy are in their 30s, have hundreds of caps and are still searching for a marquee performance...it's not going to happen. Selectors need to gamble as their isn't anything to lose at this point.

[Jemisi]

We can't lose Hami mate. We have just lost Taylor.

[Kriterion_BD]

Yeah but Taylor was genuinely world class, Hammy is a couple notches lower than that.

[jaybro]

Yeah but Taylor was genuinely world class, Hammy is a couple notches lower than that.

I can see what u mean Kriterion and yes Hami isn't world class he averages around 27 so he slightly better than Chigs, Vusi, Chamu about the same as Raza and Below Williams and Ervine ( that will anger a few). So yes if you took Hami out we could replace his runs but it's his leadership that maybe missed, Zimbabwe does t play enough matches either so I believe this effects our ability to 're-generate' our side. Looks at Steve Smith from Australia he went from being not in the side to being the test captain in less than 2 years !!!! Because Smith was able to play so much cricket in that two years. Zimbabwe seem to have a long layoff between series so every time a series comes around its 'pick the same old guys' because we don't have the luxury of giving a kid 12 months of cricket which contains 10 tests and 25 ODI's so he can come to terms with international cricket. It's too hard for a young player to adapt playing 10 ODI's a year .......

The other problem is the young guys aren't putting the runs in the board in Logan Cup cricket ......

[grant]

Hami is definitely one of the best batsmen in the current squad. I wouldn't drop him.
It's those "useless" guys who somehow manage to find a place in the squad every time that I want to be dropped................

The other problem is the young guys aren't putting the runs in the board in Logan Cup cricket ......

This is probably the biggest problem..............

[jaybro]

Yeah I wouldn't drop Hami because there isnt anyone better to replace him ......

[Flakeman]

Hami is a class batsman. Not great but he is a good batsman who's average is about 10 runs short of his true ability.

[Flakeman]

Guys I really think Ervine should maybe bat 3. He is not a big hitter and coming in at 5/6/7 is too late for him and doesnt suit the way he plays.

[Kriterion_BD]

Yeah but Taylor was genuinely world class, Hammy is a couple notches lower than that.

I can see what u mean Kriterion and yes Hami isn't world class he averages around 27 so he slightly better than Chigs, Vusi, Chamu about the same as Raza and Below Williams and Ervine ( that will anger a few). So yes if you took Hami out we could replace his runs but it's his leadership that maybe missed, Zimbabwe does t play enough matches either so I believe this effects our ability to 're-generate' our side. Looks at Steve Smith from Australia he went from being not in the side to being the test captain in less than 2 years !!!! Because Smith was able to play so much cricket in that two years. Zimbabwe seem to have a long layoff between series so every time a series comes around its 'pick the same old guys' because we don't have the luxury of giving a kid 12 months of cricket which contains 10 tests and 25 ODI's so he can come to terms with international cricket. It's too hard for a young player to adapt playing 10 ODI's a year .......

The other problem is the young guys aren't putting the runs in the board in Logan Cup cricket ......

Yeah I'm not sure who you would replace Hammy with. Maybe if Welch was around...is there any idea on if he will make himself available for ZIM? But guys like Burl and maybe even Moor ought to be tried. Desperate times call for desperate measures. 8 months ago, Zim were only 13 points behind BD in the ODI table. Now they are 49 points behind. Which leads to the only bit of slightly good news: you can effect a huge turn around relatively quickly. BD have only played 12-13 ODIs a year for the past 4-5 years and shown sometimes that's the easiest way to climb the ladder...you only need a few big wins . It's easier to climb a short ladder.

But I think the time has come for a nuclear option. Zim are 3 points away from last place in ODIs, and are dead last in T20s, behind all the major Associates. Seniors like Hammy have proven incapable of taking the team forward. Erving deserves a good run. Raza I don't rate, but he's fairly decent. And Chigs has really surprised me with mature play consistent over the last year or so. Chamu is limited, but if he can get the team off to a good start, Zim maybe able to post 275+ type scores frequently enough to knock a bug side over.

The batting is thus better than bad, but the real problem is bowling. I think Zim had the worst bowling at the World Cup - with Chatara - and that will require immediate attention. Bring in Musoko asap, who seems like a Chatara type prospect. Need to get a good tight bowler...did Utseya do it vs Pak recently? Jarvis was a big loss from the Test side as he's shown in county cricket this summer, but he didn't look like a limited overs bowler to me...so not a huge loss there. Any word on Keegen Meth?

Overall I think the future looks bleak. Taylor's departure was huge. The batting looked quite good during the WC and now it merely looks OK. Zimbabwe needs to follow a BD type model and throw in a couple debutants every series like we did. Most won't cut it, but it's worth the pain to find the few who will. Imagine finding another Willy or Chatara. That would really strengthen the side.

[jaybro]

Fair point but as I pointed out we dont play enough to give a young guy a fair crack, although we seem to have a lot of cricket lined up this year so maybe a chance to give a Kaia or a Musoko or mumba type player an extended run only Kaia is in the squad which is full of tried and and failed players ......

one guy I'd like to see blooded might be Godwill Mamhiyo, Jimmy reckons he has great leadership qualities and a good cricketing brain which must be why he was made Captain of the Tuskers who dominated franchise cricket this year. He has also had a good season in England so I wouldn't mind seeing him given 15-20 ODI's to adapt to the international game .....

As you said short term pain for long term gain .......