U19 World Cup | South Africa | Jan-Feb 2024

[Googly]

Ronak patel gone. Is that the last hope gone ?

The last hope went when the DL target was announced. No team in the world would get 99 off 52 on this pitch! Let alone 3 down against this top quality spin.

With all the computing power available you'd think DL would be kicked into touch.

[Googly]

These Sri Lankans are a noisy lot, imagine a beer hall full of them.

[CholeZimbo]

These Sri Lankans are a noisy lot, imagine a beer hall full of them.

[secretzimbo]

Sunguro didn't bowl and scored 1 off 5 batting at number 9.

[Kriterion_BD]

Ronak patel gone. Is that the last hope gone ?

The last hope went when the DL target was announced. No team in the world would get 99 off 52 on this pitch! Let alone 3 down against this top quality spin.

With all the computing power available you'd think DL would be kicked into touch.

What was wrong with the DLS target?

[TapsC2]

About 7 of the Sri Lankan guys have already played domestic cricket from my count. I think Shungu is the only guy who has played domestic cricket for us and he didn’t even play. A couple of guys played the NPL though.

Even when you look at the SA list. They weren’t naming schools, they were naming provinces meaning that there is a structure. We need to do some self introspection.

Kamwemba played with the U25s so that’s a start but I think we need more of the guys training with the domestic teams. NPL was also good and it allowed some exposure for the better guys but they need more.

Exposure is important. An example of this is I remember the last time SA came here I think for the test and then tri-series, Rabada was there. He wasn’t playing but they already included him in the dynamic. Imagine that. He hadn’t even made his senior debut. Training amongst themselves might not be enough

[Googly]

They could play Club and NPL for 4 years prior to an U19 WC if they're good enough. And do a chunk of extra coaching with someone decent. Only if they see a future for themselves as a pro cricketer would they do that. I haven't seen a kid that committed for many years. Exposure to men's cricket as a 14, 15, 16 and 17 year old is invaluable.

The first steps are actually there for them, but the carrot at the end of the stick is not easily visible and of course can be removed by anyone with an agenda.
Here it's national team or oblivion.

[ZIMDOGGY]

Yeah that’s probably the go.
Get the kids to play against men.

Back in 04/05 or whatever it was we debuted Taylor as a 17 yr old agaisnt test nations and he ended up a good player.

I don’t advocate that, as it’s crazy and he’s a rare talent. BUT, good kids could get a lot of decent exposure at NPL level as alot of the guys there have played all levels. It’ll need to be a directive or something from the top.
Also, they shouldn’t discard 35+ yr olds from NPL level. That’s the level we should be picking the knowledge from guys like mpofu who are around 40.

This is the comp we can experiment in.

[secretzimbo]

Taps suggestion of making them train with franchises might be a good one....except the franchises mostly don't train Unless you consider one or two casual group net sessions a month?

All the above posts make sense in an ideal world but the problem is they are at school, mostly at very good academic schools, and there is pressure to do things other than cricket. It's pretty common for most to have other sporting commitments - usually hockey or occasionally rugby - as well, and time actually studying and doing exams or whatever. And a life outside of all that.

Most of our franchise games happen on weekdays in term-time. Most of the boys have already taken a lot of time out of class to go on the u19 tours - they've been to India 2 or 3 times etc, SA, training camps in Harare. It's hard to expect them to devote even more time to playing cricket than many already do at this age.

[Googly]

It's a topic we've kicked around ad nauseum, but if its done often enough maybe the penny will eventually drop.
Cricket is not really a career choice here for people with options. Nine times out of ten they'll organise themselves another option first then revert to cricket. You can only make a living here if you're on a good national contract.
Who's taking that gamble when everyone knows there's maybe only one or two spots available, and that's if a biased selection process doesn't keep them out anyway.
The guys with no other options are all in and somehow survive on between $5 and $10 a day if you calculate it on an annual basis.
There are guys who play national cricket not on a Central Contract and that's going to become increasingly common, and there are guys on central contracts or reasonably well paid that will never be near the national side again, and there are friends and relatives taking up other positions that don't do much, but earn a good living in Zim terms. That's what happens in a family run business. That's not lost on anybody. If you want people to believe in an organisation then it needs to be run excellently with the best people possible. That's simply not going to happen and we'll continue to limp along wondering what can be done to change things and hoping for better days.
This includes Admin themselves, they're actively wondering how to improve things and you see various attempts that in many instances actually have limited success, but then it stalls out, it can only take you so far without changing the fundamentals, which of course they're not prepared to do.