It was Matigimu. In fact if I remember correctly. Ngarava wasn't even in the playing XI at the beginning. His big break came when he did really well when they beat the baby proteas.. Mashinge and Matigimu were the main bowlers. Still don't know how on earth they beat the baby proteas because their emerging team right now would absolutely crush the rising stars.
Thanks...I will try and remember that.
So the next question, where is Matigumu now. Kid was at least 6'4" and that is Mpofu height but he's much quicker than Bobby.
This is a forum full of "fans" of Zimbabwe cricket. We criticize the team, players and everyone in the setup like there is no tomorrow when we lose badly, but the next time we play a match, we come back with great hope, wholeheartedly lauding the performances of whoever does well on the day. No one here wishes for the future failure of the team like this - just to prove their own demented point right. Can't you see the difference?
Wrong. Very wrong!
I'll give you an example. AB de Villiers left the Proteas and acted all up, seeking preferential treatment. He's back but pretty much only the Indians celebrated his return. Fans of all races turned against him in SA. Rilee Rossouw flopped big time when his career started. The country was patient with him until he came right. He even got injured and still they persisted with him taking care of his medical bills etc. Just when the CT was approaching he went Kolpak. Fans of all races turned against him. Those are cricket fans. Steyn got seriously hurt to a point where fully recovery is almost impossible. Fans blame him for Kyle Abbott leaving because he didn't retire as he should have. Faf and Amla have been dropped recently for form. Those are cricket fans.
Here guys threatened to quit the forum when Taylor left. Some threatened to leave the forum if Mangongo was coach. many actually did it seems. There's a whole host of other things. Read through the forum. The overwhelming majority said ZIM cricket would be dead by now. I said never. Trawl through the archives. They said ZIM would be losing to useless Associates. What they didn't predict or forsee is that it would be their favourites embarassing Zimbabwe. To be honest I don't think Zimbabwe cricket is celebrated. I think characters are celebrated. Certain players can't be dropped according to this forum. In fact, no matter what they are certain starters. Nowhere else in the world even Nepal, PNG or Kenya would what has been done chucking RS into a FC level be tolerated - no matter the goal. Why does it make sense for ZIM? What's so unique about ZIM? Other Associates humiliating ZIM struggle for funds yet, figuratively, ZIM has enough to literally breed guinea pigs in 7-Star hotels, and we must agree it's ok?
ZIM cricket has been on its knees before because of this loan and interest(all of it accumulated when )people were happy about Dominus, Stanbic T20 and Logan Cup with Englishmen). ZIM is also spening money like a married billionaire's girlfriend. ZIM cricket has also hurt relationships with powerful friends. Faced with a strong likelihood of failing to qualify for the CWC, ZIM will be more that just on its knees. Then it will really die sooner rather than later. True fans would see the red flags, because the care.
Taylor has done his homework and he knows for sure he won't be here for the next 3-4 years. Same applies to Jarvis. They've done their calculations.
There is no wish for failure and dementia here on my part. Only steadfast denialism to the detriment of the team. Funny thing is, all these symptoms are not new. E.g. who vetted Liverpool and the opposition? Who vetted Matsi for coach? Who hired the Pakistani? Who gets plucked from nowhere to be Convernor despite acknowledging they know nothing about a lot of the current player options and won't be there to watch them?
I saw AB de Villiers at the beginning, and didn't bother reading. Should be nothing related to what I wrote.
Massive assumption. No proof to suggest this would be the case. Welch and Byrom have had good 2nd XI seasons which is probably a step up from our FC system. They would do fine against those very average players you mentioned, going off the stats which are available. Lake also has the stats to show he has what it takes to cut his teeth as this level.
Bokako played against ZIM A and BD recently. He is a bit fast and even AB got out to him for just 5 runs in the last FC match (then fell for 32 to Harmer in the 2nd innings). I doubt those boys will be anywhere near as good a Keaton Jennings, who at their age was also struggling badly here.
The Logan Cup is better than County 2nd XI. I think Taylor is being unfairly used in this regard because he struggles away and is a poor starter, so was bound to battle opening or in the top order whether at 1st/2nd Division County. We should also consider how conditions in ENG really lift bowlers compared to when they are in SA/AUS. Which is why a George, Copeland, Kleinveldt and a McLaren are even superior to a Jarvis there. English bowlers will struggle in Southern Africa because I think only CT can offer them the kind of swing through the air that they like and to a lesser extent PE(nothing in ZIM); while the pace, bounce and unpredictable seam off the pitch will give ENG developed batsmen a tough time. Players like Moeen Ali who spent time in ZIM, have benefited because it's helped them cope in many conditions(Ballance's technique is crap naturally).
So for NW and EB to succeed if they have any international ambitions - particularly for ENG, they will eventually have to come to ZIM and ask to play in the Logan Cup. ZIM doesn't really have to chase them too much. Lake for me is like QdK. Not techncally correct technique and can be very loose and careless. I'm very surprised he's done well in ENG(would do ok in NZ too). It might be in his favour to stay there. QdK still can't get it right in those conditions.
Obviously these names we’ve thrown up aren’t worthy of being given lucrative contracts like BT, KJ & possibly Mire we’re given but I can’t see the harm in these guys being approached to return to the setup and earn a central contract.
