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

[zimbos_05]

Gone through some of the posts. secret is right, the problems are deep and the system is corrupt to the core.

One thing I suggest is that if you play your best XI of younger players with potential, at least they will learn and eventually do well.

Ervine, Williams, Raza, Brendan (I couldn't believe he is back as a player) are all past their prime, and it's a waste if they are going to be dragged on until 2027. Now Cremer's name is also popping up who left the team when they needed him the most but for some fucking reason wants to make a comeback now. Should never be taken back.

How can Ben Curran be dropped for Taylor? One player is the future and the other is playing just to drag his career and has no future. It's plain stupid.

Welch has been a failure, replace him with other youngsters... Jono Campbell, Matt Welch, Naqvi (if this guy could ever qualify) , Evans, get Higgins if you can, what happened to Patel get him in if he is good, Bawa may be and then at least these guys would learn and team will slowly improve.

I mean they need to start at some point..2027 WC will be a disaster for Zimbabwe of they are going to field a team of seven 40 year olds..

It's not about black

How can you say Welch has been a failure after only 7 tests and no ODIs, yet someone like Wes keeps getting picked despite constantly failing.

I'm not saying that either needs to be discarded with, but this is part of the problem. We throw kids in and expect miracles, and when it doesn't work out, we want to discard them.

There's no clear system for development and improvement. They are not going to a structure that works on their weaknesses to improve them, but rather just discarding them to a domestic system that is weak, so they do well and they get a call up again hoping things are fixed.

We don't have a proper academy. Nothing was invested in after the last one was burnt down. We need a proper restructure focus, but with the guys in charge, we won't get that. Chop and change needs to be done away with and constantly wanting this player, giving them a game, then swapping them.

I know I probably sound contradictory as I've been demanding Wes be dropped for some time, but I'm not saying he is a failure. I'm saying he needs to be nurtured and developed properly, not just thrown it at the deep end and expected to do miracles, and then discarded when he doesn't.

[Googly]

I personally dont know the guy, but his wife got a job at Emirates. I don't know whether she ended up as a captain or not, but as a family you make a choice that best suits the family.
It would have been a lot better paid, less "tax" implications.
I dont know why theyre back because as an Emirates captain you do your time and you have retirement money.

So a First Officer in Emirates earns more than a senior international cricket captain. We know that ball throwers at the Hub earn double what quite a few of our international cricketers get.

Its only an elite sport if you're getting paid "elitely"
Someone should make public every cricketer's salary from franchise and up, plus all the administrators, secretaries, coaches, Frank, etc etc and we can decide who's "elite"
It would be an absolutely shocking exposé.

Good cricketers have a 10-15 year window to make some money. Its not happening here. The pointy shoes guys have cars, houses, stadiums, B&B's, conference centres, free business class travel.

There is not a cricketer here who wouldn't have done what he's done. Money is an issue if you don't have it.

Couple that with the politics, selections and other shenanigans he was faced with on a daily basis and its not hard to see anyone just thinking fukkit. Its a lot easier for a black captain to swallow what goes on, you just tow the line and you end up where Hamilton and Elton are, absolutely zero self respect or conscience, but the family is taken care of. Its even Stockholm Syndrome- you're subjected to the same problems as a player and then miraculously buy into it.

[Googly]

That ZC academy that ZC funded was rebuilt by ZC, but unfortunately Mr Bvute now owns it and its now a very lucrative wedding venue. Theres a nice 18 hole golf course attached and a quality clubhouse as well. The green keeper gets flown in from SA periodically. I think sub division has been approved and houses and offices are going up
Millions and millions of dollars' worth.
Somehow that entire shenanigan escaped scrutiny

[CalZim]

Everyone keeps criticising Craig but his batting average is the second best behind Williams.

The only change I’d say is for him to step aside from captaincy. Which will probably take the pressure off him and his batting will improve.

In terms of changes to the best 11 I wouldn’t actually change that much:

Curran our best opening partnerships have been these 2 together
Bennett has dipped in form but is still the future of Zim
Welch just needs to find some consistency, when it’s on he looks class
Williams a cert in the 11
Taylor a cert in the 11 but I don’t think he should be opening
Ervine I would stick with him as a batsmen only
Raza give him the captaincy and he will play every test will find form with the bat and can take the frontline spinner role
Tsiga Craig was right in his interview, full of energy and kept everybody motivated despite the shit on the field, his keeping was good and he is capable with the bat, we don’t have any other keepers as well
Evans the major change to the 11, we all want to see him back in the 11
Blessing A cert in the 11 but we need to give him a rest now and again maybe during the limited overs legs
Ngarava he is our 2nd best bowler just needs to find his rhythm in test cricket

I have said before we need an 8-3 lineup to try and get as many runs as possible, Raza is capable of most of the leg work with the ball plus you have Bennett and Williams to support.

Squad players should be
Matigimu - he wasn’t given much of a chance with the 1 game needs more opportunities
Chivanga - has something when he is on it but sometimes goes flat
Mayavo - Best keeper in the country, you could argue picking a younger keeper for backup but nobody is ready yet will see who comes through.
Madhevere - he has something much potential, frustrating how it hasn’t come off but we can’t give up on him.
Masakesa - in the squad ready for Asian wickets, best spin option but not for wickets that don’t suit.

[Googly]

The last person we need as captain is Raza. The absolute last. The players dont take to him and his idea of who's a good player or not depends on many other things, the least of which is whether he's actually a good player or not.

[Googly]

Ya thats a good team. Taylor can captain? I'm all for Craig in two formats. If we keep bottling the front end and back end of T20's with poor selections he should also be in T20.

[secretzimbo]

I see ZC have now turned on Dirk Viljoen. That was a matter of time and always going to end badly.

[secretzimbo]

As usual the discussion here has turned to selection.

Ya we could have selected a couple of different players and we can keep tinkering but we’d still have been absolutely miles off the pace and not even close to competing this week.

We’ve largely been having the same discussions for two decades now.

[zimbos_05]

I see ZC have now turned on Dirk Viljoen. That was a matter of time and always going to end badly.

Care to elaborate on this.

Raza should not be captain. We need to think ahead, not making the same mistakes. Raza also chooses when he wants to play, can't allow that. Need to look at someone like Bennett, or Campbell.

[Googly]

I see ZC have now turned on Dirk Viljoen. That was a matter of time and always going to end badly.

What are they saying about him? That he's part of the Cabal?
That he's been bought with Sogo fuel coupons? Or worse?