Kids aren't encouraged to bowl fast, they're told to bowl line and length. What few games are played are T20 where they take the pace off, come off a shorter run up to get through the overs on time and try and bowl accurately.
School cricket is dead and buried here, it will never be resurrected to 2014 levels even.
The tap is finally off, a trickle here and there is all. Covid has not helped, there are no kids anywhere excitedly practicing for next year. I heard Peter House were putting in some practice- that's one school
I think that's all a bit too negative about the situation imo. It is my firm belief that man for man Zimbabwe is probably the second most talented cricketing nation on the planet after the West Indies, and cricket despite the administrators best attempts for years will never fully die in Zim, the schools consistently turn out unbelievable talents and tbf to them they make the most of this gift by going to countries like England and playing their talents there where they will get adequately rewarded instead of playing 5 odis a year without pay.
I think that's all a bit too negative about the situation imo. It is my firm belief that man for man Zimbabwe is probably the second most talented cricketing nation on the planet after the West Indies, and cricket despite the administrators best attempts for years will never fully die in Zim, the schools consistently turn out unbelievable talents and tbf to them they make the most of this gift by going to countries like England and playing their talents there where they will get adequately rewarded instead of playing 5 odis a year without pay.
Was? But still? Don't know.
That said, all things being equal just on numbers, Zimbabwe have no right to be anywhere near the top 20
Cricinfo profile of the 'James Bond' of cricket:
FULL NAME: Angus James Mackay
BORN: 13 June 1967, Harare
KNOWN AS: Gus Mackay
I always wonder this as well. There's been an apocalyptic prediction here that we wouldn't ever be able to churn out players like Welch or Byrom or Lake, and yet in the last few world cups we've produced some excellent cricketers.
Producing guys who can shine at Under-19 CWCs is easier than producing guys who can spend 15-20 years at the top. It is much harder to stay at the top of a sport once everyone catches up physically and mentally. Look how many footballers are stars of Under-19 FIFA tournaments and then fall off the radar completely and end up playing for teams in the Hungarian third division. Zimbabwe can clearly produce some talented youngsters but few if any of them go on to be dominant whether they stay in Zimbabwe or go elsewhere.
Neil Johnson, Alistair Campbell, Murray Goodwin, Andy Flower (w), Grant Flower, Dave Houghton, Guy Whittall, Heath Streak (c), Andy Blignaut, Ray Price, Eddo Brandes
Producing guys who can shine at Under-19 CWCs is easier than producing guys who can spend 15-20 years at the top. It is much harder to stay at the top of a sport once everyone catches up physically and mentally. Look how many footballers are stars of Under-19 FIFA tournaments and then fall off the radar completely and end up playing for teams in the Hungarian third division. Zimbabwe can clearly produce some talented youngsters but few if any of them go on to be dominant whether they stay in Zimbabwe or go elsewhere.
I'm not so sure that's true in a Zimbabwean context.
Usually sports where kids are good but drop off are ones that are naturally talented and aren't reliant on coaching, that get overtaken eventually by players who use their head more.
Zimbabwe don't have the playing numbers and seem to have survived by being smarter pee capita in cricket nations.
Cricinfo profile of the 'James Bond' of cricket:
FULL NAME: Angus James Mackay
BORN: 13 June 1967, Harare
KNOWN AS: Gus Mackay
Producing guys who can shine at Under-19 CWCs is easier than producing guys who can spend 15-20 years at the top. It is much harder to stay at the top of a sport once everyone catches up physically and mentally. Look how many footballers are stars of Under-19 FIFA tournaments and then fall off the radar completely and end up playing for teams in the Hungarian third division. Zimbabwe can clearly produce some talented youngsters but few if any of them go on to be dominant whether they stay in Zimbabwe or go elsewhere.
Have the ZIM U-19s done all that well at the U-19 world cup? Even Madhavere didn't have Bradmanesque stats in the last World Cup. Its part of why I'm so surprised that he's started his ODI career with such a large bang.
Have to agree with Zimdoggy...the numbers of players who take the game up seriously just aren't there.
