Derbyshire to tour Zimbabwe in March

[zimbos_05]

Invited by Zimbabwe Cricket, the team will compete across three formats in matches against select opposition during the three-week tour.

Looks like ZC are behind this and most likely going to be their favourites who play the matches.

Also noticed that Derbyshire has a Zimbabwean in their ranks, Dustin Melton.

[TapsC]

I actually hope they play the winners of our domestic comp. Which I hope will be a full strength mountaineers. Would be really interesting and will solve our argument about how strong county cricket really is. After that they can play an A team and then lastly a full stregnth team.

[ZIMDOGGY]

I actually hope they play the winners of our domestic comp. Which I hope will be a full strength mountaineers. Would be really interesting and will solve our argument about how strong county cricket really is. After that they can play an A team and then lastly a full stregnth team.

It would be a good incentive to win the Logan Cup if the reward was playing against a county side.

[zimbos_05]

So 'select opposition' doesn't ring certain alarms....fair enough.

[ZIMDOGGY]

This is the team I’d like to see against Derbyshire. In order.

1. Chari
2. Burl
3. Ervine
4. Taylor
5. Williams
6. Mouyonga
7. Raza
8. Moor (w)
9 Tiripano
10 Jarvis/Chatara
11 Mumba

Basically a Zimbabwe A plus team. Similar to their usual strategy.

Our top 4 batsman in the middle for competitiveness and experimentation with Burl opening, Moor included as his tenure is shaky. Chari And Moutonga I want to have a further look at to see if they have it in them.

The bowling virtually unchanged except we are having a look at Mumba against a higher level.

If there’s a spinning pitch, if Cremer isn’t available still I’d almost be inclined to throw in the under 19 chinaman for Mumba or Donald.

If any of the batsmen withdraw, either from the experimental guys or the usuals, bring in Musakanda.I pray they don’t bring in a has been like Elton as a ‘Thankyou for your service’ which they are inclined to do.

[sloandog]

If one of the guys do really well against this county side they may have a chance (granted, a very outside Chance) of being invited for a trial for the next English summer.

[Googly]

If they happen to have a British passport. They ain’t wasting an overseas or Kolpak slot on anyone that’s not an international.

[ZIMDOGGY]

If they happen to have a British passport. They ain’t wasting an overseas or Kolpak slot on anyone that’s not an international.

Big assumption that Kolpak would still be a thing next season.

[ZIMDOGGY]

The dissolution and purge of the Kolpak player from English domestic cricket sill be the greatest thing to happen for international competition in the last decade.

Gives Africa, Ireland and the Netherlands a real shot at being competitive.

[jaybro]

The Derbyshire players are putting their final preparations in place ahead of their tour to Zimbabwe next month.

The squad and coaches will be based in Bulawayo for most of their three-week stay, starting on Sunday 8 March, where they will play a total of six matches, across three formats, against strong opposition.

The team will also intersperse regular training sessions with community-focused activities and training sessions with local clubs, as well as a visit to Victoria Falls.

The players will return to Derby on Sunday 29 March, three weeks before the County Championship opener against Leicestershire at The Pattonair County Ground.

Zimbabwe Tour match schedule:

Wednesday 11 March: Evening Reception with British Ambassador to Zimbabwe
Saturday 14 March: T20 vs Zimbabwe Select XI
Sunday 15 March: T20 vs Zimbabwe Select XI
Tuesday 17 March: 50-Over match vs Zimbabwe Select XI
Thursday 19 March: 50-Over match vs Zimbabwe Select XI
Sat 21 – Mon 23 March: Three-Day match vs Chairman’s XI
Wed 25 – Fri 27 March: Three-Day match vs Zimbabwe Select XI

Head of Cricket, Dave Houghton said: “We will be facing some strong opposition during the tour, which will provide ideal preparation for the 2020 season.

“We also want to give the players some life experiences because as cricketers, we can become solely focused on the game sometimes and it’s important to make the most of these opportunities.

“Hopefully this tour will open the door for further English County tours in future, which may help Zimbabwe Cricket get back on its feet.”

Last game of the Bangladesh tour is March 11th, same they the tour officially starts with the dinner thing, 1st game is a t20 on the 14th.

I’m eager to see what way ZC go squad wise, do they play their best players and get some decent match practice in before Ireland arrive, which is a very important series. Or do they try out some younger guys who they want to test against stronger opposition?

They could decide to go with younger guys at the start of the tour before playing the big guns in the last couple of 3 Day matches. Looking at it now it would have been better for Zimbabwe to have the tour the other way round, try the younger guys out in the 3 Day matches, then bring the big guns back for the 50 over & t20 matches in prep for Ireland