Where to from here?

[Mr Twig]

We've got a some Test Cricket coming up (finally) which means we should probably keep guys like Waller and Sibanda who are better suited.

H Masakadza (c)
Sibanda
Ervine
Williams
Burl
Waller
Chakabva (wk)
Cremer
Panyangara
S Masakadza
Chatara

[totoro]

For our next test match I would play this XI:

Raza
Moor
Hamilton (c)
Craig
Chakabva
Williams
Murray (wk)
Jongwe
Cremer
Panyangara
Chatara

12th man: Ives

[Googly]

Where are the seamers in this line up?

[Googly]

Eugene- you're right in that our players struggle at international level. They all have their moments but that's the nature of cricket. If they were better they would be more consistent. If they practiced harder and smarter they would also be a lot better. A couple of them would do much better if there was more depth and they didn't have to continually bat or bowl to save the day. For example those Aussie batsmen can all bat with a reasonably clear head because they know there's a bunch of equally good batters coming in after them but our guys don't have that luxury and it's huge pressure. The importance of this luxury cannot be over stated. The gap between our national guys and the other franchise and u19 players is big. To just replace a few of them with players whom you think may make the grade would be a painful process. Burl and Moor should be there permanently, not necessarily because they are currently better, but they have the ability to be better. They have more ability and also appear to be prepared to work harder. International cricket is tough and only a tiny number can make the grade.
For me the key should be the admin, but that's just never going to happen. Is it too much to ask for openness, accountability and competent people at the wheel? Clearly it is, in all areas in Zim. The ability to effect change has always been in the hands of the Player's Union (like voters,I guess), but they quite simply are not smart or honest enough. That's an indictment in itself, I repeat that they are not honest enough themselves, they complain bitterly but are no better than their masters. ZC have failed dismally to take the game to the people, which was essential for its survival in the absence of a meaningful white minority. All horses have bolted. The only time you see any meaningful number of black kids playing cricket are at age group trials and it is farcical. Bunches of untalented and disinterested children with no interest and no equipment being paraded in front of a couple of administrators who write meaningless, factually incorrect reports to the board that trials were well attended and that cricket is alive and well. It denigrades what used to be a wonderful few days of pitting strength against strength. It's actually shameful. Jimmy do you know why we are no longer sending age group sides to the mid year EJCCA tournament?

[jimmylesaint]

You are right about the false reports. Which is unnecessary as real reports would be ignored by incompetent over paid admin staff who are clueless.
Much of everything is grinding to a standstill, less age group trials etc as there is no money provided as it gets stolen.

As for the players Union which is the ONLY way players and cricket will survive in Zimbabwe under test status.......Everyone here must ask Hamilton Masakadza why he walked away from it on the Sunday after the T20 domestic tourney and told Mountaineers to join him when they were supposed to vote in Officers.....................
Ask him why he sold his Nation down the river, the Zim cricket fans the world over....how much was he paid to do this by the Admin in ZC? It was stipulated that he himself would not be allowed to be involved because of the last time and his treachery. Ask him as he is a signatory on the Unions bank account...how much money is there left???

This is the Zim Captain who has a degree, the smartest cricketer we have. Funny how he has been playing out of his skin,,,,almost as though he knows the cricket days of Zimbabwe are numbered and rest assured they are numbered.
There are madmen running the asylum.

[zimstarr]

Vusi is too arrogant he has been getting out with the pull shot since his teenage days he still doing the same thing useless. {MUTUMBAMI Fixed HIS DISMISSALS. }

[Googly]

Maybe he was just offered the Captaincy?

[Googly]

People have been known to be really treacherous when they get dangled the Captaincy carrot. You never responded to my question about the Ejcca tour no longer being on the table.

[Googly]

There's no doubt that Adghanistan have improved immeasurably and Bangladesh beyond that, but if we had not had those years in the wilderness we would still be ahead of them.

[TapsC]

I feel like these players are equally to blame. We always try find excuses for them but to me they also have a part to play in the overall problem. The senior players just got used to losing that they lost the passion and mentality. Personally thats why I want the likes of madziva Jongwe PJ and the u19s to be given a bigger role becuase they have the passion. Madziva's celebration after he hit that winning 6 in Bangladesh can't be bought. those are people who want to be there not the likes of Panyangara Elty and co who don't seem to care whether we win or lose.

the problem we have especially from a batters point of view is that we have invested a lot in these guys and u just always have this little voice in your head that tells u that 1 day they will come good but so far they have only brought us pain.

my solution is that we focus on test cricket. let's pray these bigger nations send weakened teams and we beat them. if we are winning test matches the ICC can't get rid of us. that's the best chance we have at survival and I feel like our batsmen are equipped for that format. we just have to unlock some real pace bowlers for it.

my test team would be

Chamu(consistent run scorer)
Raza(lower order experiment has failed)
Chari(only format he can maximise his potential)
Hami(got the experience we need)
Ervine( best batsman we have)
Williams(2nd best batsman we have)
PJ(has serious potential)
Cremer(best bowler we have)
Madziva(think he has the heart and potential)
Chisoro(has the variation to make him decent)
Chatara(best fast bowler we have)