Coltart slams 'disgraceful' Zimbabwe

[zimbos_05]

SPORTS Minister David Coltart has launched an astonishing attack on Zimbabwe Cricket after a shocking display by the cricket team during the just-ended tour of New Zealand.

In an amazing Twitter rant, Coltart accused Zimbabwe Cricket of failing to get its priorities right, but reserved most of his invective for the panel of selectors chaired by Givemore Makoni.

Zimbabwe’s performance on the tour had been “disgraceful”, Coltart added in a series of tweets after Zimbabwe’s 202-run defeat by the Black Cats in their third One Day International match on Thursday.

New Zealand swept the ODI series 3-0 after winning the first two test matches by 90 and 141 runs respectively.
Last month, Zimbabwe slumped to an innings and 301-run defeat in a one-off Test as the hosts made them pay for loose bowling and shoddy fielding.

“National pride is at stake, this disgraceful performance was a combination of poor selection and wrong priorities. I feel for [Brendan] Taylor who tried,” Coltart said.

“There is a need for a serious rethink in Zimbabwe Cricket. Ten support staff in New Zealand including two managers meant that specialist players were left in Zimbabwe.

“It’s top heavy. One of my broad political philosophies is a belief in small government and the same applies to administration of sports teams.”

Coltart, a huge cricket fan, questioned the non-selection of top order batsman Vusi Sibanda, who was overlooked because he had elected to play in Australia instead of signing for a local franchise.

As Zimbabwe were suffering punishing defeats in New Zealand, Sibanda was back from his Australian jaunt, leading Mid West Rhinos to impressive victories in the Coca-Cola Pro50 Championship.

“I really question the team selection,” Coltart went on. “Vusi's non-inclusion; and how could Shingi [Shingirai Masakadza] be left out after superb performances in the first two ODIs?

“Meanwhile, back at the ranch Vusi Sibanda and Gary Ballance on 140 and 115 not out speak with their bats. Imagine if they had been playing today!”

South Africa are the next team to tour New Zealand and the local media have been contemptuous of the departing Zimbabweans.
“Farewell dreadful Zimbabwe, now for a real challenge,” said a headline in the New Zealand Herald.
Columnist Adam Parore twisted the knife: “The less said about Zimbabwe the better, although I can't let their dreadful tour end without a few comments.

[zimbos_05]

Ten support staff are limiting the players we can take on tour???

sound strange to me, if this is the case, then we need to rethink. Coltart makes some valid points.

That New Zealand headline is very striking and goes straight to the heart. Even the commentators only ever talk about South Africas upcoming series.

We want to be taken seriously, we need to start playing seriously.

[Jemisi]

One of our worst tours, though funny David included Ballance in his comments

[sloandog]

I would have had Coventry in the T20 squad for certain if Coltrat is having a pop. Add Craig Ervine and Vusi Sibanda to that list in place of Matskinyeri, Chagabva and Mutizwa (who i have never rated in the slightest), and the squad automatically looks 10 times stronger.

[eugene]

I can understand losing to New Zealand because they are a better team and one of the form teams in world cricket at the moment (I wouldn't be surprised if South Africa struggle against them). What I find appalling is just how inept many things have been on this tour. We must be the worst fielding side international cricket has ever seen. We have had a reputation in the past for good fielding but I have seen nothing resembling good fielding in at least 5 years from this side, yet some continue to persist that we are a great fielding outfit.

The selections are bad. Why send Matsi? He was always going to fail. He comes out and scratches around at the crease like a chicken for a few balls and then gets out. His technique is overrated and he looks like he is on debut every time he plays. Chakabva might (i emphasize might) be an option for tests but he should be nowhere near an ODI lineup. Mutizwa is overrated and has some glaring technical deficiencies. Someone like Coventry can at least get the ball to the boundary.

The bowling has mostly been rather ineffective to downright horrible in the case of Vitori. What are our coaches doing? I have seen some question Alan Butcher's credentials, but how long do Grant Flower and Heath Streak get a free pass on their coaching?

[jimbo]

i think its a case of turning coal into solid gold in a short space of time with the bowlers as far as heath streak is concerned in the sense that vitori had little first class experience but they obviously saw something that they could work on, he has only been playing international cricket for just over 6 months so lets give people a chance aye. Streak has worked well with mpofu and his injury had obviously affected the balance of the side and masakadza junior has come on a fair bit too. lets not blame streak and flower for this retrograde step more the selectors for bringing out ancient relics like matsikenyeri out of the woodwork again and also not bringing a experienced bowler such as rainsford to mentor the other guys when mpofu got injured ( Sorry hhm have not changed my stance on payangara)

[betterdays]

Mutizwa is overrated and has some glaring technical deficiencies. Someone like Coventry can at least get the ball to the boundary.

This sounds a bit like a certain longing for past mediocrity ... Coventry flattered to deceive bar one or two performances. This has been a disastrous tour but it is against some rampant batting and away from home ... our reasonable efforts at home (the fact that we all got overexcited by beating BD is a clear indicator of where we are mentally) gave us false hope. I think selections could have been different and a slight difference made [ one or two games may have gone on for a bit longer... been a little closer] but we were never going to seriously compete with NZ ... not even with Mpofu, Vusi, Ewing or any other combination of players was going to produce a win. We abandoned the "let's compete" for a "let's try and win" and it didn't work out. Coventry will get another shot becasue ultimately we will fail more often than not but in the search for a win i expect regular changes. I think we've identified the players whose spots are fairly safe (3/4 spots) the oters? well, we'll continue to play 20-30 players a season in internationals...

[betterdays]

The bowling has mostly been rather ineffective to downright horrible in the case of Vitori.

after criticising his selection i'm going to come to his defence ... i think i can see what the coaches saw in Vitori, he's not as fast as they thought but I still like his good balls a lot (and he is still probably faster than the likes of B Strang so he could yet be a good opener). That is not a foundation to throw a guy into the international arena, it's an opportunity to develop them.

I can understand losing to New Zealand because they are a better team and one of the form teams in world cricket at the moment (I wouldn't be surprised if South Africa struggle against them).

I think NZ vs SA will be interesting ... confidence is a strange thing - Vitori was all over the B'deshis in the ODIs 'cos he felt he had their number (the NZ top order were the same against our bowlers - no respect, freedom, not too much pressure facing an attack you know will be bowling a lot of ordinary balls), when Vitori started to get hit, he has not looked the same again - with any consistency anyway. I expect it'll go along those lines when the NZ top order have to face Steyn, Philander, Morkel, Kallis (who will nopt be bowling many loose balls at all) and then Tahir (who will bowl some rubbish - but by then they'll probably be on the defensive). Basically ... I will be surprised if NZ give SA a serious scare. But i've been wrong often enough

[ZIMDOGGY]

In reference to Shingi... 'superb' is not the term I would have used

[eugene]

The bowling has mostly been rather ineffective to downright horrible in the case of Vitori.

after criticising his selection i'm going to come to his defence ... i think i can see what the coaches saw in Vitori, he's not as fast as they thought but I still like his good balls a lot (and he is still probably faster than the likes of B Strang so he could yet be a good opener). That is not a foundation to throw a guy into the international arena, it's an opportunity to develop them.

I can understand losing to New Zealand because they are a better team and one of the form teams in world cricket at the moment (I wouldn't be surprised if South Africa struggle against them).

I think NZ vs SA will be interesting ... confidence is a strange thing - Vitori was all over the B'deshis in the ODIs 'cos he felt he had their number (the NZ top order were the same against our bowlers - no respect, freedom, not too much pressure facing an attack you know will be bowling a lot of ordinary balls), when Vitori started to get hit, he has not looked the same again - with any consistency anyway. I expect it'll go along those lines when the NZ top order have to face Steyn, Philander, Morkel, Kallis (who will nopt be bowling many loose balls at all) and then Tahir (who will bowl some rubbish - but by then they'll probably be on the defensive). Basically ... I will be surprised if NZ give SA a serious scare. But i've been wrong often enough

New Zealand at home are a match for anyone.