Vusi Left out of Squad, Matsikenyeri returns

[Conant]

How do people even decide to compare the two? Its mind boggling. No, it’s disappointing because even where you seek debate, you don’t even know where to start. Eugene has put it aptly: Vusi gambled and lost. I can understand why people are resentful of the ZC administration but one has to admit: this time they were right. The man mad a poor decision, consistency is needed here. It was unfortunate situation but it was largely self inflicted.

I like a fair argument, and in this case one would have much preferred to hear Vusi's side of the story in which he confirms that indeed he was assured that his place was safe, then we can start questioning things. So far, silence.

Elsewhere, a forumite relies on coach “Buthcher's word”. As far as I recall, Butcher said “as far as I’m concerned". There’s a lot of ambiguity there. Nowhere does he say he knows for sure, and anyway he could have easily been trying to influence things aforethought. And he’s only a coach by the way, they don’t hold as much influence in cricket, neither do they pick teams!!

At the risk of sounding smug and extremely self righteous it is perhaps instructive to recall that out of perhaps the whole forum here only myself, Eugene, and zimdoggy where categorical and forthright about this whole situation and weren’t sentimental about Vusi in our assessment. Make no mistake, we all love Vusi and would have preferred him in the squad but let’s be real guys. Throwing in Chris Gayle’s and Shaun Tait’s name in the same sentence and drawing comparisons sound churlish and desperately fumbling for explanations.

I haven’t failed to notice how uncharacteristically FlowerPower has dug in his heels about this issue despite the clarification. That I would have expected of hhm, but since this emerged he has surprisingly been MUTE!! One is sorely tempted to quip sarcasm about Alastair Campbell’s tribal allegiances in the team but maybe at this point one would be wise to be magnanimous and refrain from rubbing salt in the wound. What comes around does, after all, go around

[ZIMDOGGY]

^^^ what he just said is 100% correct. Especially in regards to Butcher not being a key part of the equation.

[FlowerPower]

I haven’t failed to notice how uncharacteristically FlowerPower has dug in his heels about this issue despite the clarification. That I would have expected of hhm, but since this emerged he has surprisingly been MUTE!! One is sorely tempted to quip sarcasm about Alastair Campbell’s tribal allegiances in the team but maybe at this point one would be wise to be magnanimous and refrain from rubbing salt in the wound. What comes around does, after all, go around

Conant, you really should try to keep pace with things. One thing that this episode has exposed is a lot about the characters on this forum, for me once I believe in a cause (be it Sibanda or Mutizwa or Waller I stand by it until there is compelling evidence to the contra...) since Mr ZC (aka AC) spoke I have not been quiet as you say...

And also see my comments on Butcher's alledged experiment here

[hhm]

There is no conspiracy here..............

There isn't a rational, stable system upon which Vusi could have calculated risk before deciding to take it on.

Absolutely Boundary!

eugene, you're quite right with just that bit. It's not a conspiracy, but the order of things – tribalism. Only this time, as evidenced by Alistair ’The Mad Hatter’ Campbell’s comments, it has been complicated by a bitter champion of a T20 competition for County second-raters, hosted on Zim soil, and open to a few selected Zimbabweans, of which Vusi was one. The Mad Hatter was only too glad to traverse great lengths so he can claim the scalp of a disloyal white Zimbabwean, receding from his purple patch – Sean(on the eve of the greatest stage available to Zim cricket), but quick to shoot down a loyal and effective black Zimbabwean batsman(on the eve of a one-off test), but under faintly dissimilar circumstances. Vusi is a proven leader – judging from his stint with Rhinos, Zim A, and his making the final two of the shortlist for Zim captaincy. To call it bias would be an understatement!

The whole contract issue doesn’t cut it, because they let Vusi play for the national team without a contract in the first place. As for opting out of the T20, that's irrelevant. Plenty of deserving Zim players were sidelined. How can the presense or absence of one in a competition which was dominated by a bunch of poor foreign players, disadvantaged so many hard working locals, be now used to legally exclude a true patriot on moral grounds! Pathetic.

This really has got nothing to do with all the reasons given. Just tribalism and spite. Period!

NB: Good to know you tribal allegience cannot technically sway your thoughts on this one Conant. Unfortunately you wil have to bear with my unintelligent reasoning which this forum kindly affords me the platform to air!

[foreignfield]

The whole contract issue doesn’t cut it, because they let Vusi play for the national team without a contract in the first place

Absolutely correct, and further proof that there is no reliable system there ... although, after my initial shock, I'm coming round to the suggestion that Vusi is not entirely without fault in this sad affair.

[betterdays]

Elsewhere, a forumite relies on coach “Buthcher's word”

I wonder if you mean me? if so, nope, not once did i 'rely' on his word but pointed out his role in creating ambiguity

Butcher said “as far as I’m concerned". There’s a lot of ambiguity there.

and the ambiguity, leaves a hole in the 'consistency' theory - the guys works for ZC, in a fairly prominent role ...

At the risk of sounding smug and extremely self righteous it is perhaps instructive to recall

when we think of examples of gambling (risk) and losing - this sentance may be more instructive than Vusi's actions

^^^ what he just said is 100% correct. Especially in regards to Butcher not being a key part of the equation.

does he select the squad? (I can't recall). either way Vusi was in the squad - where's the consistency in that? he certainly has a key role in ZC and his word (even the ambiguous one) are published - where publically incorrect, it is ZC's - let's call it a 'social' - responability to rectify/clarify.

actually i never saw Vusi as without sin but he comes out the biggest loser (no Oz contract, no national contract, and seemingly a pay as you play 'contract' with Rhinos) and there are still many many questions to be answered about the whole affair.

Yes, conant, the three of you were certainly always one-eyed about the affair (despite admiting it's hasn't been a fair fight, or that you haven't got all the information ... 100% correct!? )

[betterdays]

How do people even decide to compare the two?

really? that boggles your mind? mm - ok ...
well, it's not hard to compare actually, Vusi's not being given a place in NZ based on essentially "not being contracted domestically" ... Jemisi surmised what Sean 'would have done' afterwards, but the fact is I do not recall him having a domestic contract (did he?)

fek it ... this is pointless anyway ... it does end up just being smug!

[ZIMDOGGY]

No butcher doesn't select the squad, but he probably has a little bit of input or feedback.

But even if you don't believe that butcher was in te dark about it all (which I think)..
Look at his agenda? Butcher needs his best men on deck, HIS job is measured by his on field success rate and it's in his interest to letthe Vusi thing slide IF he has half a valid point to cling too.

He wouldn't give a shit if Vusi broke some Logan cup rule.

[Jemisi]

How do people even decide to compare the two?

really? that boggles your mind? mm - ok ...
well, it's not hard to compare actually, Vusi's not being given a place in NZ based on essentially "not being contracted domestically" ... Jemisi surmised what Sean 'would have done' afterwards, but the fact is I do not recall him having a domestic contract (did he?)

fek it ... this is pointless anyway ... it does end up just being smug!

Sean was asked to sign a contract at the time. I was speculating about what ZC would then have required of him. I dont think they just wanted him for the WC. They wanted him for the Test return.

[Boundary]

Sean was asked to sign a contract at the time. I was speculating about what ZC would then have required of him. I dont think they just wanted him for the WC. They wanted him for the Test return.

But he wouldn't have been required to give up Hampshire would he (except for the International matches)? Right Paul Horton never stays right to the end of the Logan Cup, by March he must be back in the UK preparing for the county season. Even right now Sean is playing for the Tuskers, when his county contract permits. So the idea that this guy, with his obviously stringent conditions, was ready to be signed up by ZC and yet they can't sign up an obviously demonstrably committed guy maddens me. BTW, I don't Sean's problem came down to the ZC's contract, he just didn't want to be the overseas signing at Hampshire (which wasn't guaranteed at all).