2022 U19 World Cup Thread

[ZIMDOGGY]

If this covid scam ever ends and we manage to get a county side here for their pre-season prep we will be able to test that statement.

heres a question,
how does the zim national side go against a mid range county team?

[secretzimbo]

Googly, we are playing Bangladesh and Canada as well. They are the ICC-organised warm ups

The Ireland matches are an extra.

[secretzimbo]

If this covid scam ever ends and we manage to get a county side here for their pre-season prep we will be able to test that statement.

heres a question,
how does the zim national side go against a mid range county team?

Depends if it’s in England or in Harare. We might do quite well at home if none of those county players have any overseas experience.

[ZIMDOGGY]

If this covid scam ever ends and we manage to get a county side here for their pre-season prep we will be able to test that statement.

heres a question,
how does the zim national side go against a mid range county team?

Depends if it’s in England or in Harare. We might do quite well at home if none of those county players have any overseas experience.

itll be a race to the bottom of low batting scores. Ervine and willo score big its a win.

[Googly]

I think you have to ask the guys that have played both here and there- BT and Blessing are the two most recent guys.
I think you'd get two different answers though. Houghton would probably give you the most unbiased answer.
If you just take the number of players available to counties, the number of games they play, the standard of opposition, what they get paid and their levels of preparation and professionalism we are well behind. In addition to that our best bowler and our best batsman had their moments in County, but were by no means stand out players on a regular basis. Who from our current players will make a County First Team? Ervine, Blessing and Willow are thereabouts.
Have you seen the Somerset and Surrey full squads and their players in action? I honestly think we'd get well beaten by their second string squads in any format. We came so close to fielding a pick up side against Derbyshire before Covid intervened.
My 10c worth is that we need to play a game against a touring County side sooner rather than later so the players, coaches and management can get some perspective as to where we are actually at, there will be some very sheepish faces and maybe it would do people good to understand why we are struggling against practically every team we play. We live in a bubble of dreams here, there are dozens of seriously good cricketers floating around English cricket.
There are national standard players from other countries that struggle in Premier club cricket in the UK.
I'd go one big step further- I think Reigate Club would beat our national side in 50 over cricket. They can probably rustle up a dozen quality past and present County players if they wanted to.

[Googly]

Googly, we are playing Bangladesh and Canada as well. They are the ICC-organised warm ups

The Ireland matches are an extra.

Well that's a relief. Great pity we are not playing England, India or a big name side.

[secretzimbo]

Where's Tanaka Zvaita? He's a decent batsman, how he hasn't made that side is highly questionable.

Very late reply to this, but he's in England at a private school there. Named as a reserve for this squad alongside several other UK-based.

[Googly]

Yeah I noticed Declan Rugg, ex Hellenic, is now also at school overseas. I doubt selectors have even seen him play for a long time. So what's the selection criteria really based on?
It never ends.

[Googly]

All top SA and UK schools get some form of incentive for giving scholarships to overseas students. We're basically at a point where any good schoolboy sportsman has the option to complete his schooling elsewhere. The problem seems to be that once they complete their schooling they will weigh up their options and decide pro sport here is not viable, but they're probably not eligible that side either so they knock it on the head. Whilst many of them may not be world beaters it means the schoolboy standard here significantly weakens, and the club and franchise standard just limps along with no noticeable improvements.
Unless the player is a bit of a freak you're only as good as the league you play in. That fact will take a couple of centuries to sink in.
The only really worthwhile school that offers sports scholarships here is Peter House. Again they're pulling so far ahead of other high schools with their facilities and coaching staff that it's becoming a one horse race.
In theory other schools should try and match them and thats how the standards would improve, but it doesn't seem to be happening, other schools seem unable or unwilling to up their games.

[Kriterion_BD]

Well that's a relief. Great pity we are not playing England, India or a big name side.

You've got the defending World Champs as a warmup...how much bigger name you want?