Where to from here?

[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.

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

It's not about ranking, it's about the players coming through. At the moment there are none in the batting department.

[Kriterion_BD]

Sam has hit the nail on the head.

It also bears reminding that being ranked 11th, 12th, 13th or whatever is WITH the Big 3 still playing and playing in their prime. The question is where would ZIM be without the Big 3...and I think the answer is pretty evident for everyone. On the flip side, Ireland will be fine when Stirling retires. Namibia have already some degree of a changing of the guard with new players coming up. Those teams may not move up the rankings, but they won't fall more than 1-2 spots.

On the other hand if Williams, Raza, and Ervine were to retire...Zimbabwe would struggle to remain in the top 15 in any format, based on current form and recent results.

[ZIMDOGGY]

The ace Zimbabwe still have up their sleeve they can play is a diaspora and money.
Schadendorf, Byrom, Myers, Cartwright and Goodwin are still out there and eligible.
There needs to be an effort to get a few of those back.
Goodwin would be a dream but I think he’s headed for the baggy green when a few longstanding Aussies retire next ashes.

[Pat_Bee]

They’ve been stung by Gazza Ballance and to a lesser extent welch balboa raiding the diaspora. Can’t see them being super keen to do it again in a rush unless it’s for the ultimate coup of Muyeye.

[ZIMDOGGY]

They’ve been stung by Gazza Ballance and to a lesser extent welch balboa raiding the diaspora. Can’t see them being super keen to do it again in a rush unless it’s for the ultimate coup of Muyeye.

Yes this is true.
But I’d argue they don’t really have a choice once big three go.
And when that time comes, and I assume at least two are all in for the next WC, also remember that Kaia and Burl will be mid thirties by that point themselves.
Ballance Was a strange case.
Balboa I think will still come good once he gets his head right. I think he has it in him to be one of our top 3 batsman once big three go. You saw some signs he has it despite getting out. The right coach will do wonders.
But if there’s any lesson learnt is that county 2nd is now well below top associate team level. The ones that will make a difference are the ones doing well at first class.
Schadendorf, Byrom and Cartwright I’d be going all in for.
Schadendord fills our keeping needs and is generally competent.
Byrom a proven top order success at county and yet isn’t going to play for England anytime soon. He is in that ‘sweet spot’ I’ve described in the past where he is good but not good enough to make a top 3 team. Like a Brendan Taylor. That’s who we need.
Likewise Cartwright.
A medium fast bowling all round slogger.
We talk about being a shit t20 team and he fills the Elton role and yet 1.5 times better.
I don’t think he will be playing for Australia again. He will be 32 in a few months. At 34 he will still be good and you think for sure he would want to play tests and another t20 and 50 World Cup.
Also remember he is on record as saying his childhood dream was to play for Zimbabwe.
This can be done and it won’t be that hard to do with a will.

The bigger challenge is beyond the next 5 years. I don’t know if any new disaspora kids so the teenagers of today must be developed better or it truly will be game over in a decade.

[sam_ahm]

If Ballance was still here, and this is no exaggeration, Zimbabwe might have played 2023 ODI WC and would have also qualified for 2024 T20WC.

Yeah, I agree, the best bet Zimbabwe have is to get some of those guys back because the current available crop is just not good enough. They've actually got Welch back, let's give him a bit of a run. Don't discard him so early. If there was one format I would have played Welch in iit was the ODIs. Those pitches in Namibia were heavily in favor of bowlers and on top of that he had to take risks in a T20 game.. The real time to give him an opportunity was this.

[Pat_Bee]

Ya those three are a good shout.

Shades would be the easiest, limited white ball game time when moores is injured or in the hundred.

Eddy B would need some convincing on a sweet county gig.

Don’t know anything about the set up in Australia of how easy of carthorse would be to entice.

Balboa is solid and he’ll be in the big three of the future. Just needs a good run on some good decks.

Ya ponsonby and Kaia are getting on now. Senior players pretty much.

[ZIMDOGGY]

Ya those three are a good shout.

Shades would be the easiest, limited white ball game time when moores is injured or in the hundred.

Eddy B would need some convincing on a sweet county gig.

Don’t know anything about the set up in Australia of how easy of carthorse would be to entice.

Balboa is solid and he’ll be in the big three of the future. Just needs a good run on some good decks.

Ya ponsonby and Kaia are getting on now. Senior players pretty much.

I don’t think county gigs are anything special.
They are just stable. The money isn’t superb and not like fans are like ‘yay Essex’ and have Essex posters in their room.
Zimbabwe have the ability to eclipse all county wages.

[ZIMDOGGY]

If Ballance was still here, and this is no exaggeration, Zimbabwe might have played 2023 ODI WC and would have also qualified for 2024 T20WC.

Yeah, I agree, the best bet Zimbabwe have is to get some of those guys back because the current available crop is just not good enough. They've actually got Welch back, let's give him a bit of a run. Don't discard him so early. If there was one format I would have played Welch in iit was the ODIs. Those pitches in Namibia were heavily in favor of bowlers and on top of that he had to take risks in a T20 game.. The real time to give him an opportunity was this.

If Ballance was still here, almost certainly we qualify for both. No exaggeration. We were one batsman short when it mattered in both tournaments
Statistically we just can’t rely on Raza and Williams to nail us everytime

[Pat_Bee]

Ya those three are a good shout.

Shades would be the easiest, limited white ball game time when moores is injured or in the hundred.

Eddy B would need some convincing on a sweet county gig.

Don’t know anything about the set up in Australia of how easy of carthorse would be to entice.

Balboa is solid and he’ll be in the big three of the future. Just needs a good run on some good decks.

Ya ponsonby and Kaia are getting on now. Senior players pretty much.

I don’t think county gigs are anything special.
They are just stable. The money isn’t superb and not like fans are like ‘yay Essex’ and have Essex posters in their room.
Zimbabwe have the ability to eclipse all county wages.

Stability is the word dawg. He knows he’d never get paid here if he made the move. End up whoring himself out to Indian betting syndicates.