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Now maybe this is just me, but personally I think it's slightly too early to bring in young Nathan Waller into the A side. Taking into consideration that he's not played any first class cricket in Zimbabwe, and that he's still only 19, makes me question as to why he's been included. Well lets analyse it. He's got a lot of talent with both bat and ball. He was by far the best bowler in the South Africa under 19's series, he's bowled well in this match and the previous game, and in the junior world cup he proved useful with the bat. (I'll always remember that lofted drive for six, what a shot).
However, putting him into the A' side straight away seems a strange move from Ali Campbell. I know he's done well, but say for instance he didn't do all that well, and got smashed about or batted poorly. What would that do to his confidence.....
I'd much prefer to see a Keegan Meth in the side, somebody who's got a bit of experience in both the first class and international arena, and somebody of similar ability, possibly a little quicker with the ball. I'd just like to see him earn his stripes first by playing a bit of first class cricket, then progressing into the system.
I'm not for one minute saying that he's not got the ability to succeed at the international level, he's obviously got some serious talent or else he wouldn't have been selected. But like Kyle Jarvis, I think we need to nurture him and let him feel his way into first class cricket first, and then in the future possibly international cricket. One of many stars in the making...

I tend to think that if someone is destined to succeed in international cricket they will regardless of when they are out in the team. Sure they may have a few problems at first but in the end they sort it out. Look at Brendan Taylor, he struggled at first but after his first couple of series he was already one of our better batsmen. I don't think his career would be any better had he been held back a few years. May as well just put these guys in the deep end and see what happens.

eugene wrote:I tend to think that if someone is destined to succeed in international cricket they will regardless of when they are out in the team. Sure they may have a few problems at first but in the end they sort it out. Look at Brendan Taylor, he struggled at first but after his first couple of series he was already one of our better batsmen. I don't think his career would be any better had he been held back a few years. May as well just put these guys in the deep end and see what happens.

Fair point Eugene, plus Taylor was 18 when he made his international debut against the touring Sri Lankans, so perhaps it was a decent move. Will be interesting to see how he plays for his franchise, if he plays, and if so, who for...

I wonder if we have missed out on a few seasons of good performances from Craig Ervine because of the selectors being cautious. He is making his debut at a relatively advanced age as far as Zimbabwean cricket goes.

eugene wrote:I wonder if we have missed out on a few seasons of good performances from Craig Ervine because of the selectors being cautious. He is making his debut at a relatively advanced age as far as Zimbabwean cricket goes.

If i remember correctly, he and Greg Butterworth were the highest run scorers in the 2005 Logan cup competition. So you're probably correct there Eugene.

sloandog wrote:

eugene wrote:I wonder if we have missed out on a few seasons of good performances from Craig Ervine because of the selectors being cautious. He is making his debut at a relatively advanced age as far as Zimbabwean cricket goes.

If i remember correctly, he and Greg Butterworth were the highest run scorers in the 2005 Logan cup competition. So you're probably correct there Eugene.

But he didn't return to domestic cricket until last season, so he wasn't really available for selection any earlier.

Who didn't return, Ervin or Ryan Butterworth.
Ya in fairness Ervine left in 2006 so he's not been up for selection for nearly 4 and a bit years, but in 2005 surely he should have been selected. He played for the A' side, but just couldn't break into the national side, due to the muppets who ran the show at the time. (And still do, AKA, Bvute and Chingoka)

If he was selected in 2005 he may have stayed around. He probably figured when he wasn't selected then that it wasn't worth sticking around. I think there was still quotas in place at the time meaning that certain cricketers probably felt there was no shot of them making the team.

Who else may that have occurred to do you think ??

eugene wrote:If he was selected in 2005 he may have stayed around. He probably figured when he wasn't selected then that it wasn't worth sticking around. I think there was still quotas in place at the time meaning that certain cricketers probably felt there was no shot of them making the team.

Yeah, but plenty who were picked at the time (Higgins, Ireland, Meth among others) left anyway...