More matches against the associates

[Jonathan2305]

I'm sorry but most of the comments on this thread are nothing short of ridiculous. Your 'A' team playing Ireland? Ireland beat Zimbabwe the last time these teams clashed- and cricket experts in several interviews have stated that Ireland have progressed to a higher level than Zimbabwe and are on par, if not above, Bangladesh. According to statistics, Ireland have 6 times more of a chance of winning the T20 world cup than Zimbabwe. Either way i've only read one or two comments mentioning the A team playing Ireland, most of the others just mention teams like Kenya and Namibia.

Why does Zimbabwe not want to play Ireland? Is it because they've reached a higher level than Ireland and are too good for them? No, it's not. Simply put- losing badly to an associate side could damage Zimbabwe's role in the test playing ten and comprehensive losses might even make the ICC taking back their test status rights once again. Ireland poses the biggest risk to them here- when the 10 man, no qualification 2015 world cup was announced, the first thing Zimbabwe did was pull out of the scheduled series with Ireland- they claimed domestic reasons but realistically, it was probably because losing badly to Ireland would have led to a probable qualification method to be one of the world cup ten, which would have put Zimbabwe at huge risk of not qualifying. Zimbabwe are currently ranked tenth in the world, overtaking Ireland the previous tenth. Is this because they're a better team? No not in the least- it's simply because Zimbabwe gets more ODIs than Ireland- while Zimbabwe was having series against Bangladesh, New Zealand and Pakistan Ireland make do with the occaisional ODI scrap thrown at them- which is why they were surpassed in Rankings. So instead of being ignorant towards hard working teams like Ireland that have progressed so much, and classing them with your 'A' sides- show them a little respect for all they have achieved in the 6 years they've had ODI status and minimal help from the ICC.

[zimfan1]

I'm sorry but most of the comments on this thread are nothing short of ridiculous. Your 'A' team playing Ireland? Ireland beat Zimbabwe the last time these teams clashed- and cricket experts in several interviews have stated that Ireland have progressed to a higher level than Zimbabwe and are on par, if not above, Bangladesh. According to statistics, Ireland have 6 times more of a chance of winning the T20 world cup than Zimbabwe. Either way i've only read one or two comments mentioning the A team playing Ireland, most of the others just mention teams like Kenya and Namibia.

errr we beat Ireland 2-1 last time we played them in a series and beat them easily in a world cup warm up match, check your facts please Sir!!

[zimfan1]

Zimbabwe are currently ranked tenth in the world, overtaking Ireland the previous tenth. Is this because they're a better team? No not in the least- it's simply because Zimbabwe gets more ODIs than Ireland- while Zimbabwe was having series against Bangladesh, New Zealand and Pakistan Ireland make do with the occaisional ODI scrap thrown at them- which is why they were surpassed in Rankings. So instead of being ignorant towards hard working teams like Ireland that have progressed so much, and classing them with your 'A' sides- show them a little respect for all they have achieved in the 6 years they've had ODI status and minimal help from the ICC.

Ireland get plenty of points by playing regular ODI's against Scotland, Netherlands, Kenya and Canada, if Zimbabwe played these teams as regulaly as Ireland do then Zimbabwe would be miles ahead in the rankings.

[Jonathan2305]

I'm sorry but most of the comments on this thread are nothing short of ridiculous. Your 'A' team playing Ireland? Ireland beat Zimbabwe the last time these teams clashed- and cricket experts in several interviews have stated that Ireland have progressed to a higher level than Zimbabwe and are on par, if not above, Bangladesh. According to statistics, Ireland have 6 times more of a chance of winning the T20 world cup than Zimbabwe. Either way i've only read one or two comments mentioning the A team playing Ireland, most of the others just mention teams like Kenya and Namibia.

errr we beat Ireland 2-1 last time we played them in a series and beat them easily in a world cup warm up match, check your facts please Sir!!

Ireland beat Zimbabwe by 4 wickets in their 2011 warm up game. They've improved considerably since the last series you played against them. You really haven't seen Paul Stirling bat have you?

http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/c ... 73328.html

There's the scorecard- if you have a problem with that evidence take it up with the ICC

And about the ODIs- usually Ireland plays about 1/2 ODIs per series with associates as funding is also needed for the warmup games. And out of those 2/3 series they're sometimes against weak associates who's wins don't give ranking changes or significant points.

[ZIMDOGGY]

what do you mean homeboy?

people here arent saying lets not play ireland as some sort of conspiracy manouevre, they are saying lets not play them because A)they are an assoc. or B) We cant afford to in the cash money sense.

also jonathan, did you watch the origin? do you think the blues can square the series?

[sloandog]

We couldn't play Ireland during the Zimbabwean summer because there was no room for the series. We had all three of Pakistan, New Zealand and Bangladesh to house and accommodate. You can't say just because Zimbabwe turned Ireland down for a series they simply didn't want to play them, that's just ridiculous, Zimbabwe invited Ireland over in 2010/11, which they won comfortably. (2-1).

And I've stirling bat, a very very exciting prospect bat, bat have you seen Brendan Taylor ? Have you seen Charles Coventry ? Have you seen Kyle Jarvis, Tendai Chitara, Malcolm Waller and Hamilton Mazkadza ? Zimbabwe have better players and better depth than Ireland, which is why they are, and always will be the better side, period.

[eugene]

I have no problem with us playing Ireland more, particularly in Ireland. I think we saw in the NZ tour just how much we struggle outside of Africa.

[ZIMDOGGY]

I HOPE THATS THE CASE EUGENE, that its just away game syndrome.

ive said it before... but it feels like whenever a team trys to blast the zim bowlers, they pull it off.

example; my fear is teams fear ray prices reputation more than his bowling on the day. he doesnt seem to have much answers when he gets tonked.

[eugene]

Yeah, Price does seem to struggle when he is targeted. That being said, I have seen every spinner hit out of the attack at some point, even Murali and Warne would get tonked occasionally.

[ZIMDOGGY]

thats true,

although when warne got tonked it was usually brian lara or someone.

price gets tonked by james franklin