SPORT
Zimbabwe’s unburdened youngsters could turn cricket fortunes around
BY THREE MEN ON A BOAT · 5 JANUARY, 2016
Unperturbed by the incompetence of those who wear shirts and ties off the field and are misguided in their belief that paying lip service to the Minister of sport constitutes a day’s work, the young guard in the Zimbabwe Cricket national team is starting to demonstrate the duty of care and passion expected of a national outfit.
Doubtless, Zimbabwe will be relieved that they have levelled the series at two all against Afghanistan and one hopes they don’t do it again, falling short in the critical hour. It is a demon in need of death.
The country’s second generation of players is setting about the task of building a side strong enough to challenge the world and accordingly they deserve high praise while it lasts.
As far as can be told, conditions in Sharjah have forced Zimbabwe to shift from a side that at best is conservative to the extent of opting to field first each time the coin goes up, to a side that is brave enough to put runs on the board first only to suffocate the opposition under the duress of scoreboard pressure.
Peter John Moor has been a breath of fresh air at the top of the order and despite his two half centuries of the tour so far, he will be the first one to admit that he would like to convert his starts into big hundreds.
Patronized in his early days during that disastrous Bangladesh tour under the tutelage of the larger than life Stephen Mangongo, Moor has since tightened his technique and his fearless stroke play has played a key role in taking the sting out of Afghanistan, a team that is at its most dangerous when their tails are up.
Luke Jongwe has continued in his meteoritic rise from promise to fulfillment. With the series on the line at two-nil, Jongwe single-handedly master-minded Afghanistan’s demise with an inspired five-wicket haul. It is easy to forget the boy is still only 20-years old given the way he wears his heart on his sleeve each time he puts the red and yellow.
Jongwe’s exuberance of youth and zest has managed to drag Neville Madziva and Tendai Chisoro along and the two have obliged with critical performances. Graeme Cremer the exponent of leg spin, a dying art, has also offered support, first bagging a fiver in a losing cause before being involved in a vital partnership with Hamilton Masakadza that resurrected the Zimbabwe’s innings in the third ODI.
To think the knives were out when Cremer was recalled straight back into the fold after a two year absence tells of the wisdom of those that made the tough but necessary decision to re-engage a never-say-die character to national duty.
Hamilton Masakadza is playing like a man who knows that each game he plays could be his last. At age 32 and no stranger to omissions and call-ups, he is proving yet again that his runs are almost always needed. Such is the level of expectancy in his batting skills that inevitably after a dry period without runs he is the first to get the chop as if to say the team is losing as a result.
In many ways Chamu Chibhabha has gate-crashed his way into the team during this series after initially being deemed surplus to requirements in the earlier encounters. Seemingly Chibhabha saves his best performances for when he is playing for his spot in the side, and when his side needed him the most he produced vital runs and wickets to force a decider on Wednesday.
It remains to be seen whether this fight continues against an opponent Zimbabwe is by and large expected to be streets ahead of.
Although it is premature to describe the team as a finished article, certainly in the last two outings the boys have admirably combined skill, commitment, intelligence and confidence. It’s been a job right well done.
Looking at some recent scorecards Zim born youngsters angus Curtis and Ainsley Ndlovu have had a game for the dolphins cubs side and KZN Inv XI respectively in South Africa over the past week. Obviously not that enthusiastic about Zims future!
The side needs a couple of additions and omissions in my opinion; Waller needs to go, Burl needs to come in.
Mutumbami needs to go and Gumbie needs to be given a chance, if not as a keeper than as a batter.
Muzarabani needs to, for good, and we need to bring in a younger quick bowler. Musoko would be great.
With the inclusion of Sean Williams it could be a decent side going forward (for a couple of years before ZC folds).
sloandog wrote:The side needs a couple of additions and omissions in my opinion; Waller needs to go, Burl needs to come in.
Mutumbami needs to go and Gumbie needs to be given a chance, if not as a keeper than as a batter.
Muzarabani needs to, for good, and we need to bring in a younger quick bowler. Musoko would be great.
With the inclusion of Sean Williams it could be a decent side going forward (for a couple of years before ZC folds).
With the new ball, Madziva looks quite deadly. Ok, he's only bowling against the Afghans unstable batting lineup, but deliveries like that yorker he bowled at Noor Ali would have got a lot of good batters out. He bowls between 82-84Mph with the new pill, and averages around 80-81clicks with the old ball.
What's good is that he's all arms and legs, as in he runs in and looks quite confusing where and when the ball will be delivered - our bit of unorthodox. And of course, he can wallop a few, not to mention he has a big heart. Him and Jongwe have been a real breathe of fresh air with the ball. Kinda reminds me of the banter Price and Bobby used to have, as in their wicket dance - Madziva and Jongwe have that Zimbabwean flavor about them.
Yeah Jongwe and Madziva can be great contributors to the ODI side for many years to come as you mentioned they can bat, bowl and have passion. Even now I still look at Madziva bowl and I can't see anything too special but the fact is he has 18 wickets in 10 ODI's ( 11 in 5 since WC ) which shows he is a genuine wicket taker, doesn't matter how you take them as long as you take them. Jongwe seems more suited to bowling first change so hopefully we can get Chatara back on the pitch to take the new ball with Neville and Luke bowling change .....
I see no reason we should even consider bringing back Mpofu, Muzarabani, Mupariwa or even Tinahse ( maybe Tinashe can stay ) now that we have these guys putting their hands up ......
jaybro wrote:Yeah Jongwe and Madziva can be great contributors to the ODI side for many years to come as you mentioned they can bat, bowl and have passion. Even now I still look at Madziva bowl and I can't see anything too special but the fact is he has 18 wickets in 10 ODI's ( 11 in 5 since WC ) which shows he is a genuine wicket taker, doesn't matter how you take them as long as you take them. Jongwe seems more suited to bowling first change so hopefully we can get Chatara back on the pitch to take the new ball with Neville and Luke bowling change .....
I see no reason we should even consider bringing back Mpofu, Muzarabani, Mupariwa or even Tinahse ( maybe Tinashe can stay ) now that we have these guys putting their hands up ......
I say keep Panyangara. He has the control needed up front to partner somebody like Madziva, but if and when Chatara comes back his place could and should be in question. Keep bringing in the younger guys
