Craig Ervine Watch Begins

[bavuma_rabada]

Bavuma will get his wish eventually: a totally black African "representative" Zimbabwe side devoid of any whites.

What makes you think that I want a Zimbabwe (or South Africa) devoid of any whites?

If Taylor&Jarvis hadn't left and I was picking XIs for various formats tomorrow they'd still be a part:
Test:Taylor, Raza, Williams, Hami(c), Vusi, Chakabva(wk), Chigumbura, Panyangara, Chatara, Jarvis, Wellington
ODI:Taylor(wk), Raza, Craig, Williams, Hami, Vusi, Chibhabha, Chigumbura(c), Panyangara, Chatara, Wellington
T20:Zhuwao, Raza, Taylor, Hami, Chigumbura(c), Jongwe, Sauramba(wk), Vitori, Cremer, Chatara, Wellington

If Grant&Heath were around and available I'd still make them part of Mangongo's coaching set up. They've worked under him before in the A side, I have no problem with that happening again. Heath is an upgrade over Hondo, same with Grant of Bundu.

What I do have a problem with is sidelining the best African options. Geoff Toyana is right now the best coach in South Africa, and has been for many years. His Lions mostly "black" and tranformed (Bavuma, Phangiso, Tsolekile, Rabada, Tsotsobe, Leie, Matshikwe, Alviro etc) have been absolutely dominating domestic cricket in South Africa. He's a much better coach than Domingo, and would be getting the most out of guys like Miller&Farhaan. Same applies to Langeveldt being better than Allan Donald as bowling coach - even Morkel who was in danger of being dropped, has started to improve and stopped bowling short always or resorting mindless bouncers every chance he gets like Donald wanted. Radaba would've been useles at the death under him.

It's a fact that Craig Ervine's poor FC&Test record, plus his inability to bowl anything, makes him unsuitable to be picked ahead of any of those batsmen. Chamu can bowl but like Craig, his FC pedigree does not rival any of my picks. Malcolm is not good enough to be playing internationals for Zimbabwe. So I'm well within my right to complain...just as when Bundu was appointed head coach and a lot of people and journalists were up in arms. Likewise Kyle Abbott should not be selected for South Africa ahead of Tsotsobe. Justified, fair viewpoints should not be confused with something else.

[eugene]

For all your harping on about Logan Cup, Malcolm does have a first class average of 38 and Ervine 35.

In the end I believe international players should be judged on international performances. I couldn't care less what Ervine scores in the Logan Cup, I only care what he does in the international arena. If a player is dropped, only then does his domestic record come into play. Malcolm is a fringe international player, so his domestic performances will thus matter much more.

[bavuma_rabada]

I couldn't care less what Ervine scores in the Logan Cup, I only care what he does in the international arena...Malcolm is a fringe international player, so his domestic performances will thus matter much more.

[Kriterion_BD]

Bavuma will get his wish eventually: a totally black African "representative" Zimbabwe side devoid of any whites.

What makes you think that I want a Zimbabwe (or South Africa) devoid of any whites?

If Taylor&Jarvis hadn't left and I was picking XIs for various formats tomorrow they'd still be a part:
Test:Taylor, Raza, Williams, Hami(c), Vusi, Chakabva(wk), Chigumbura, Panyangara, Chatara, Jarvis, Wellington
ODI:Taylor(wk), Raza, Craig, Williams, Hami, Vusi, Chibhabha, Chigumbura(c), Panyangara, Chatara, Wellington
T20:Zhuwao, Raza, Taylor, Hami, Chigumbura(c), Jongwe, Sauramba(wk), Vitori, Cremer, Chatara, Wellington

If Grant&Heath were around and available I'd still make them part of Mangongo's coaching set up. They've worked under him before in the A side, I have no problem with that happening again. Heath is an upgrade over Hondo, same with Grant of Bundu.

What I do have a problem with is sidelining the best African options. Geoff Toyana is right now the best coach in South Africa, and has been for many years. His Lions mostly "black" and tranformed (Bavuma, Phangiso, Tsolekile, Rabada, Tsotsobe, Leie, Matshikwe, Alviro etc) have been absolutely dominating domestic cricket in South Africa. He's a much better coach than Domingo, and would be getting the most out of guys like Miller&Farhaan. Same applies to Langeveldt being better than Allan Donald as bowling coach - even Morkel who was in danger of being dropped, has started to improve and stopped bowling short always or resorting mindless bouncers every chance he gets like Donald wanted. Radaba would've been useles at the death under him.

It's a fact that Craig Ervine's poor FC&Test record, plus his inability to bowl anything, makes him unsuitable to be picked ahead of any of those batsmen. Chamu can bowl but like Craig, his FC pedigree does not rival any of my picks. Malcolm is not good enough to be playing internationals for Zimbabwe. So I'm well within my right to complain...just as when Bundu was appointed head coach and a lot of people and journalists were up in arms. Likewise Kyle Abbott should not be selected for South Africa ahead of Tsotsobe. Justified, fair viewpoints should not be confused with something else.

You might not be an out and out racist, but it seems you're setting a higher standard for whites. Everyone has some degree of bias, but its important to be honest. For example, as an American born of Bangladeshi descent, my primary identity is as a Muslim. After you die, no one will care what imaginary line on a map you claimed or what color your skin was. So if the BD team were to be majority minority, I'd most of my interest because I could not relate as strongly.

[bavuma_rabada]

You might not be an out and out racist, but it seems you're setting a higher standard for whites. Everyone has some degree of bias, but its important to be honest.

Nope. I think they are overrated unnecessarily. In many cases unfairly ahead of the Black players, some of whom are genuinely much better. Zimbabwe just got raped by mediocrity to embarass the ocuntry, with the best of them in the XI. All of the best will be in Bangaldesh, and in the XI (Sean, Craig, Cremer&Malcolm). Expect more tears. If only that tour had Tests as well. Finally many would get the picture.

[jaybro]

You might not be an out and out racist, but it seems you're setting a higher standard for whites. Everyone has some degree of bias, but its important to be honest.

Nope. I think they are overrated unnecessarily. In many cases unfairly ahead of the Black players, some of whom are genuinely much better. Zimbabwe just got raped by mediocrity to embarass the ocuntry, with the best of them in the XI. All of the best will be in Bangaldesh, and in the XI (Sean, Craig, Cremer&Malcolm). Expect more tears. If only that tour had Tests as well. Finally many would get the picture.

So in a team with which 75% black it's the white players who are to blame for the results ??

[SpitfiresKent]

Craig Ervine played one of the best innings you'll ever likely to see by a Zimbo recently against a decent NZ side. Yes his recent form has been a little bit iffy but class is always permanent!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=infFOBy_bmc

[eugene]

A formidable NZ bowling lineup in that match also.

[jaybro]

A formidable NZ bowling lineup in that match also.

What we would give for an opening bowling combo both averaging less than 30 .......

[jaybro]

Ervine scores 50 in the warm up match against BD .....

Ahh only if Hhm was here to see it