Zimbabwe’s ‘Emerging’ Squad Mirage: Experienced Players Eclipse Future Stars, Stalling Cricket’s Progress

[secretzimbo]

Chakaora chinhu ichi! Those that think im 8000 miles away are dreaming in just 20m away from ZC. I wake up overlooking HSC

Maybe you are visiting right now, but generally, no you bloody don't And I can't believe you haven't worked out who I am yet but it's hilarious.

[secretzimbo]

They absolutely have left it too late. It's about damage control now.
As long as we are vaguely competitive at International level we will limp along but we are constantly losing ground.
It's almost a case of closing the stable door after the horse has bolted tragically.
They've made great strides with club and NPL and franchise the last double of years has been good, but we have mostly the same small player pool of journeymen cricketers (at best).
They have to make these guys better. Better pre-season prep is key. But if you only pay them pittance for 4 months of the year how do you expect them to give it their best shot?? Most can't even afford to hire an indoor net for an hour, let alone pay a guy to throw.

The years of prior mismanagement and dire economy has meant that the school cricket has imploded.
The white kids have always been the nucleus of our cricket which ZC spitefully ignored and abused for years and now as a group they've rightfully lost interest. I honestly have no idea how that gets resurrected. Getting to a couple of world cups and winning a couple of games would have been the catalyst we desperately need. Eeish is all I can say to that. Desperately close twice.

Government school cricket is dead and buried. Churchill, St George's and PE used to roll out some half decent sides and the reality was that it was a competitive thing against the perceived "white" schools, but now they've lost interest government school cricket has collapsed entirely. Do you recall the story of Churchill once fielding about 5 professional men players in the George's T20 and still getting well beaten They've got cheating thieving headmasters for fuck's sake. How are they going to do anything meaningful???? Not one member of the parent body will so much as donate a cake, fix a mower, donate diesel etc etc etc etc
Much of the interest was an end of year tour to SA and the kudos of playing Zim age group, especially Partridges!!
If you played Partridges you were somebody!!
ZC are going to have to try and resurrect this. If they make the same mistake of not picking deserving white kids it is highly unlikely to work, but repeating the same mistakes and hoping for a different outcome is what Zim is world class at.
ZC had the stance that they can't fund everything, which is true, but they need to think of something or we're down to about 4 high schools playing mediocre cricket.
Minister Coventry could of course do something if she went to work once a month. Happy to attend the T10 and make all the right noises in her American accent. Let's hope we at least see the back of her after these elections.

A lot of sense here.
I don't think it's necessarily 'too late' though. If they keep up the recent trajectory for another 5 years then we might start getting somewhere. Good stuff is happening - albeit it at a slow pace - but it needs to continue in the same direction for quite a while probably before we see real results.

Unfortunately we will suffer from the aftermath of the past twenty years for a long time to come.

The state of the country doesn't help. Past or present. Strapping myself in for the week ahead anyway. You are right that the back of Coventry is the least we can ask for

[secretzimbo]

For some reason he didn't get any fc exposure for years, and for sure has not much experience but he's quality.

So if people/authorities had cricketing brains he should have been on this tour. The concept of 'emerging' is to sift through untapped talent and nurture it. Im sure if he was exposed during this tour we would have something to work with for the next 24 months with a view to get him ready for national duty when he turns 27 since he is 24.

Your cricketing brain told you that Gary Ballance had to prove himself in the Logan Cup right ? fuck outta her with that bullshit. You are 1 very bitter man. CSA would have never hosted whatever ever imaginary squad you have in your head.

Top post

[jontym87]

Chakaora chinhu ichi! Those that think im 8000 miles away are dreaming in just 20m away from ZC. I wake up overlooking HSC

Maybe you are visiting right now, but generally, no you bloody don't And I can't believe you haven't worked out who I am yet but it's hilarious.

I dont give a fuck who the hell you are. Will not waste time in trying to find out either.

[Googly]

Let's wait and see how long before they start announcing results. If its going to kick off that's when it will happen.
I'm amazed at how many EU observers that are here.
I'm sure it's pre-planned to rubber stamp or else Zanu would have refused them and stuck with the SADCC guys. Zanu not popular in SA or Zambia anymore. The old guard is slowly being replaced, we're the last country in the region that is full of octogenarians.

[Googly]

That Chamisa rally at Freedom Square or Robert Mugabe Square (depending on who you support) was huge. That must have annoyed the incumbents having to restrain themselves from wading in.
I've never understood why anyone would attend a rally of any description. In the hot sun listening to nonsense for a tee shirt or a burger and wondering why the buses have left you stranded

[jontym87]

Let's wait and see how long before they start announcing results. If its going to kick off that's when it will happen.
I'm amazed at how many EU observers that are here.
I'm sure it's pre-planned to rubber stamp or else Zanu would have refused them and stuck with the SADCC guys. Zanu not popular in SA or Zambia anymore. The old guard is slowly being replaced, we're the last country in the region that is full of octogenarians.

Its going to be an interesting week thats what i can tell you. There is an interesting tweet i saw and i quote it here "They might not speak but their views will be known. I don’t like it when they are too quiet, it worries me. Maybe they know when to talk and when to ACT."

All is not well in the shack shack building anyways let me stick to cricket politics in not my cup of tea.

[jontym87]

That Chamisa rally at Freedom Square or Robert Mugabe Square (depending on who you support) was huge. That must have annoyed the incumbents having to restrain themselves from wading in.
I've never understood why anyone would attend a rally of any description. In the hot sun listening to nonsense for a tee shirt or a burger and wondering why the buses have left you stranded

Its funny how during covid they couldn't provide a 50c mask, citizens were left to sort themselves out. Now election time you get chicken, a zambia, t shirt, cap and pepsi. Talk about misplaced priorities. This filters down to sport

[Pat_Bee]

Chamisa Cricket Club will be just as shady lol. Old Nelson will say he won’t be but once he gets a sniff of that ICC funding coming into Salisbury Sports Club he’ll be bought for a price.

There’s some very sensible posts up thread regarding the future of ZC and some dross. It’s all good.

[secretzimbo]

Chamisa Cricket Club will be just as shady lol. Old Nelson will say he won’t be but once he gets a sniff of that ICC funding coming into Salisbury Sports Club he’ll be bought for a price.

I woudn't worry. I think there's more chance of Jonty becoming president, sadly.

You're right this CCC lot would probably be pretty shit too. But still, we live in hope!

It would all be worth it just to see the faces of Zanu if they lost. Promised my Grandad on his death bed that I'd have the party of my life for him if those thieving bastards ever end up out on their backsides. Possibly whilst driving past the land they stole off him at gunpoint hey.