Losers vs Afghanistan | 2nd LOI | 19 December 2024

[Mr Twig]

Managed to play worse than this miserable effort from 2017
https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/zim ... -scorecard

Big 3 are getting old and look a mile off and no one else stepping up. I don't think Ervine and Williams will make it to the Tests.

[Train Driver]

Just how ???

[ZIMDOGGY]

We have better batters than Knackers. I will guarantee he will struggle against this bowling. Very heavy footed.

Funny how "that" bowling always seems to become "this" bowling against Zimbabwean batters. One day it could be Mitchell Starc, the next day Josh Little, and the day after that Riazat Ali Shah.

I notice this too. For years so many comments from posters 'no one could have handled that ball' but its funny it always seems that to be against Zim, whereas a top 4 country pumps them for 400 the series after.

We make them look good.

[eugene]

While Afghanistan are now probably a top 5-6 ODI unit, this is still a sorry performance. I'm worried that Ervine and Williams are done. At their age it is hard to know if they are just out of form or too old. They certainly need some scores of note soon, otherwise we may as well blood new talent now.

[ZIMDOGGY]

How do the players keep walking out to play the next game after such humiliation.

I've noticed Zimbabweans in general lack self pride.
Whether its pay to play (and get raped as a result of not being that level) or rather select shittier players because they are their friends and lose, but the selection is more important than the humiliation, or extend failing admin. Or not resigning after mismanagement. Has to be part and parcel of a losing mentality.
Mangongo didn't have this issue, but they still hung him. Again...humiliation more important than success.

[TapsC2]

People's bottom lines are not affected by the results. That's why you don't really see that fight in them in a lot of games. It's going to be a tough 3 weeks. 1 token victory here and there is enough I guess.

As I said before what is the point of playing Ervine and Williams if the end result is still humiliation? You are better off using the big 3's salary space to import the likes of Higgins and Byrom. You can even dream bigger and try pay top dollar for Tom Curran. Welch and co will also get to play once they are gone. It's the logical thing to do without using emotions here. You can then genuinely tell the world you are rebuilding.

[TapsC2]

That committee report hopefully identified bowling as our problem . Afghanistan's rise is mainly due to them producing world class bowlers. Started with spinners but now their pace attack is just as lethal if not more potent. The big advantage of that is anyone who survives that domestic setup has a better chance of making it at the highest level.

Adapt or die in the bowling department. You are better off paying those fast bowlers from Pakistan a years wages just to even be the national team net bowlers and make them play every domestic game. The bowling machines are clearly not working.

[ZIMDOGGY]

That committee report hopefully identified bowling as our problem . Afghanistan's rise is mainly due to them producing world class bowlers. Started with spinners but now their pace attack is just as lethal if not more potent. The big advantage of that is anyone who survives that domestic setup has a better chance of making it at the highest level.

Adapt or die in the bowling department. You are better off paying those fast bowlers from Pakistan a years wages just to even be the national team net bowlers and make them play every domestic game. The bowling machines are clearly not working.

Yes we only have two competent bowlers in the country. And Raza is a handy all rounder.
They mask alot of issues on the international stage. The gulf below them is huge. Which affects batsman development.

[Googly]

It will only work if they pick the really dark looking Pakistanis.

[Googly]

This Afghan bowling unit made us play almost every ball, the gap in our bowling is massive.