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I'm here to discuss an issue which I believe is hurting Zimbabwe for long.

A player of Midwest Rhinos, Remembrance Nyathi (http://www.espncricinfo.com/zimbabwe/co ... 35486.html), do you think does he add any value to the team ? What he exactly brings to the table ?

Well if we go by last season stats, I feel he shouldn't have retained a franchise contract unless he did take the club scene by storm.

In an ideal world, he would have been sent to the club cricket to score runs & take wicket to warrant selection.

From his profile, I believe he's an all rounder with batting average of 19 & 22 in FC & List A, bowling average of over 30s in both formats. Can play some shots in T20 but career T20 S/R is 106. I really don't think he's a longer format option. He's 30 years of age.

Another Midwest Rhinos player Bothwell Chapungu (http://www.espncricinfo.com/zimbabwe/co ... 55351.html) (Age 29, Batsman, FC bat ave 19, FC List A ave 12), I believe struggled all through last season and got contract on the back of a FC century & a T20 century. Just think in a domestic competition where there are 4 teams, an opener of a List A side is averaging 12 with the bat, that too after 49 matches. How we can think Brian Chari will feel pressure for not scoring enough in international ?

I think it's high time Zim should identify the under performers of the domestic cricket and stop giving them free passage. It would have been nice if that contract was given to an aspiring young all rounder who has potential.

Thoughts ?

Very good observation. Last year, I had pinpointed exactly these two guys from Rhinos and a couple of top order players from Eagles and had shared pretty much the same thoughts. Mujuru at Tuskers is another guy, but is a bit better than these two. Chapungu went on to score those two hundreds after I said that, but still had a very average season in spite of that. They are stagnant. They have most likely hit their ceiling long ago, and are not going to win you matches. This is where tough decisions have to be taken and younger and upcoming folks to be given opportunities. If that does not happen, there is no encouragement for the next rung of players to keep themselves in the game as they may never get a look in irrespective of badly the incumbents perform.

It certainly raises some questions. It would be good to see a list of the contracted players and their stats and a list of the better guys without a contract and their stats. It would be interesting to see their ages as well.
These lower contracts are barely survivable but it would seem a better option to give some players a decent travel and subsistence allowance per game rather than an actual contract.

Nyathi, Chapungu, Mpofus, Mupariwas, Mujuru,Dabengwa,Muzarawetus,are players selected based on the need to have locally born and raised players tied in with their communities. Its a key component in getting local community support and interest in the provinces that they live in the growth of the gmae. Unfortunately ZC ,Provincial associations and clubs with the exception of Takashinga have seriously failed to be visible or fully engaged in their communities. From my accounts these "average players" g are local club stalwarts and are selected on merit. This system is flawed in that contracts are awarded to guys who had contracts in the previous year which honestly in my opinion is not fair as it rewards mediocrity as highlighted by the number of middle or below par players in the FC system. The failure to have an honest exit interview at the end of each season where a players performance is assessed based on hard facts such as stats that are not biased needs tp explored. I was quite upset with the fact that one of the countries top performing bowlers Tanya Munyaradzi has the lowest contract grade is a travesty and quite disheartening to a true performer.

Another sad trend that i have observed in Manicaland is the genocide of Manica cricket where currently we expect to only see Mawoyo Chatara and Tiripano being the only pure Maincaland born and raised players being selected i feel this must be addressed and more local talent is nurtured.

gargamel wrote: Another sad trend that i have observed in Manicaland is the genocide of Manica cricket where currently we expect to only see Mawoyo Chatara and Tiripano being the only pure Maincaland born and raised players being selected i feel this must be addressed and more local talent is nurtured.

Kasuza and Sauramba don't come into this category?

Just watch and see how many games that they will play. They wont play half of they games they should.

I would have rather seen a young Mavuta play instead of Nyathi ! Cremer and Madziva could move up a spot and young Mavuta could learn a lot bowling in tandem with Cremer. The issue is the squads are not balanced look at the Rhinos having to play Nyathi and Bothwell Chapungu because they have no batting depth whilst they have the two best spinners in the country Cremer and Chisoro so youngsters Munyede and Mavuta don't get a shot. Plus they have Muzanghe, Ngarava and Possibly Panyangara on the bench. On the other hand the Eagles have a very poor bowling lineup with Muzarabani the only bowling around the national side and he is rubbish but they have so many batting options guys like Gary Chirimuutu, Gumbie, Zhuwao etc might not get a start. The Goats also have Too much talent on the benches .....

Can all you 'lets increase the domestic teams to 8+' crowd now understand?

These two are symptoms of the fact we dont have the playing depth for even 4 squads let alone more. Simpler fact is the low playing pool at all levels, so its to be expected.

Yes, these two players, as a selection issue, should have been moved on for any younger players that are talented and have made themselves available. They can come back as freelance players as depth to a franchise that may be severely injury hit orsomething.

Main issues -

Squads are unbalanced

Under 19 players like Murray, Keefe, Ives, Matigmu and Snyder aren't around or signed to any side. History shows young guys like Coventry and BRMT playing Logan cup as teenagers......

No import players any more

If the squads were better balanced, the under 19 players stuck around and English imports were spending the summer in Zimbabwe then I feel a 5-6 team comp would be ok .....

i disagree, its not about the player pool its selection
thats why most of the white guys leave too. they do
have the money to stay without getting paid like moor
and burl did but its not worth it when you are overlooked
because of dubious selections. nick welch would have
stayed @ eagles had they kept a place for him since
his debut but no they had to sideline him & now they
have mutombodzi as captain & this is a guy who cant
even make zimA. i really struggle to see where these
morons think the future is bright, a complete overhaul
is needed starting from clubs to franchises coaches
included, you can give chapungu, nyathi, handirisi etc
100 tests a year but they will never be good enough
Sad thing is i can name an unselected mash eagles side better
than they selected, or an unselected fifth franchise which can destroy
the current 4 available