Ireland Tour - Discussion

[Kriterion_BD]

Jeez if you watch Uganda cricket...thats some commitment!

[Kriterion_BD]

The Super League matches were already played in 2021. There is absolutely nothing on the line.

Its a series between two historic arch-rivals. There is or should always be pride on the line.

[CalZim]

Jeez if you watch Uganda cricket...thats some commitment!

I watch all African Cricket. Managed to watch most of the recent t20 qualifiers. Some real bright prospects for some of the smaller nations.

A few days ago I sat and watched The Rwanda v Tanzania with my boys. Cricket is cricket regardless of the standard.

I have been following Uganda closely though because they have some serious talent in that team. If they had a couple more batsmen and a wicket keeper who could bat then they would be pushing for ODI status. They are already close but bottled it in a close game against Jersey which cost them the challenge league title.

[secretzimbo]

The Super League matches were already played in 2021. There is absolutely nothing on the line.

Its a series between two historic arch-rivals. There is or should always be pride on the line.

‘Historic arch rivals’ is rather over egging it. I promise you nobody in Zim really cares about or is excited about playing Ireland.

[secretzimbo]

Jeez if you watch Uganda cricket...thats some commitment!

I take in any African cricket when I can. Not as much as Cal though! But it’s normal to be interested in our continental neighbours.

I would disagree with Cal generally though on the standard. All of us (me included) regularly moan about our domestic cricket but in reality the standard in the Logan Cup is mostly good. 90% of the players involved are serious cricketers and I don’t think many players from associate countries could compete in it.

[CalZim]

Jeez if you watch Uganda cricket...thats some commitment!

I take in any African cricket when I can. Not as much as Cal though! But it’s normal to be interested in our continental neighbours.

I would disagree with Cal generally though on the standard. All of us (me included) regularly moan about our domestic cricket but in reality the standard in the Logan Cup is mostly good. 90% of the players involved are serious cricketers and I don’t think many players from associate countries could compete in it.

I do probably over exaggerate because of my bias but there are some serious players out there. With decent coaches they could play at a good standard.

Hopefully the t20 qualifiers will raise a few eyebrows, but then again as long as we don’t lose any games as that would be a disaster.

I think our moaning about the Logan cup is relative, every country does it when actually it’s a lot better than we say.

I can’t wait for everyone to see Vraj bowl.

[secretzimbo]

I do probably over exaggerate because of my bias but there are some serious players out there. With decent coaches they could play at a good standard.

That's the difference isn't it. I'm not doubting the talent of players in places like Uganda or elsewhere. But most of our guys have benefitted from much better coaching, schools cricket, etc from a young age. Most come from families and parents who are into cricket and have that heritage and interest. Most in the system have played overseas club cricket at some point. Most of our guys are (somehow) full-time professionals who dedicate their entire time to cricket etc. And have had the benefit of consistent red-ball First Class cricket, which is experience that money can't buy.

We bemoan that our opportunities are so much worse than say SA, so we can never compete. But it's the same gap again between us and Kenya/Uganda. Despite all the problems in our system and over the past twenty years, players here have had 100x the opportunities guys in Uganda must have had.

So whilst I'm sure the natural talent is there, I really do think the majority of guys in the Uganda or Kenya teams would probably struggle if they were playing our domestic comps. But for sure there are one or two players that could do well. That's usually the problem with associates isn't it - 2 or 3 really great players but then a load of cannon fodder padding out the rest of the team.

[secretzimbo]

Actually maybe the difference in T20's isn't that much.

Our First Class stuff is by far the highest quality of the three domestic competitions we have. Our Pro-50 is average and our domestic T20 is usually a pretty low standard.

[CalZim]

I do probably over exaggerate because of my bias but there are some serious players out there. With decent coaches they could play at a good standard.

That's the difference isn't it. I'm not doubting the talent of players in places like Uganda or elsewhere. But most of our guys have benefitted from much better coaching, schools cricket, etc from a young age. Most come from families and parents who are into cricket and have that heritage and interest. Most in the system have played overseas club cricket at some point. Most of our guys are (somehow) full-time professionals who dedicate their entire time to cricket etc. And have had the benefit of consistent red-ball First Class cricket, which is experience that money can't buy.

We bemoan that our opportunities are so much worse than say SA, so we can never compete. But it's the same gap again between us and Kenya/Uganda. Despite all the problems in our system and over the past twenty years, players here have had 100x the opportunities guys in Uganda must have had.

So whilst I'm sure the natural talent is there, I really do think the majority of guys in the Uganda or Kenya teams would probably struggle if they were playing our domestic comps. But for sure there are one or two players that could do well. That's usually the problem with associates isn't it - 2 or 3 really great players but then a load of cannon fodder padding out the rest of the team.

Spot on there great post!

For a team to compete they can’t rely on one or two players, it’s the cannon fodder in the squad that prevents these teams from competing at a higher standard.

Coaches are none existent and they don’t have any sort of domestic cricket. They basically have club matches (which are streamed…I know I’m sad ) the standard is very poor but then you have these quality players turning up.

The one team that has the funding to set up a domestic scene is Rwanda but they don’t have any decent players they have just paid for Uganda and Tanzania to come over for an 18 match series and their ground facilities are excellent. Don’t know where all the money is coming from but I have seen a massive rise in Rwanda cricket recently.

Kenya have tried with that international t20 comp but that didn’t even have t20 status and was just full of retired internationals only interested in a decent pay packet.

[Kriterion_BD]

‘Historic arch rivals’ is rather over egging it. I promise you nobody in Zim really cares about or is excited about playing Ireland.

Depends on how you define "nobody" and "excited". I'm sure the guys who post here regularly (at least some of whom are from or still live in ZIM) will be elated if ZIM beats Ireland, and pissed off if they lose. Sure its a tiny segment of Zimbabweans. If its only measured by having a packed house at the HSC, then yes, they probably only care about it if the matches are against England, India, or Australia. But then again, would people pay even a token fare to watch even those teams? IDK. In recent times the only time the venues have been full of spectators were during the WCQ in 2018, but I believe admission was totally free and then the 2014 Utseya special game vs Australia (was that also free admission???).

My generaly understanding is that cricket has never been all that popular in Zimbabwe...ie "nobody" really cares much regardless of if the opposition is Ireland or Afghanistan or England or Australia.

Cricket is like a religion in India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. Thats the top tier of popularity.

I would say Afghanistan, Nepal, and Sri Lanka come in the next tier under the 3 Asian giants.

Then its England and Australia and New Zealand. Followed by West Indies, South Africa.

Zimbabwe would trail those above teams. No clue where Ireland stands in that context to be honest.