Match Thread: Only Test Zimbabwe v Ireland (6th -10th February 2025)

[ZIMDOGGY]

We rely too heavily on Richie and Blessing.

The fact that the two other paceman took 0 and 2 wickets or whatever is frightening, and this Newman kid gets applauded on social media for it is embarrassing.

Nyauchi should be there at least, but again, why cant ZC develop quicks? You dont even need a cricket background, just genetics

[mnelson68]

Plenty of next gen players have stepped up in recent times (Wez, Bennett, Welch, and Curran).

We wont know until they are tested against elite teams.

ireland are the weakest attack in world cricket.

Add Josh Little to the attack and they are very useful

[Andy31]

Here is my Summary of the players/ Game

Curran 3/10 - Not his best game but i still feel his quality and im hoping for a goof white ball series.
Kaitano 4/10 - Got a start but has really kicked on for a good total 6the last few games.

I feel Curran and Kaitano are our best openers and i like the fact they open in domestic.

Welch 8/10 - Good start to the test arena, Such a good innings in the first and for someone with lots to prove. As others have said, his got some fight in him. Surely they can fit him in the white ball squads

Bennet 6/10 - I like him better down the order. Can look a little awkward at times. He is one of the few young ones, that look like they are learning in the international environment.

Wes 8/10 - I think this might be a watershed moment. Huge second innings and should be used more with the ball.

Campbell 6/10- Another long awaited debut. Never an easy ask captaining a side on your debut. His a funny one, not a bad debut on paper but throwing his wicket away twice was hard to watch. I feel he is someone who looks like he will learn from it all.

Mayavo 5/10 - Deserved to make his debut. A few starts but looked shaky at times. Didnt keep to bad.

The wicket keeper spot is for the taking4 for anyone in Zim that owns a pair of gloves. I still rate Gumbie but he needs to find form again.

Newman 2/10- Bowled a little bit better the second innings but will benefit from playing more logan cup. I dont mind him in shorter formats.

Gwandu- 4/10 poor bowling first innings but a good showing with the bat and better second innings.

I dont mind Newman and Gwandu in squads and playing but both playing in a test, with so few games between them. Just puts more pressure on Ritchie and Blessing.

Ngarava - very solid game and a player who keeps improving.

Blessing 10/10- Cant ask for too much more.

[mnelson68]

Here is my Summary of the players/ Game

Curran 3/10 - Not his best game but i still feel his quality and im hoping for a goof white ball series.
Kaitano 4/10 - Got a start but has really kicked on for a good total 6the last few games.

I feel Curran and Kaitano are our best openers and i like the fact they open in domestic.

Welch 8/10 - Good start to the test arena, Such a good innings in the first and for someone with lots to prove. As others have said, his got some fight in him. Surely they can fit him in the white ball squads

Bennet 6/10 - I like him better down the order. Can look a little awkward at times. He is one of the few young ones, that look like they are learning in the international environment.

Wes 8/10 - I think this might be a watershed moment. Huge second innings and should be used more with the ball.

Campbell 6/10- Another long awaited debut. Never an easy ask captaining a side on your debut. His a funny one, not a bad debut on paper but throwing his wicket away twice was hard to watch. I feel he is someone who looks like he will learn from it all.

Mayavo 5/10 - Deserved to make his debut. A few starts but looked shaky at times. Didnt keep to bad.

The wicket keeper spot is for the taking4 for anyone in Zim that owns a pair of gloves. I still rate Gumbie but he needs to find form again.

Newman 2/10- Bowled a little bit better the second innings but will benefit from playing more logan cup. I dont mind him in shorter formats.

Gwandu- 4/10 poor bowling first innings but a good showing with the bat and better second innings.

I dont mind Newman and Gwandu in squads and playing but both playing in a test, with so few games between them. Just puts more pressure on Ritchie and Blessing.

Ngarava - very solid game and a player who keeps improving.

Blessing 10/10- Cant ask for too much more.

Nice summary

[aydee]

Almost any of the experienced seamers on the circuit playing on Day 1 may well have made the difference. Chatara, Nyauchi, Chinouya, Evans (not fit in time, I know). Even Masuku or Faraz. Lower ceilings maybe, but they would have asked more questions in the here and now, and that matters.

[andrea lanzoni]

Zimbabwe sink further at international level.

They are now properly behind Ireland and Afghanistan as a test nation. That is a real shame.

So many times it's been dscussed about a nightmare day without Ervine-Raza-Williams. Everyone convinced of a brakeless collapse.

This test has been the time without the three. A defeat, not a disaster.

Take all players of the last 3-4 years and make a roster without Ervine-Raza-Williams. Whatever team you get, it was weaker than the one of this Test.

So, in my opinion, this time the glass is half full.

[secretzimbo]

Abject. Losing a Test at home to Ireland is an absolute nadir. But it’s okay because we can make some convenient excuses about our elderly 40 year olds not being available (again). How convenient!

How much longer must we persist with a head coach who by all accounts is so totally out of his depth?

More crucially, how much longer must we persist with a board which has now overseen two decades of total failure and incompetence with absolutely zero consequence? You can all keep blaming players or even selectors, but who’s really accountable for it all? We know who. Unless those at the top change, nothing will change. We’ll still be here in ten years from now making excuses ‘what if’, when continuing to lose against poor teams. Ireland showed very little quality in this match. They are a really really bang average side.

‘It doesn’t matter because Ervine wasn’t playing’ - fuck that excuse. That’s pathetic. Probably the same people who have been saying he’s past it and we need to ‘blood new players’ for the last five years anyway.

Can’t make excuses for losing a test at home to Ireland. That’s a properly horrendous result. Why are people sugar coating this and looking for positives? Ireland haven't played domestic first class cricket since 2019! And now they've beaten us home and away.

Anyway, thought I’d stick my head above the parapet briefly. Will probably regret it!

[Bulawayo Boy]

Not at all SZ. I think your summary is sport on. Good, planning, preparation and leadership from board level down is needed.

[andruid]

Well fought Wesley

[andrea lanzoni]

Abject. Losing a Test at home to Ireland is an absolute nadir. But it’s okay because we can make some convenient excuses about our elderly 40 year olds not being available (again). How convenient!

How much longer must we persist with a head coach who by all accounts is so totally out of his depth?

More crucially, how much longer must we persist with a board which has now overseen two decades of total failure and incompetence with absolutely zero consequence? You can all keep blaming players or even selectors, but who’s really accountable for it all? We know who. Unless those at the top change, nothing will change. We’ll still be here in ten years from now making excuses ‘what if’, when continuing to lose against poor teams. Ireland showed very little quality in this match. They are a really really bang average side.

‘It doesn’t matter because Ervine wasn’t playing’ - fuck that excuse. That’s pathetic. Probably the same people who have been saying he’s past it and we need to ‘blood new players’ for the last five years anyway.

Can’t make excuses for losing a test at home to Ireland. That’s a properly horrendous result. Why are people sugar coating this and looking for positives? Ireland haven't played domestic first class cricket since 2019! And now they've beaten us home and away.

Anyway, thought I’d stick my head above the parapet briefly. Will probably regret it!

Zimbabwe has already been sliding behind Afghanistan and Ireland in the past five years. If Holland and Scotland were to be admitted as Test nations (sooner or later it will happen), it's likely that Zimbabwe would struggle with them to boot.

Since the problem has already been accrued over the years, my positive sensation is that Curran, Bennet, and debutant captain are a good news.
With Ervine-Raza-Williams Zimbabwe would likely still be able to defeat Ireland. A short term success anyway.

There are young replacements who can't guarantee a present but who can vouch that in the future the landslide does not accelerate further.

Finally, being deated by Ireland is all but acceptable. No excuses.