Zimbabwe vs NZ| 4th T20| Harare 24 July 2025

[Googly]

Ya that didnt look out.
Game is gone. Burl will pat it around for as long as he can and cement his spot and Toni needs a run a ball 20.

[Googly]

Sorry Burly. He had to go for that, it was on.
Right we have our two untested finishers. Couldn't be scripted better. Plenty of overs to see if they can play.

[Googly]

Is anyone else's ZCF freezing all the time?

Santner just tossing it up to induce the mistake from Munyonga. Bombed a couple of good ones. Doesn't really move his feet much.

Santner again bowling that slightly quicker ball angling into leg to Musekiwa that he keeps having to dink for one. If he could sweep that or slog it he'd not keep bowling it.

Too big an ask to go at 12's for this many overs so they've not had to go hard, just wait for the bad ball and get a personal score.

Its a pity because they need to be tested.

[Pat_Bee]

Ya, mine has been like our performance today

[CholeZimbo]

In trying to prove that Wes is a good player, they have may have actually ruined his career. At this point no one, including him, knows where he bats, what format he plays, whether he is an all rounder or not. If they are not careful, they are doing the same to Myers.

They simply have to have their buckets right.

- The top 3s in the country. Players who in all formats and at any level in the country play in this position. At all levels coaches should assess and train them to adjust and develop their game to bat in the top 3 for the national team.

The upper middle orders. Players who can bat 4 and 5 across the country. More of the consolidators. At all levels these folk should have such a mentality (maybe a bit different for t20s). The ability to construct an innings and bat for long. That is what you should be selected for and that is what you do in domestic cricket.

Lower middle. Number 6s. Could play at 4 and 5 but these are guys who can bat deep with the tail. Reading the game, farming the strike etc.

Number 7. A keeper in tests. In tests, this is a guy who errs towards being a batsman whilst being an above average keeper. Again, this is where the player should play in first class. Be built to be this guy if selected for Zim.

In white ball cricket, this is an all rounder, a finisher, power hitter. Also chipping in with wickets/good economy. Again, you have to be this guy locally as well. Your cricket career is to be that guy. Elton Chigumburu/Blignault type.

Lower order. Number 8 has to be a bowling all rounder. It should be like jobs in a company. You develop your education for certain roles. If the domestic circuit knows there’s a need for such players in the national, some players will have the incentive to adjust their game. Think of a Donald Tiripano back in the day.

9-11. The bowlers. Again, they should not be allowed to have a defeatist mindset. You get in there and apply yourself and fight till the end. Not just wild slogging that we get to see.


The reason I say this goes to my point earlier about Wessly. By now everyone should know which bucket he fits in and what is expected of him. Whether it’s for Eagles, or Zim or wherever else he plays, it should be known that he is say, a number 4. He competes with other 4s or 5s for national selection. Even if he outscores the top 3s locally and is not better than other 4s and 5s, he shouldn’t be selected.

Because after so many years, selecting Madame to play at 3 is just baffling and goes to show that they don’t follow the criteria above.

[CholeZimbo]

Refind AI version of my thoughts


⸻

In their attempt to prove that Wessly is a talented cricketer, they may have inadvertently derailed his career. At this stage, even he likely doesn’t know what role he plays: where he bats, which format he excels in, or whether he’s genuinely considered an all-rounder. If they’re not careful, they risk doing the same to Myers.

What’s needed is a clear and disciplined structure — or “buckets” — for player roles. These should guide both selection and development across all levels of cricket in the country.

⸻

Role-Based Structure for Selection & Development:

1. Top 3 Batters (Positions 1–3):
These are specialist openers and top-order batters — players who consistently bat in the top three at all levels and across all formats. Coaches should groom them specifically for this role, teaching them how to adapt their games to meet international demands as top-order anchors.

2. Upper Middle Order (Positions 4 & 5):
These players are your consolidators. They need to be able to absorb pressure, construct an innings, and bat for extended periods — particularly in Tests and ODIs. Selection should be based on how well they fulfill this role domestically. Even in T20s, their mindset should reflect control and adaptability.

3. Lower Middle Order (Position 6):
These players should have the skills to bat at 4 or 5 but also the intelligence to navigate lower-order situations — rotating strike, managing the tail, and reading the game in its later stages. It’s a specialist role requiring clear intent and game awareness.

4. Number 7:
• In Tests: This is a wicketkeeper who leans towards being a genuine batter — someone who is at least a top-six quality batter but also an above-average keeper. Whoever plays this role in the national team should be doing the same consistently in first-class cricket.
• In white-ball formats: This slot belongs to the finisher — a dynamic all-rounder or power-hitter who can close out games and chip in with economical or wicket-taking bowling. Think of the Elton Chigumbura or Blignaut mold. Again, this role must be cultivated locally, not improvised at the top level.

5. Number 8:
A bowling all-rounder — someone who offers full value with the ball but can also contribute vital runs. Just like professional roles in a company, players should know that this is a defined national need and shape their game accordingly. Think of a Donald Tiripano-type in his prime.

6. Numbers 9–11 (Specialist Bowlers):
These players must not adopt a defeatist mindset. Tail-enders should be expected to show resilience, apply themselves, and support the team cause — not just swing blindly. Lower-order batting discipline should be non-negotiable.

⸻

Why This Matters – Back to Wessly:

This structured approach is exactly what’s lacking in Wessly’s case. By now, he should have a clearly defined role. If, for example, he is considered a number 4, that should be consistent — at domestic and national level — and he should be evaluated against other number 4s. Even if he scores more runs than an opener locally, if he’s not better than the other 4s, he should not be selected for a role he doesn’t play.

Which is why, after all these years, selecting Madhevere to bat at number 3 remains baffling. It reflects a failure to follow any structured framework for player roles and development.

⸻

[Andybligzz]

I honestly can’t watch this current zim t20 side, it’s utterly embarrassing. I’ve watched us since I was 9, and stood by no matter what. I watch only to see Bennett bat now as he’s the only player that is capable of putting up a fight. The fact our best players are about to retire, we said this 5 years ago, is scary. I follow the domestic comps as well and love the spirit of our cricket history. But we are so far behind in the t20 game I don’t think we have a future in it. I’m not going to discuss colour but I am sick and tired of these selections and extra games handed out because of stupid egos and dare I say it “ past “ issues being brought into our great sport. It’s a f’cking shame watching something you love destroying itself. Pick our best players, pay what we have to lure talent home, because this shit is killing me and the fans.If we had a bunch of kids trying their guts out and you could see the talent and have hope I’d be fine. But we are repeating the same idiotic decisions and expecting something to magically change.these guys we were told are the future and they are better than certain other players who I won’t say, well they were wrong and now we have nothing besides Bennett coming through, we are fuckd. BT at 39, will never say no to him, how could I. But talk about a Band-Aid on open wound job, the teams you watch in icc qualifiers do this. They have not enough talent and bring back retired legends because they have to, we all love that. But I didn’t think we would ever get this bad. What is the future ? No one is getting sacked besides the non Zimbabwean coach for trying to make jam out of shit. Something has to change quickly, but I’ve had this hope since the rebel days. Is Stuart matsikenyeri keen on a game ?

[Googly]

Which AI are u using?
Thats a pretty good synopsis.

[TapsC2]

Well one thing ZC has done is getting me interested in the longer formats because of how terrible the T20 team is. At least we get some ODIs against Sri Lanka too. Lost interest a week ago.

Watched some of the batting. Dion looked okay but what actually messed him up was Bennett getting out early and Clive offering nothing as usual. Made him take a risk. I'm surprised they didn't try switch Clive with Tony. Feel for Musekiwa as well because I can see BT taking his place and them shifting the order.

Saw a bit of Maphosa as well. There is a player there. Something to work with. I get why he is getting selected but surely some of the guys like Maphosa, Newman and Masekesa are better off on the UK tour where they can actually develop without all this pressure.

[TapsC2]

One day we will talk about the different skills needed for you to be a performance coach versus a being head coach. He isn't the root cause but there is.just something tactically missing in his approach. It's hard to explain but I'm failing to see how his strategies will help us achieve any of our goals. You can see in press conferences he doesn't like being asked direct questions as well.