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Is a Sixth Franchise required?

Last season 103 Zimbabwean qualified players played in the Logan Cup.
There seems to be a clear indication that there could be another say dozen returning players for next season (Ervine, Ireland, Nicholson, Panyangara, Benade, Samunderu, Staddon, Went etc)
There is a chunk of the U19 squad who didn't play 1st Class last year but will be expecting game time this coming season (Moor, Chirimuta, Chimhamhiwa , Mazhawidza, Kahiya, Waller, Jaure, Price etc)
Because of the youth of the existing player base there are no iminent retirements of existing players on age grounds.
With more time to prepare we can expect franchise to have lined up 2 overseas players each.

That will leave circa 120 players vying for 45 available playing spaces (allowing for the overseas pro's)

Is this:-

1) A good thing because the standard and competition will increase considerably.
2) A bad thing as younger players will not have opportunity to develop and players will leave the country seeking employment or education elsewhere?

A good example are the Wicketkeeping and spinning positions.

Wickekeeping - Chakabva, Taibu, Wessells(OS), Coventry, Maregwede. Few opportunities for; Mahlunge, Ngulube, Mazhawidza, Sauramba, Ncube
Spinning - Lamb, Price, Utseya, Maruma, Cremer, Rayner (OS), Ewing, Dabengwa, Nyumbu, Kamungozi, Tikolo(OS), Matanga. Few opportunities for; Mugochi, Mushangwe, Mutumbodzi, Munyede, Mugava, Kahiya, Higgins.

Now undoubtedly some of the players who played last year and who are in the current U19 squad are not up to 1st Class standard however I doubt it will be anywhere near the 40-50 who will not get an opportunity this season

Discuss....

Maybe.

Think about this though. Australia only has 6 first class teams... There is also the likelihood that after having returned to Test cricket, the national team players will be involved a lot less regularly than they were last season, this will provide fringe and young players with opportunities. The few games that they missed last year were not of a very good standard, to be honest.

aydee wrote:Maybe.

Think about this though. Australia only has 6 first class teams... There is also the likelihood that after having returned to Test cricket, the national team players will be involved a lot less regularly than they were last season, this will provide fringe and young players with opportunities. The few games that they missed last year were not of a very good standard, to be honest.

I agree and I'm not sure if it would be a good or a bad thing.

However when comparing to Australia you must consider the following.

1) Last season 130 Australian players played 1st Class cricket domestically.
2) They have a much fuller international program
3) They have 2 full international tours to their country every year providing further fixtures.
4) They have a 2 day grade system beneath their first class system providing high quality cricket for those not involved in the Sheffield Shield.
5) Of the non-internationals about 20% of their 1st class players obtain county contracts in England during their off season.
6) They have no overseas players

I know tours by and to Zim are arranged late but their doesn't appear to be a full international and 'A' Schedule for the coming season.

I just wouldn't be confident that the best 6 or so U19 players from the previous year are going to get plenty of cricket, ie. Chatara, Mutumbodzi, Mushwange, Moor, Higgins & Mazhawidzha this coming season and Waller, Sauramba, Price, Kahiya, Jaure and Mamhiyo the next.

I think we should have four first class teams. Six is way too many for a country the size of Zimbabwe. If anythying we need more competition for places in the first class teams. Everyone else can get experience in club cricket.

I think club cricket is often overlooked as a useful place for players to gain experience. Australia has a very strong club scene - probably stronger than many first class competitions.

eugene wrote:I think we should have four first class teams. Six is way too many for a country the size of Zimbabwe. If anythying we need more competition for places in the first class teams. Everyone else can get experience in club cricket.

I think club cricket is often overlooked as a useful place for players to gain experience. Australia has a very strong club scene - probably stronger than many first class competitions.

Agree 6 franchises is too much, lets stick to 5. What we really lack is a strong club system to develop and identify young talent who can be fed into franchises. My home province, Masvingo there is no tangible club scene, most of the guys from school go to Harare to play club cricket. There is a lot to be done in grassroots so 5 franchises is about right at present.

I don't think the point of first class cricket is to give every cricketer in the country a chance to play - that is what club cricket is for.

you dont want to dilute the player pool.
You want the logan cup to be strong and robust like it was back in the day of Andy Flower and Gus Mackay.

The Logan cup should act as a midwife to the test arena.


The only way i believe a 6th franchise would work is if every team had 3 internationals to boost the talent in the teams.