Under 19s thread. Players and under 19 matches

[secretzimbo]

I love you guys optimism but I can't see us even getting close to Afghanistan and their bunch of heavily experienced middle aged men. They've been in camps for the past month as well and have the Asia U19's as warm-up.

[Donald]

I love you guys optimism but I can't see us even getting close to Afghanistan and their bunch of heavily experienced middle aged men. They've been in camps for the past month as well and have the Asia U19's as warm-up.

I think Zimbabwe should see it as an opportunity.
Many groups in the past we have been pitted against India and Australia. Now I'm not discounting Afghanistan will be tough but we should look at it as an outside shot at a win.
And pressure does funny things to sides.
West Indian pitches will be a lot different to what either zimbabwe or Afghanistan have experienced of late. Its who adjusts the best first

[secretzimbo]

https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/2416565

^ Other squads here. We don't seem to have submitted ours yet despite what local media have reported.

[Rajkumar Sharma]

https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/2416565

^ Other squads here. We don't seem to have submitted ours yet despite what local media have reported.

bit late

[secretzimbo]

https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/2416565

^ Other squads here. We don't seem to have submitted ours yet despite what local media have reported.

bit late

I'm not. I just choose to ignore your random threads and posts.

[Googly]

What are West Indian pitches like?

[Rajkumar Sharma]

What are West Indian pitches like?

Slow, spin friendly. Low score thrillers can be expected in high numbers, in this U19 WC

[secretzimbo]

I hear the boys possibly have 1 more practice match in Harare before flying out later this week. The flight has been delayed until boxing day which has worked out quite nicely for the lads, although I'm not sure how restricted their movements will be over christmas.

It's been less than ideal prep but at least ZC have organised loads of these matches - I think there's been about 10 now.

[Googly]

What would really help is if they had 2 or 3 warm up games against good sides. If they lump us with Somalia and Central African Republic, which is likely, then that would be poor. I'd love to see us up against India, England or West Indies. The organisers should be saying, these Zimbos will never play England again, let's at least give them a warm up charity game.
Aside from not having played against quality U19 sides, the wake up call is going to be the intensity and sledging from the opposition. If there had been a Coca Cola Week in SA in the last couple of years that would have been a help as well, those young South Africans have got a helluva lot to say and that would have also been good prep.

Our lads have literally been thrown to the wolves, it's completely unfair. Playing a dozen games over 6 months against lame pick-up sides of Div 2 club caliber is not going to cut it , they are completely ill-equipped to deal with what's coming. I watched that Namibian debacle on livestream- Saul and particularly Welch looked pretty good, better than our national guys, and what do they do- give them only 2 games? Who makes these stupid decisions? Why not- shit these kids are coping, let's play them every game. No, let's stick with 30 something year olds that we know can't. If that had been a young Madhevere he would have been played every game and been allowed to drive the bus back to the hotel. Sad fact.
I thought ZC were allocated U19 money for at least one tour? Anyway its what we've come to expect and despise.

Oh I heard from my mate this evening that young Erasmus had bad shin splints, hence not being available. Not that he was a guaranteed selection.

[secretzimbo]

What would really help is if they had 2 or 3 warm up games against good sides. If they lump us with Somalia and Central African Republic, which is likely, then that would be poor. I'd love to see us up against India, England or West Indies. The organisers should be saying, these Zimbos will never play England again, let's at least give them a warm up charity game.
Aside from not having played against quality U19 sides, the wake up call is going to be the intensity and sledging from the opposition. If there had been a Coca Cola Week in SA in the last couple of years that would have been a help as well, those young South Africans have got a helluva lot to say and that would have also been good prep.

Our lads have literally been thrown to the wolves, it's completely unfair. Playing a dozen games over 6 months against lame pick-up sides of Div 2 club caliber is not going to cut it , they are completely ill-equipped to deal with what's coming. I watched that Namibian debacle on livestream- Saul and particularly Welch looked pretty good, better than our national guys, and what do they do- give them only 2 games? Who makes these stupid decisions? Why not- shit these kids are coping, let's play them every game. No, let's stick with 30 something year olds that we know can't. If that had been a young Madhevere he would have been played every game and been allowed to drive the bus back to the hotel. Sad fact.
I thought ZC were allocated U19 money for at least one tour? Anyway its what we've come to expect and despise.

Oh I heard from my mate this evening that young Erasmus had bad shin splints, hence not being available. Not that he was a guaranteed selection.

I've hard our official warm-up fixtures are with Canada and Bangladesh unfortunately. Although remember Bangladesh were U19 champions last time out so maybe they aren't as shit as we presume straight off the bat.

I agree totally that they are very badly prepared. There was supposed to be a tour at the start of this month (only to South Africa I think) but that got canned for obvious reasons. Considering the circumstances I think ZC have done relatively well over the past 3 weeks to string together 10 matches against competitive opposition. It's really not ideal though, and you're right it will show next month unfortunately.

Thats interesting on Erasmus. I was under the impression he hadn't played any cricket for a year or two? If the only reason he was unavailable is shin splints then thats promising for the future if he is still interested. Natural talent.