[Match Thread] Zim XI v Australia A

[jimbo]

Zimbabwe really need to find a solidifying middle order player and fast!!!!!!!! Time and time again we have seen players have a good opening partnership only to blow it in the middle overs. Anyone remember the world cup match against sri lanka when zim had a century opening partnership?

Who would fit that Bill though Waller? Lamb?

[Train Driver]

Choose one word to describe todays effort, shall i start ?


PATHETIC



Another batch of ammunition for those that want to see Zimbabwe firmly relegated to associate status for good

[Dr_Situ(ZimFanatic)]

Meek Surrender

[eugene]

My one word description is...

UNSURPRISING

I am surprised that some on this forum are shocked by the result. This Australian side may have some inexperienced players but most of them have more ability and talent than almost all of the Zimbabwean players. Warner, Finch, Maddinson, Ferguson, Paine, Hastings, and Starc would walk into our full side right away most likely.

I don't think some on this forum realise just how far behind the major countries Zimbabwe is.

[hhm]

It would be foolish to blind oneself to the fact that this was a very bitter ending to such a promising beginning. Mpofu outdid himself and Meth showed great resolve in pulling himself together after a shaky start, but much of what followed thereafter, was pretty much ordinary. Despite this, the target set was acheivable and the initial part of the chase prompted some, like myself, to begin plotting the downfall of our next victim - SA A. Sadly, as it turned out, that was very much premature. Ludicrous to be more precise. All that's left is for us to salute Aus' next batch of worldbeaters.

Typically, the knives are out from certain quarters of the hard to please ZCF, and the prophets of doom have mapped out our path. Spare a thought for a moment. While our objectives may carry additional weight since we're on the cusp of test resumption, let us not forget that this series bears a common goal for all the concerned teams: to sift through the options and come out with substance. Therefore, can anyone doubt that a large proportion of this has been fulfilled? Hence, as doubters of Warner's international credentials & of Theron's relevance apart from bowling in the death are/will be vindicated, so it has been in our case.

Chakabva has carried on from where he left off in the world cup - preceding each disastrous campaign with good performances as he did in the I-Cup & now the training games respectively. Mr Elton 'can't bat-can't bowl' Chigumbura has shown that it will take more than just relief from captaincy duties in order to continue to grant him leave of absence from his franchise. Surely persistence with these two at the present moment should make us equally concerned about the greater good of our game, for the powers that be will have glaringly displayed their ineptitude! Mutizwa hardly put a foot wrong in his first stint with the side, having been so rudely ignored soon after that, he can be afforded another one or two runs to put the matter beyond doubt. Either way, Waller will have his turn on the stand and I have a strong feeling that he'll shine.

Class spinners in the mould of Warne & Kumble retired from international cricket, top of their game at about 37 years of age, but they had already given up one form of the game (ODIs) at about 35. It certainly wasn't a long break from cricket, so we can put Price's modest return to more than just rustiness. Could there be something he can learn from these two greats? Not being of the same class, I'm sure what ever lights were flashing for them are even brighter in his case. If this fact bears any merit, his shortlived experiment in the IPL did, by the way, give a few indicators. What I am certain of though, is we need to ensure that Utseya+Cremer=One world class spinner!

Hamilton lived up to our expectation, while Vusi threatened to ease our fears of his stability upfront (the jury is still out in my opinion). Taylor & Craig only need to ask themselves if we can afford to accommodate a shortfall in either of them. In due course, Taibu will be back to add some steel to our lineup, and the flair of Williams will be at our disposal once again. However, that will still leave us short of meeting the necessary requirements for our venture. My solution is one that a large section in this forum surprisingly do not favor. I remain adamant that Duffin & Ewing must form part of our core! I have no doubt in my mind that these embarrassing outcomes would dissipate, if not become less frequent, were their mature cool heads be at our service. (For now we can do little about our lost sons - Sean, Cameron, Ireland, de Granhomme, Ballance & Goodwin if you insist.)

To the detractors I say that this sombre mood and dark cloud needs to disperse. We did more to lose the game than they did to win it. While we do not doubt the quality before us in this series, on the contrary, we do have sufficient talent & ability to overcome these immediate obstacles. Considering we went in with only 4 batsmen (Hami, Taylor, Vusi & Ervine), I'd say we have a sound excuse for the outcome, instead of say 'why am i not surprised'.

We are wounded, but as chance would have it, we live to fight another day. On that, I'm afraid, to put up a decent fight we must wait until we get our second bite at this Aus side, as I fear the SA A side is a cut above. Having said that, with their impending win against the Aussies and having witnessed our jelly-like resistance in full flow, they might not be immune to overconfidence, which we might just be equipped to exploit. But only just.

[Boundary]

What causes the Zimbabwe Collapse? It doesn't matter the status of the match, the pitch conditions, the total being chased, etc. - none of it matters because somewhere during the innings a bunch of wickets WILL fall almost simultaneously. 94-2? Don't worry you won't get to 150. If we can get almost 100 for 2 surely the talent is there to get a team total of 200 at least. So it's mental then? If that's so perhaps we need to get ourselves a SA/Aus sports psychologist (those countries don't believe in losing sports contests), someone to exorcise our inferiority complex. Better yet, maybe Byron or Wayne Black will be suited for the job - tennis players strike me as very resilient. Either way someone needs to sort this batting collapse problem.

[eugene]

Inconsistency and the failure to improve upon early potential are indicative of two things:

1) Mental toughness
2) Players have reached their glass ceiling and may not be anything more than mediocre

I am not yet certain of which of the two options we are faced with but I fear it may be the second one with most of our players.

Either way we really need some sort of sports psychologist - I have been calling for this for the last couple of years.

[CrimsonAvenger]

Right, a horrid beginning to the season, and the positive is that we can only get better from here. Hamilton' knock only tells one story, that of how the selectors got it wrong for the CWC. Mpofu clearly is leaps and bounds ahead of any other new ball option in the country, when it comes to top notch cricket.

I have to admit, these days, I have started enjoying the detailed analyses that hhm comes up with, both in terms of cricketing insights and the dilightlfully expressive language. But there is a slight disagreement as far as the reference to "RWP The Legend" is concerned in the previous post. He is bound to come back stronger from this lacklustre showing.

Better yet, maybe Byron or Wayne Black will be suited for the job - tennis players strike me as very resilient.

That is quite a nice thought. Having watched them compete at the highest level, I do agree that one of the Black brothers can help the mental aspect of the game.

[chappie coventry]

i think everyones getting a little carried away you just have to focus on the positives i mean im from Australia and i can tell you that this is a very strong aussie team you are going to see all of these players playing for there natioal team very soon not to mention more than half already played for Aust . positives for zim is that they bowled well and every bowler ended up with pretty good figures and only had to use 20 overs of spin . on the batting side the top oder is looking good with vusi seeming to be taking his chance and the return of masakadza just improves the top oder so much . i wouldn't worry to much about the middle oder i mean chigs is abit of worry but once we have taibu and William's in there its looking much better
top 7 batters for odi taylor . sibanda. masakadza . taibu . ervine . Williams . chigumbura since williams is out atm i would have waller

[Conant]

Well...
Interesting read, hhm