Zimbabwe vs New Zealand | Test Series | Second Test | 07 August 2025 - 11 August 2025

[jontym87]

I’m old enough to remember when two weeks ago you pretended you had inside info and that Taylor ‘categorically’ Will NOT play in the Test series.

There was no plan whatsover to play Taylor in that Test Match. A decision was only made on the eve after Ben had some 'issues'. I can tell you right now that there is something thats being pushed and you will see Taylor as a global ambassador of something in cricket led by ICC

[jontym87]

We just cant afford to rock the leaking canoe.

Unfortunately, sadly, this is absolutely correct. Sums up exactly where I am with it all too.

Im ready to risk killing it after the 27 WC to fix it.

What is the point otherwise, as a fan?

Let the organisation die if it doesn't get better.

Something new and grassroots may emerge from the ashes, or not, but after the big 3/4 go I cant be bothered anymore personally.

If you don't start the plan now in 2025 you have missed the boat. Start now and execute in 2028 you will win. You need 20 individuals to just place within clubs.

[Googly]

Basically the stuff secret and googly have been screaming in the past decade here. You cannot fix the problems of ZC without former cricketers who actually care. Simple!

Former players who actually cares? You do not know how much Alistair Campbell destroyed ZC during his short reign. Not all of them have good intentions. The defacto Director of Cricket right now is Dirk Viljoen but no one talks about it.

Well it was Givemore, but he quickly realised he'd cop some heat if we failed to qualify so stepped back into some new fancy role and Hammy became the fall guy. He dutifully resigned after the next failure and got some new fancy promotion as well with lots of time for golf.
Dirk stepped into the breech and is it time up for him now or do we wait for the white ball clubbing in 2 weeks time? No fancy sideways and upwards new role for him, he's going to be working shifts at a Sogo garage. Next is Tino. He will box smart and possibly manage to hang on if we fail to qualify.
Or they'll just wait and hang Dirk out for that so Tino starts with a clean slate.

If you've got the V11's on Kamba spill them, and we know you have V11's on everyone, past snd present. You'll get VIP tickets for the Presidential Box and you can post selfies sipping Green Label with the lads. You could get Tino's commentary slot.

[Googly]

I’m old enough to remember when two weeks ago you pretended you had inside info and that Taylor ‘categorically’ Will NOT play in the Test series.

There was no plan whatsover to play Taylor in that Test Match. A decision was only made on the eve after Ben had some 'issues'. I can tell you right now that there is something thats being pushed and you will see Taylor as a global ambassador of something in cricket led by ICC

What "issues," bud? Ya you could well be right.

[jontym87]

Basically the stuff secret and googly have been screaming in the past decade here. You cannot fix the problems of ZC without former cricketers who actually care. Simple!

Former players who actually cares? You do not know how much Alistair Campbell destroyed ZC during his short reign. Not all of them have good intentions. The defacto Director of Cricket right now is Dirk Viljoen but no one talks about it.

Well it was Givemore, but he quickly realised he'd cop some heat if we failed to qualify so stepped back into some new fancy role and Hammy became the fall guy. He dutifully resigned after the next failure and got some new fancy promotion as well with lots of time for golf.
Dirk stepped into the breech and is it time up for him now or do we wait for the white ball clubbing in 2 weeks time? No fancy sideways and upwards new role for him, he's going to be working shifts at a Sogo garage. Next is Tino. He will box smart and possibly manage to hang on if we fail to qualify.
Or they'll just wait and hang Dirk out for that so Tino starts with a clean slate.

If you've got the V11's on Kamba spill them, and we know you have V11's on everyone, past snd present. You'll get VIP tickets for the Presidential Box and you can post selfies sipping Green Label with the lads. You could get Tino's commentary slot.

I never get any VIP tickets to Presidential Box, I am properly accredited by ECB to attend these matches. I have my 2025 Accreditation and on the portal i just go and pick International matches or days i want to attend and will be in the media center.

Its no secret what Kamba did its there for all to see. Ok things that are not a secret, he got rid of all foreign franchise coaches and franchise teams had no budgets to hire foreign players to strengthen their teams and ultimately make the domestic setup competitive. Lets not talk about how he was forcing an injured player on Mash Eagles so that he can pick the player for a tour to Windies. What happened we didnt pick the player and missed the StanbicT20 but got picked up for National Team and upon arriving in West Indies worsened the injury. That Fracas cost Spooner the job to be national team coach ahead of Butcher.

Are we going to talk about he reduced allowances of Professional Franchise players from $100 to $20 for no reason a move he couldn't even explain

[zimbos_05]

Firstly, you don't wait to start projects, the next best time after yesterday is today, not tomorrow. We can't wait till after the world cup.

Secondly, it doesn't matter who is in positions, we all know that Mukhulnai and Makoni are running things. If Dirk wants anything, he needs permission from them. No chance is he getting support for anything unless they sign off on it. So in essence, he can't do his job. We know they will play favourites and give their mates what they need, but not give everyone what they need.

Until Mukhulani and Makoni are gone, nothing will change. They keep a white guy around so they have someone as their fall guy and can play the 'Rhodesia racism' card

jonty - as much as I appreciate your insight, you are kind of doing the same thing that ZC does. You are now playing AC. I have no idea to the inside of things and you may be right, but you continually bringing it up and bringing up this past doesn't solve anything.

[Googly]

Former players who actually cares? You do not know how much Alistair Campbell destroyed ZC during his short reign. Not all of them have good intentions. The defacto Director of Cricket right now is Dirk Viljoen but no one talks about it.

Well it was Givemore, but he quickly realised he'd cop some heat if we failed to qualify so stepped back into some new fancy role and Hammy became the fall guy. He dutifully resigned after the next failure and got some new fancy promotion as well with lots of time for golf.
Dirk stepped into the breech and is it time up for him now or do we wait for the white ball clubbing in 2 weeks time? No fancy sideways and upwards new role for him, he's going to be working shifts at a Sogo garage. Next is Tino. He will box smart and possibly manage to hang on if we fail to qualify.
Or they'll just wait and hang Dirk out for that so Tino starts with a clean slate.

If you've got the V11's on Kamba spill them, and we know you have V11's on everyone, past snd present. You'll get VIP tickets for the Presidential Box and you can post selfies sipping Green Label with the lads. You could get Tino's commentary slot.

I never get any VIP tickets to Presidential Box, I am properly accredited by ECB to attend these matches. I have my 2025 Accreditation and on the portal i just go and pick International matches or days i want to attend and will be in the media center.

Its no secret what Kamba did its there for all to see. Ok things that are not a secret, he got rid of all foreign franchise coaches and franchise teams had no budgets to hire foreign players to strengthen their teams and ultimately make the domestic setup competitive. Lets not talk about how he was forcing an injured player on Mash Eagles so that he can pick the player for a tour to Windies. What happened we didnt pick the player and missed the StanbicT20 but got picked up for National Team and upon arriving in West Indies worsened the injury. That Fracas cost Spooner the job to be national team coach ahead of Butcher.

Are we going to talk about he reduced allowances of Professional Franchise players from $100 to $20 for no reason a move he couldn't even explain

The overseas coaches and players must have been expensive. Gillespie was a great guy and wanted to stay. That was a grave error not making him an honorary Zimbabwean.

With more than double the budget, if it is the good idea you say, they could do it again, and increase the players' allowances, its not too late.
Taking a guy you rate on tour is done all the time. Who was it?

What they should be doing is giving the top 30 guys a living wage. Problem is who decides who the top 30 are.

I remember that T20 comp (which we really need now!!) with Gayle and Lara being an expensive flop.
He got some good players here and it tanked and no-one watched. What could be money well spent is to pay people 2 dollars at the gate to come and watch so it looks even more like people love cricket. I mean like Castle Corner, but ramp it up a bit. They wouldn't then have to pay the chair leader a lump sum which he does not distrubute fairly.

Giving franchises a budget so they're pseudo independent was a great idea but only Mountaineers under the Brent's and Rhinos under...can't remember their names Ziehl was one of them, managed to not steal all the money Dont you recall Mountaineers being so well run that it proved to be far too embarrassing and Mr Makoni had to go and take over?
There's a theme there. Mangongo went to Mountaineers and shook the stagnant status quo and he too got his marching orders. I'm guessing Mr Makoni is a Manyika?

[Googly]

And they bulleted PJ recently, he was helping with money for the young guys to come and practice. Its not like we are flush with international batsmen who can raise the standard and not only dont want money, they're willing to give money.
Clearly money is not an issue.

[Googly]

The fact is that 90% dont really to play organised, well run, franchise cricket. They dont want pre-season training, they dont want fitness training. They want to pitch up a couple of hours before a game and play a game where they don't get shown up too badly, scoop their $30 bucks and head back to Harare.
You put SOGO in the mix with full sponsorship, quality players who want to win, they get to pick their own team and not get sent a team list from Head Office, and there will be dozens of glum faces.

If theyr'e serious about turning things around a SOGO franchise would really boost the standard and interest. The only thing that would really slow SOGO down will be hostile umpiring. Its coming for them at club level.

[Googly]

Actually thats a bit unfair. The lack of interest is the lack of money. Tough to be professional when they give you enough money to last the first half of the first week of the month.