Which side was better

Participate in discussion with your fellow Zimbabwe cricket fans!
User avatar
jaybro
Posts: 10390
Joined: Tue Apr 30, 2013 3:36 am
Supports: MidWest Rhinos

Which side was better

Post by jaybro »

Talking and comparing Zimbabwe's successful (relatively) under 19's sides from the 2002, 2004 & 2006 World Cups, after that Zimbabwe hasn't really had any success since then and at times the results have been embarrassing.

Not really looking at the results as much of these sides but more the quality of the sides then and now how they've turned out.

2002

Hamilton Masakadza
Charles Coventry
Tatenda Taibu
Brendan Taylor
Stuart Matsikenyeri
Sean Ervine
Matthew Brundle
Elton Chigumbura
Stanley Marisa
Waddington Mwayenga
Alfred Mbwembwe

Jerome Nicolle
Conan Brewer
Andrew Durham
Sharezad Omarshah

8 Internationals

2004

Brendan Taylor
James Cameron
Sean Williams
Tino Mawoyo
Craig Ervine
Colin DeGrandhomme
Elton Chigumbura
Graeme Cremer
Prosper Utseya
Tinashe Panyangara
Ed Rainsford

Stanley Marisa
Tinashe Ruswa
Tafadzwa Mufumbisi

11 Internationals

2006

Chamu Chibhabha
Kuda Samunderu
Gary Ballance
Sean Williams
Friday Kasteni
Keagan Meth
Roland Benade
Ryan Higgins
Glen Querl
Graeme Cremer
Tarisai Mahlunge

Prince Masvaure
Ian Nicholson
Tarisai Muzarabani

10 Internationals

For me it was quite clear the 2004 side was the best as it produced the most internationals and was a very well balanced side, solid top order two good spinners ( Although Utseya was probably chucking then too ) 2 good fast bowlers and a couple of good all round seamers.

The 2006 side I feel was potentially better but many of those players never fulfilled their potential as they left Zimbabwe early and cut short their careers, guys like Higgins, Kasteni, Samunderu, Benade and Nicholson seemingly disappeared from professional cricket whilst Meth took up body building in Canada and Ballance now plays for England. This side really was a 'bits and pieces side' as pretty much every player batted and bowled and uniquely the Keeper Mahlunge batted @ 10 or 11.

The 2002 side IMO was the strongest batting lineup but the weakest bowling a top order of Hami, Choppa, BT, Taibu, Matsi & Brundle was a great batting lineup but the bowling was fairly weak. Chigs has had success early in his career bowling and Waddington Mwayenga played a couple of ODI's and a Test but really nothing else to speak of.
Chairman of the Neville Madziva fan Club

Originator of the #mumbamania movement

TapsC
Posts: 2349
Joined: Wed Dec 30, 2015 2:54 am

Re: Which side was better

Post by TapsC »

2004 for me but do you think there is a link between us losing all those players in 2004 and these guys progressing into the national team? their talent was undeniable..

wasn't Taibu named the best player in 2002 or something like that? don't quite remember.. if that's the case then he might be the biggest loss we have ever taken.. he would surely have been up there with the very best by now if he had continued.

User avatar
jaybro
Posts: 10390
Joined: Tue Apr 30, 2013 3:36 am
Supports: MidWest Rhinos

Re: Which side was better

Post by jaybro »

Are you talking about the Rebels ??? If so then I don't think so, the Rebel thing had nothing to do with the 19's side. I actually think those guys from the 04 side would have turned out a lot better than they did learning off the experienced players.

From all those players I'd say Ballance turned out to be the best Batsman but Taibu and Sean Ervine best overall players.

Hard to say who turned out to be the best bowler maybe Colin DeGrandhomme or Cremer
Chairman of the Neville Madziva fan Club

Originator of the #mumbamania movement

User avatar
Stoneman Returns
Posts: 328
Joined: Fri Oct 27, 2017 5:03 am
Supports: Mashonaland Eagles

Re: Which side was better

Post by Stoneman Returns »

Zimbabwe played cricket only from 1992 - 2001before the racial quotas and black empowerment policy was imposed. Truth is in last 16 years was completely useless, bunch of talentless due to quota politics cricketers took Zimbabwe down.

Grant Flower
Neil Jhonson
Murray Goodwin
Alistar Cambell ( c)
Andy Flower ( wkb)
Stuart Carlisle
Guy Whitall
Paul Strang
Heath Streak
Eddo Brandish
Henry Olonga

After 2001, Zimbabwe played politics not cricket.
Success depends on Aggressive Instinct

User avatar
Andybligzz
Posts: 769
Joined: Sun Jul 23, 2017 3:07 am
Supports: MidWest Rhinos

Re: Which side was better

Post by Andybligzz »

2004 certainly overall as a team , plenty of options both bat and ball. Interesting thread , forgot so many of these players be interesting to know what some of them are doing now.
The Zimbabwe Cricket team have found Ebola in one of their members, but they're not concerned because they have also found Ebatsmen and Efielda!

User avatar
The Robot
Posts: 619
Joined: Tue Nov 22, 2016 12:17 pm
Supports: Mountaineers

Re: Which side was better

Post by The Robot »

jaybro wrote:
Tue Nov 28, 2017 12:06 am
Talking and comparing Zimbabwe's successful (relatively) under 19's sides from the 2002, 2004 & 2006 World Cups, after that Zimbabwe hasn't really had any success since then and at times the results have been embarrassing.

Not really looking at the results as much of these sides but more the quality of the sides then and now how they've turned out.

2002

Hamilton Masakadza
Charles Coventry
Tatenda Taibu
Brendan Taylor
Stuart Matsikenyeri
Sean Ervine
Matthew Brundle
Elton Chigumbura
Stanley Marisa
Waddington Mwayenga
Alfred Mbwembwe

Jerome Nicolle
Conan Brewer
Andrew Durham
Sharezad Omarshah

8 Internationals

2004

Brendan Taylor
James Cameron
Sean Williams
Tino Mawoyo
Craig Ervine
Colin DeGrandhomme
Elton Chigumbura
Graeme Cremer
Prosper Utseya
Tinashe Panyangara
Ed Rainsford

Stanley Marisa
Tinashe Ruswa
Tafadzwa Mufumbisi

11 Internationals

2006

Chamu Chibhabha
Kuda Samunderu
Gary Ballance
Sean Williams
Friday Kasteni
Keagan Meth
Roland Benade
Ryan Higgins
Glen Querl
Graeme Cremer
Tarisai Mahlunge

Prince Masvaure
Ian Nicholson
Tarisai Muzarabani

10 Internationals

For me it was quite clear the 2004 side was the best as it produced the most internationals and was a very well balanced side, solid top order two good spinners ( Although Utseya was probably chucking then too ) 2 good fast bowlers and a couple of good all round seamers.

The 2006 side I feel was potentially better but many of those players never fulfilled their potential as they left Zimbabwe early and cut short their careers, guys like Higgins, Kasteni, Samunderu, Benade and Nicholson seemingly disappeared from professional cricket whilst Meth took up body building in Canada and Ballance now plays for England. This side really was a 'bits and pieces side' as pretty much every player batted and bowled and uniquely the Keeper Mahlunge batted @ 10 or 11.

The 2002 side IMO was the strongest batting lineup but the weakest bowling a top order of Hami, Choppa, BT, Taibu, Matsi & Brundle was a great batting lineup but the bowling was fairly weak. Chigs has had success early in his career bowling and Waddington Mwayenga played a couple of ODI's and a Test but really nothing else to speak of.

Where is Royman Butterwick then Garry Strydom and Xavier Rinkie? They all played in that era.
Robo to rule :oops:

User avatar
grant
Posts: 1950
Joined: Sun Nov 09, 2014 9:57 am
Supports: MidWest Rhinos

Re: Which side was better

Post by grant »

The Robot wrote:
Tue Nov 28, 2017 4:06 am
Where is Royman Butterwick then Garry Strydom and Xavier Rinkie? They all played in that era.
What the hell did I just read :lol: :lol:

pariah
Posts: 1490
Joined: Fri Jun 16, 2017 2:27 pm
Supports: Matabeleland Tuskers

Re: Which side was better

Post by pariah »

Easily 2002.

The forum has had this discussion before.

Some of you forget that the likes of Hami and Taibu were genuine bowlers back then. Hami a proper allrounder just like Sean Ervine. While Mwayenga and Elton gun bowlers. Coventry was already a very experienced keeper and batsman.

If the argument is which team is stronger, then definitely the 2002 one. If it's about international prospects then you only need to consider the accomplishments of Utseya, Chigumbura, Taylor and Panyangara (plus maybe Craig lately) to argue 2004 is stronger.

The 2002 team had plenty top players comparable to other u19s. Chigumbura aside, the 2004 one only had Panyangara as a top player commentators bothered to discuss. Forget Craig and Sean, mind you Brendan Taylor was even poorer than Cameron just to highlight the player strength. In fact, Mawoyo was arguably more highly regarded compared to most batsmen.

ZIMDOGGY
Posts: 6645
Joined: Sun Feb 28, 2010 11:40 pm
Supports: MidWest Rhinos

Re: Which side was better

Post by ZIMDOGGY »

grant wrote:
Tue Nov 28, 2017 7:57 am
The Robot wrote:
Tue Nov 28, 2017 4:06 am
Where is Royman Butterwick then Garry Strydom and Xavier Rinkie? They all played in that era.
What the hell did I just read :lol: :lol:
Don’t encourage him
Cricinfo profile of the 'James Bond' of cricket:

FULL NAME: Angus James Mackay
BORN: 13 June 1967, Harare
KNOWN AS: Gus Mackay

'The' Gus Mackay.

Hero.
Sportsman.
Artist.
Player.

**
Q. VUSI SIBANDA, WHERE DO YOU HOP?

A. UNDA DA ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE*

Robbo
Posts: 141
Joined: Wed May 13, 2015 11:32 am
Supports: MidWest Rhinos

Re: Which side was better

Post by Robbo »

Interesting that Stanley Marisa is in the 2002 and 2004 sides. I've played against him a couple of times. He's playing club cricket here in England for Cove CC in Hampshire. Decent left handed bat, and a nice guy. We had him absolutely plumb first ball in one game and he went on to get a big score.

Post Reply