[Match thread] 1st ODI Afghanistan v Zimbabwe

[Googly]

I do think they experienced coaches have a fair idea of who is capable of playing at international level and who isn’t. It’s not always about how well you do locally, especially when the standard is not great. I get what you’re saying about Burl and Tari not scoring in franchise or against Kenya, but Cephas did, and he should have been given a go in the T20’s. I haven’t seen much of the other guys you mentioned so can’t comment. That’s the problem with ZC, they make decisions that they don’t have to justify because there’s no way of anyone pulling them up for poor choices. If they had a proper selection committee of experienced knowledgeable guys I don’t think we’d have had this scenario. This smacked of people exercising their right of veto.
Ed Byrom is a good example of someone not doing well at franchise but is absolutely capable of doing well at a higher level. He had one good innings out of about 6 and people wondered what all the hype was about, but he’s a damned fine batsman, you can see it a mile off.
It’s a frustrating game and doesn’t ever go according to the form book.

[Googly]

Hammy somehow typifies our batting woes. He’s a guy that’s I’ve admired for years. He’s a damned fine player and a good guy, but why does he not average in the high 30’s or 40’s because he’s absolutely good enough. Something in our system or national psyche turns potentially really good players into frustratingly ordinary ones. Once you have a certain skill level it’s just one split second error of judgement that gets you out more often than not. What makes some guys blunder less than others?
Books have been written on the subject. There’s no defined solution, what works for some doesn’t for others. I don’t like mentioning luck, but it plays a hand. If anything can go wrong for us, it invariably does.
Steve Waugh probably had less of a batting skill set than Hammy or Vusi, yet one is a great and our men have never reached the heights they may have. Cricket is so much a mental game once you reach a certain level.
One thing all the big teams have had is continuity- by this I mean you come into the side and there’s a seriously good player you can feed off and learn from.
For example, if these guys had had the benefit of playing with Andy Flower they would have been at another level today. Having a machine at the other end with a win at all costs attitude just sets a huge benchmark for people to follow. One wonders what created Flower because he didn’t have that. I think Houghton played a big part, but he was a much more flamboyant player.
Those guys as a team figured out what it took to really compete, although they didn’t win that often they generally gave a fairly good account of themselves. You can be told how to do it, but at the end of the day as a team you have to figure out stuff for yourselves and you need some hard men to lead the way.

[zimstarr]

Zimbabwe is not showing fight. I don't see emotions or a desire to win. When we play Ireland I usually hate their players and they provoke strong emotions in me, but that is simply not the case with Zimbabwe. They body language is so dull.

I've always got that vibe from the ZIM team as well. Almost like they are just in it for the money ie its just a job. I'm guessing only the white guys have been playing cricket since childhood and the others just picked it up much later in their youth.



Can u leave colour out of it . If someone is good then he's good if you are bad you are bad

[Conant]

I agree with what you say about them not taking Tari and Burl, but I think Burl gets the nod ahead of Tari on account of him being a Leftie and providing a bowling option. These guys are the best we’ve got and they have huge capacity to improve, let’s see how they go in the next few, but it is depressing.
Wrist spinners seem to be causing problems everywhere.
I still back Burl to come right.

Imagine staying away from making comments until one comes across this. I have read many hilarious propaganda pieces in my time but this takes the cake.

Your last post is mighty fine though.

Hammy somehow typifies our batting woes. He’s a guy that’s I’ve admired for years. He’s a damned fine player and a good guy, but why does he not average in the high 30’s or 40’s because he’s absolutely good enough. Something in our system or national psyche turns potentially really good players into frustratingly ordinary ones. Once you have a certain skill level it’s just one split second error of judgement that gets you out more often than not. What makes some guys blunder less than others?

[Googly]

What don’t you like O wise one?

[Black Mamba]

Racial Nuclear Bomb dropped by Mugabe in 2003, 14 years ago damaged cricket culture & games growth in the nation, all talents comming now are of " average " class.