Zimbabwe Vs Uganda | ICC T20 Qualifier | 26 November 2023

[TapsC2]

People have forgotten how inconsistent the big 4 were at the early stages of their career. BT was probably the only one who stood out immediately. Craig didn't even make the T20 team initially. My point is give the younger guys a chance. They might shock you once they realise they are all we have and of course add a few younger imports.

Dave had an identity. Let's be calm, trust your game. That was him. The shots Raza played against Scotland or Burl and Innocent played yesterday are exactly what he has been telling them to go out and do. It worked initially because Raza hit a purple patch but now it's done.

The kind of players we have, especially the younger ones need more guidance than trusting their game. In fact Wes has been doing this for 12 months and failing terribly.

[Googly]

It's the administration that has lead to this low point.
And here we are requiring them to get us out of the very hole they've dug for us. They've firmly entrenched themselves and they're going nowhere.
There have been some improvements in the last couple of years, but its not even close to what's required.
Are they self aware enough to realise that the bell is tolling?
Do they care beyond wondering where their money will be coming from in a couple of years time?
Maybe they will take stock and give themselves those years to make sure they're OK? The Batonka Stadium will go a long way towards that.

[zimbos_05]

I know I was frustrated last night during the game, so I logged off straight after the loss and went to bed.

Let's consider things.

2019, we needed 1 win, and we fumbled.

2023, we needed 1 win, and we fumbled

2022 T20 WC. We needed 1 win over either Bangladesh and Netherlands, and we probably would have qualified for 2024 automatically. We fumbled.

Now, we go into a qualifier against sides we should be demolishing, and we screw up big time. Muzarabani got us into a winning position, and we threw it away.

In the recent past, we've lost to Nepal, Singapore, Netherlands, Scotland, Namibia, Uganda...and we expect the cricketing world to take us seriously?

The cricketing world will leave us behind. Afghanistan have overtaken us quickly and we have no stand out players like a Rashid Khan, so the ICC don't care. If we break the rules, they can easily get rid of us. Afghanistan break the rules, nothing will happen to them.

Everyone remembers Zim of the 90s and early 00s, but this current lot is a shambles. The big 3 have carried this side for a long time, and have just papered all sorts of gaping canyons, not even cracks. The odd win against a Pakistan or Australia have also held together some serious issues. We can host some fancy Indian T10 comp with second rate lighting and pretend we are a big side, but it just hides the truth.

It's been said before. We can change head coach all we want, but nothing changes until we have a board that actually cares. We have an MD and members of the administration that are running around playing in random comps to stay relevant. As long as Takashinga is looked after, no one cares about the national team.

Soon, the national team will just be filled with Takashinga lads and that is the aim. No need to progress any of our talent. No need to hire a decent batting coach, or bring in someone that will actually fix things.

I don't care if a Flower will ruffle some feathers. Get rid of the guys who will complain. Work with guys who have a tough mindset and actually want to win, not just be here to go on holidays.

Bring in proper coaches. Get rid of Matsi and the sub par coaches we have. Bring in a sports psychologist and analyst. We are so far behind where the other teams are at. We are a professional International side, that operates as a Village Cricket team.

Get rid of the deadweight like Chatara, Wellington, Maruma, Mutumbami etc...

Sad to say, but I think Zim Cricket is heading the way of Kenya. Dead and forgotten.

[Googly]

They put a smidgen of focus on u19 merely as a box ticking exercise, but by then you're not producing a batsman no matter how much you wish it. It's too late.
We need age group, but with good and fair coaches, not ones that find ways of fining only the few white players, or taking their sponsored kit, that's the level of individuals we are dealing with. That's one step away from selling them as organ donors.

[Googly]

For all the talk of bringing guys back who have disappeared off overseas, do we have any track record of these people succeeding? Ballance was clearly good and would have been our best batsmen, but he didn't stick around. Nick Welch has hardly set things alight and doesn't look like he'll be much more reliable than any of our other opening options.

I believe NW has a higher ceiling, but will he get the same extended opportunities? Hes had a really poor start against Namibia thats for sure, but no worse than anyone else, yet he's benching. If they give him a fair run at it he may do well, if he doesnt what have we lost? They're currently not spoilt for choice so perhaps? It's going to potentially be musical chairs for the opening slots for the foreseeable future. It is without doubt the toughest spot.
In the absence of players knocking on the door they're going to have to find ways of improving our existing national players. Bennett at some point, if he keeps doing reasonably well will probably also get a few limited opportunities. A lot less than the other guys, and he's going to have to grab a couple.
After this dog show we are really going to struggle to recruit anybody from overseas, but we need to try. And if they continue with the self destructive policy of thinking they only need 11 players and the rest of domestic is just further box ticking we are going to disappear from world cricket in the next 3 years. If they think that they can pay players a pittance for 4 months of the year we are going down the drain fast. We're now in the whirlpool above the plug.
Somebody without prejudice needs to identify the few players that potentially have a higher ceiling and get them into some more specialised coaching, and not from one of the 24 local level 17 coaches they've just passed out, they're not good enough. Sorry but that's the sad truth.
There's some bizarre mentality from local coaches that if their team doesn't do well then it's a hard fielding session and fitness sessions. Theyre confused between cricket and Navy Seals. I'd be putting batters in the nets and working on problems.

One of the many blunders they've made is sidelining Gary Brent to Women's Cricket because they wanted to give franchise jobs to their friends. At the very least he needs a franchise job or be involved in an Academy, but he gets to choose the players or its just yet another complete waste of time and money.

I do think getting Andy Flower here even for a couple of months might be of help. It might not, but there's not a lot to lose. Cancel 4 trips to Vic Falls to admire the Batonka Stadium site and he's paid for. Get rid of Ratshit and it's paid for. Get the big wigs to take a 50% pay cut down to 10k a month and its paid for.
Grant was good, but he got chased away amidst accusations that he only threw balls to Taylor.

If DH becomes their scapegoat, and it's likely, then we are doomed.

[chetanpatel1981]

@zimfan and Google....

Do you think, Zimbabwe team is deserving to qualify for the upcoming T20 world cup?

Already lost to Uganda and Namibia.

Is it because of the Namibian board has made pitches suitable to them?

[Crastle_cog]

Man said google

[secretzimbo]

Google!

[Googly]

Chetan I don't think you add any value to this forum. You can Google that if you like.
You're like an STD.

[eugene]

The hope with guys returning from overseas such as Nick Welch is that they have already received an elite level of coaching in the UK, Australia, New Zealand, etc. Perhaps they haven't?