Bulawayo Boy wrote: ↑Sun May 02, 2021 12:20 am
That was dire. Sad to watch. It is true we had injuries and we've always struggled at home vs Pakistan, but oi.
Were 3 debuts in one match a smart move? I know about the injuries but it just seems like a helluva risk.
Many, many years ago Andy Flower gave an interview to SA Cricket Action magazine stating that he believed that the best way forward for Zimbabwe was to bring in players extremely young and blood them. This would allow them to play against the very best from very young and improve, in the end granting them greater experience than their contemporaries. I wish I still had the article. (Note: he actually brought Taibu in at what...15, as his 'apprentice' - and what a good player he could have been without our bull dust politics!
I think the challenges are, still:
1. Not enough tests or international cricket being played in general. Alistair Campbell gave an extensive interview a while back on why we couldn't play more. Basically, it's too expensive. Couldn't we play more 'unofficial' tests vs Namibia, SA A, India A, maybe Ireland, Holland? If they aren't official we can use cheaper balls, not televise them, not pay for 5 star hotels, etc. But the guys would play more cricket. A lot more. Hell, aim for a series every month! What about Zimbabwe A vs Zimbabwe games to give them more middle time?
2. Club / franchise cricket / lower level cricket - is it me or are standards lower now? More coaching support is needed from ZC.
3. In my view (sorry Googly) - cricket is still not being played widely enough in Zimbabwe. I truly believe that if you become a teacher in Zimbabwe you should be required to hold coaching certs in soccer and one other sport - with cricket the preferred option. But it could include netball, athletics, etc. That would mean within a generation cricket knowledge would exist is every single school in the land - and we know how obsessed Zimbos are with regards to going to sodding school! Catch em young!
4. Make cricket the mandatory summer sport in all boys schools countrywide. Equipment will be a problem but the Indians all play tape ball cricket. Why can't we?
5. Why do our batsmen move around the batting card so much? Can't the coaching team decide a batsman's career position, train him to play there, and then play him there? Chopping and changing breeds uncertainty.
6. Our board. Oi. What the hell are they up to? Like seriously. I'm not being sarcastic. What are they doing?
7. What's going on with our physical conditioning? We seem unfit. Surely this should be priority? If we can't afford more trainers make the lads train with the army, preferably the paratroopers. Talk to Mazaiwana and BEG him to help. Select the best 30 cricketers as a 'platoon' and send them to Andre Rabie barracks to be conditioned. They'll put them through the mill, and they'll feel like shit, but you'll have ultrafit fellas at the end.
8. Mental conditioning. Dear Lord. Cricket is 90 percent mental. If we refuse to focus on this we'll never improve. Can't this be looked at?