The Rebuilding Process

[zimfan1]

Now the worst has happened we need to focus on developing a side for the t20 world cup which I think takes place in 2020. Therefore some players need to be brought through whilst others to be pushed to one side.

Who is going to be a part of the process moving forward and who will fall?

I think it is the end of the road for Masakadza and Waller. Cephas will clearly never play again and I have questions over Williams, Ervines and Mires commitment to the cause.

Whatever happens, BT and Raza must be the basis for the next generation.

I think the time may have come for Raza to take over as skipper. If not Taylor should be given another go as he is a real leader who everyone respects.

Thoughts?

[TapsC]

Taylor captain. Raza vice. I think it's difficult to tell yet. Let's see who walks away. Only interesting thing is that our biggest hitters being Hami Waller and Cephas will probably walk away or be disposed of. If we want to build a t20 team we might have to keep the world cup open for these guys. My honest t20 team has those 3 guys plus Elton in it.

Some guys might not walk away for lack of better options too. Let's see what happens. The ODI league still has meaning. I can't imagine Craig walking away after those last 2 overs. That will say a lot about his character if he does

[TapsC]

You will also find that a lot of them want to play in t20 leagues. For that gig you need international exposure. Let me give you an example. Burl got a t20 gig over Elton. Not because Elton is not a big hitter but because he has 0 international clout right now. So for a Waller or Mire or Hami they need that exposure. Especially after Hami and Mire left Afghanistan early last year. There might be backlash for that. I'm expecting a lot of these guys to try and stick around when they face the harsh realities out there

[ZIMFAN]

I went to bed at 8:30 last night in despair. My wife doesn't get it (I am not Zimbabwean you see). Anyway. I woke up brighter.

I wondered (wishful thinking perhaps) if the whole experience yesterday might be beneficial for Zim (in terms of playing staff anyway). They play next year, go the World Cup and then retire. Now, I wonder if there is a resolve to see it through together until the next World Cup. As if yesterday might have forged some kind of bonding Dunkirk Spirit type stuff.

Raza is 31, why would he quit int'l cricket anyway? Stick around for the next 4 years at least. Look at Ed Joyce, ffs. Or the Ireland team in general, they are ancient. Why would any of them retire (aside from maybe Craig to play with his brother)? Keep Hamilton around, yes he gets abuse but he should be part of the core. Waller, Cephas, yes they can go. But everyone else in that squad of 15 needs to stay around. We can't afford to jettison all the players who are crap for us, we don't have that luxury.

Let the rest stick around, drop in some talented youngsters - Shumba, Murray etc. and in 4 years time they could make it, if the tournament is not expanded by then.

[TapsC]

But definitely let's stick Burl and Tari in the team and give them exposure until they get it right. I feel like Chisoro although older deserves more game time. He can hold a bat. He should try harder and get a push.

[samedwards]

Look at Ed Joyce, ffs. Or the Ireland team in general, they are ancient.

Tbh, the reason the current Irish team is still sticking around is because their carcasses want to play Test cricket. I'm sure we will see significant change in personnel within Ireland cricket team in the next 2 years.

[eugene]

I doubt there will be a mass exodus, where are these players going to go? The IPL, CPL, PPL, BBL, etc are hidely lining up for Zimbabweans. Zimbabwean cricketers are not seen as a valuable commodity by the Aussies and Indians who mostly coach and run these T20 franchises around the world. The West Indies on the other hand could have had a major exodus if they didn't qualify.

I know a posted a thread a month or so ago that spoke about blowing everything up, but with more time I feel that is not necessarily the approach needed. I do think we need to identify youngsters, get them in a very active A-team and make them earn full international honours. I think most of the current bunch still have a future, even Hammy. We saw what happened when all experience was jettisoned in 2003 - we still haven't recovered from that. I think the goal is keep the veterans around, but reward and punish good performances much more. Someone like Malcolm Waller shouldn't be getting constantly selected unless he can score runs. We also need to identify who are the test players, the ODI players, the T20 players, and who can play all. Ervine in T20s makes no sense, Moor in tests does make sense, Taylor in all formats makes sense.

[Kriterion_BD]

I doubt there will be a mass exodus, where are these players going to go? The IPL, CPL, PPL, BBL, etc are hidely lining up for Zimbabweans. Zimbabwean cricketers are not seen as a valuable commodity by the Aussies and Indians who mostly coach and run these T20 franchises around the world. The West Indies on the other hand could have had a major exodus if they didn't qualify.

I know a posted a thread a month or so ago that spoke about blowing everything up, but with more time I feel that is not necessarily the approach needed. I do think we need to identify youngsters, get them in a very active A-team and make them earn full international honours. I think most of the current bunch still have a future, even Hammy. We saw what happened when all experience was jettisoned in 2003 - we still haven't recovered from that. I think the goal is keep the veterans around, but reward and punish good performances much more. Someone like Malcolm Waller shouldn't be getting constantly selected unless he can score runs. We also need to identify who are the test players, the ODI players, the T20 players, and who can play all. Ervine in T20s makes no sense, Moor in tests does make sense, Taylor in all formats makes sense.

"Blowing up everything" just isn't practical. And surely there must have been something that was working because why would KJ and BRMT return? KJ didn't give a fuck about WC 2015, and it was known at that time that ZIM would have to qualify for 2019 (ie a 10 team format). The fact that these guys returned means something was being done properly. BRMT's performance at Notts leads one to believe he wouldn't have much time there, while KJ was picking up wickets for fun at Lancs. Even more reason to believe KJ saw real career security/potential in ZIM. And thats the biggest index of shit being done properly.

The issue with your post is this. We know exactly what will happen to Malcolm if he gets dropped. He is going top the run charts in the Logan Cup and then what? Do you ignore him or recall him to the side? Hammy has a future at Logan Cup level where he will continue to dominate like Malcolm for another 2 maybe 3 seasons until his reflexes and eyesight dimish gradually to where even that will be a notch above his then late 30s abilities. But for internationals haven't we seen enough? This year Hammy has played 16 games vs teams ranked 7 to 18th in 50 over cricket. 349 runs at an average of 21.81 at a strike rate of 69.

Too many of these players aren't good enough for this level, and by that I mean against the leading Associates. Mire, Hamilton, and Waller simply need to be jettisoned. Jarvis is an excellent red ball bowler, but needs to be cut from the white ball sides. Williams can stay on simply because there probably isn't a better all-round player capable of batting at 6-7 and bowling some overs consistently. Ervine has done poorly but he also has a record of consistency bettered only by Taylor and Raza.

[eugene]

I am not sure Hammy is finished. If Waller dominates domestically he can get a recall, but given a very short leash - two or three matches at most. Now, if Waller has company at the top of the run charts with other younger unproven players go with them instead.

[Kriterion_BD]

I am not sure Hammy is finished. If Waller dominates domestically he can get a recall, but given a very short leash - two or three matches at most. Now, if Waller has company at the top of the run charts with other younger unproven players go with them instead.

Hammy is not finished if you are looking for a batsman who will hit an attractive fifty every 10th innings, and a hundred every 50th innings and that too only against the weakest bowling sides. He will average around 25 with the bat across formats. So in this WCQ he averaged 20 odd, so the next series against PAK/AUS or whoever he might average 30 or even 35. But rest assured his baseline average after 200 odd innings is 25, and it won't depart much from that. And at age 34, in fact, his skills may even dimish. The one thing Hamilton can offer, is to be a Test opener and see if he can see off the shine and hold his end up as long as he can. I forgot his T20 numbers are actually quite decent, so yes, I agree he has a spot in the T20 side. But in ODIs he would be a burden, and in Tests he just doesn't have the requisite skill to ever consistently win games.

Waller is much the same. He's had enough chances. I supported him back when Elton was still getting a go. But Waller really hasn't done justice to that faith. He does have an ability to hit big so if you need a specialist who can smack 30 off 20 consistently then I guess he has a spot in the ODI and T20 sides. But if you bring him back, 2-3 matches is not enough of a chance. Not really fair on the guy.