Zimbabwe Emerging Tour of South Africa

[secretzimbo]

Campbell has been injured.

But yeah it’s all a massive conspiracy to keep Kaia in the side and keep the white guy out apparently

He’s still with the squad so the injury might not be too bad and if he’s fit he might get a game at the end of the series.

[sam_ahm]

It won't look good if they keep Bennett and Campbell out for the entire series, so I guess they will play them at some point. At least we all hope so.

[Pat_Bee]

Conspiracy implies it’s done under the radar lol.

[Crastle_cog]

Campbell has been injured.

But yeah it’s all a massive conspiracy to keep Kaia in the side and keep the white guy out apparently

He’s still with the squad so the injury might not be too bad and if he’s fit he might get a game at the end of the series.

It doesn't have to be Campbell or Bennett but at least have someone who is young. What significance does Kaia have? Even more with the captaincy. Aren't these series rather helpful in shaping a young future captain

[secretzimbo]

Genuine question which young batsman would you have picked in place of Kaia? And think they would perform well at this level?

[secretzimbo]

It won't look good if they keep Bennett and Campbell out for the entire series, so I guess they will play them at some point. At least we all hope so.

Bennett played today.

As stated, Campbell has had an injury.

[mnelson68]

It won't look good if they keep Bennett and Campbell out for the entire series, so I guess they will play them at some point. At least we all hope so.

Bennett played today.

As stated, Campbell has had an injury.

Let's be honest , injury or not they still wouldn't have played him. This was the perfect opportunity to give Bennett and Campbell a meaningful role in the team , not a game here or there and bat at 8 , what a joke. The captaincy also should have been given to one of the younger players for their development. It's just a waste of time doing the same thing over and over and hoping for a different result. The batting line up should be Gumbie , Marumani , Madhevere , Bennett , Shumba , Campbell , Madande . No need for Kaia to play and Munyonga and Makoni can sit out. Not even going to mention the bowling as that is in worse shape than the batting but I don't mind Maposa , he needs to play also.

[TapsC2]

To be honest maybe swap Innocent with Roy but these guys are the best we got. Sad but true. Bennet is still very early into his career and they have clearly identified his talent. He has only played 10 official domestic games plus a handful of warmups and county games.

The fact that they have given him a chance in those games plus the current tour is a positive step actually. People have forgotten the dark days where he would have probably given up by now. In those kind of setups senority goes a long way too. Fans tend to forget that part of the game. These are actual people and there will be a lot happening.

Many legendary players had to start at number 7 or 8 in their younger days just to get a game. It's quite common actually. What they did for Wes isn't the norm and we are seeing the effects of that now. You have to earn that spot for you to value it unless you come in and bang a century within your first 3 games

[secretzimbo]

It won't look good if they keep Bennett and Campbell out for the entire series, so I guess they will play them at some point. At least we all hope so.

Bennett played today.

As stated, Campbell has had an injury.

Let's be honest , injury or not they still wouldn't have played him. This was the perfect opportunity to give Bennett and Campbell a meaningful role in the team , not a game here or there and bat at 8 , what a joke. The captaincy also should have been given to one of the younger players for their development. It's just a waste of time doing the same thing over and over and hoping for a different result. The batting line up should be Gumbie , Marumani , Madhevere , Bennett , Shumba , Campbell , Madande . No need for Kaia to play and Munyonga and Makoni can sit out. Not even going to mention the bowling as that is in worse shape than the batting but I don't mind Maposa , he needs to play also.

You are being harsh I think.

Bennett has had loads of opportunities already! He was in an Emerging squad that went on tour a few years ago at the age of 18, when probably most people on here hadn’t even heard of him.
He’s played franchise, he’s played North Vs South, he’s played a warm-up game even hasn’t he? And now he’s in another squad here - even though he was in the U.K. for the summer. He’s been identified as one they want and he’s had opportunities and will get more. I don’t really know what else you think should happen?
Admittedly batting at 8 today was ridiculous but then he is much more junior than all of the other guys in the squad, so do you make Wes or Shumba or someone bat at 8 instead? That would be even more ridiculous.

I’m not sure what exactly more you want them to do with Campbell either. He has consistent and decent domestic scores without ever having done anything spectacular and isn’t completely young either. He’s had chances in emerging squads, A squads, regional squads and warm-up squads too. He’s on this tour and as stated - HE IS INJURED. If he recovers he will undoubtedly play in the remaining games this series.

I am absolutely not a Roy Kaia fan, I think he is bang average and ideally would not be on this tour. But name me another young, available, good, batsman who should replace him on this tour? Clue: there aren’t any.
You’d be looking at someone like Magodo or Hamid but the truth is they aren’t good enough (at the moment) and it would be a pointless exercise.
We’ve got 5-6 decent young bats in the system and all of them are in this squad. There are no more. The cupboards are alarmingly bare.
We desperately need another couple from the u19’s to kick on and stay in the game to add to things.

It’s a miracle that 30-year olds Innocent and Gumbie have miraculously suddenly become better cricketers recently because without them we’d have been really struggling.

There’s loads of good stuff being done by ZC at the moment and definitely heading in the right direction , but we just don’t have dozens of great young players with potential that we can pick. SA’s depth is remarkable, hence they can pick a squad of absolute nobodies and still beat our international capped players.
But that’s no surprise realy is it. Is anyone surprised?

What I would say is that we were impressive in the first game and there are still 3 games remaining.

Constantly just harping on about ‘young players’ is tiresome and expecting every squad to just include a load of freshly shaven 16 year old Kohli’s or something. I’m really not quite sure what you or others expect.

[Pat_Bee]

In my mind, at this stage of his career, Jono is a poor man’s Ryan Burl. I don’t see a way into the full national side for him yet. The top order is chock full of guys who can bat a bit and bowl spin a bit. He’s ticking along getting opportunity and making the most of it when it comes so good luck to him. But there’s no way I’d be dropping any of Burl, Raza, Shumba, Wes or Williams for him. He’s definitely one for the future rather than now.