Zim vs Eng 2003 vs 2025

[Kriterion_BD]

It is hard to know how Williams and C Ervine would fair against the top six, simply because they've rarely played them - they can only score runs against those in front of them. Williams is surely a superior talent to Carlisle. Craig Ervine and Carlisle seem sort of similar I guess? I could see peak Craig scoring a test century in Australia, but also struggling for stretches, much like Carlisle did.

Ervine's weakness against balls just outside off virtually exclude the possibility of scoring a Test century vs Australia in any conditions. You don't even need Starc's swing. Anyone who can just wobble the ball a tad of the seam is going to keep the cordon interested every single ball.

[Pat_Bee]

He’ll be edging that swinging dukes bomb behind first ball

[zimbos_05]

Whilst the 2025 have better stats, they never really had to play the big boys that often.

I'd be putting my money on the 2003 team. They were better technical players, and had more of a cricket brain. Not to mention that they were workers. They made an effort to learn and apply themselves.

[Mueddie28]

9 year gap aside, Williams and Ervine are our stars. Players like Carlisle were just making the team. See the difference?


Who was a better player Carlsle vs Craig Wishart
Also who was a better player Nkala or DT Hondo..

[zimbos_05]

9 year gap aside, Williams and Ervine are our stars. Players like Carlisle were just making the team. See the difference?


Who was a better player Carlsle vs Craig Wishart
Also who was a better player Nkala or DT Hondo..

I see your point, however, I would much rather Carlisle than most of the guys today. Carlisle was coming through a system that was developing. He didn't have the chances a lot of todays guys had, but he was a grafter. Willing to learn and apply himself. So many of the guys today just want to get by on the bare minimum. We don't see them grafting and putting in the hard yards to want to improve and enhance their game.

[TapsC2]

I have a "sports evolution" theory where basically I think that every sport gets harder over time because of tech and human evolution. So far the class of Usain Built, Gatlin and Powell are so far debunking my theory but I still believe their records will be broken one day.

I just think the amount of money, training, scouting, nutrition and video reviews that go into professional sports these days make it much harder to be a pro for a while. You get found out very quickly if you yourself don't evolve as a player. Which is why I would back a lot of the guys playing now than in 2003.

Simply put I don't think in 2003 Australia even had a plan to get Carlisle out. They just backed their talent. In 2025 I can guarantee you that England has a plan for every single one of our guys just based off pure professionalism. They are studying Raza's variations and Blessing bounce as we speak. They have already identified the passengers in the team. I personally don't think teams paid that much attention to detail 20 years ago.

[secretzimbo]

You are correct.

[Googly]

9 year gap aside, Williams and Ervine are our stars. Players like Carlisle were just making the team. See the difference?


Who was a better player Carlsle vs Craig Wishart
Also who was a better player Nkala or DT Hondo..

I see your point, however, I would much rather Carlisle than most of the guys today. Carlisle was coming through a system that was developing. He didn't have the chances a lot of todays guys had, but he was a grafter. Willing to learn and apply himself. So many of the guys today just want to get by on the bare minimum. We don't see them grafting and putting in the hard yards to want to improve and enhance their game.

[Googly]

9 year gap aside, Williams and Ervine are our stars. Players like Carlisle were just making the team. See the difference?


Who was a better player Carlsle vs Craig Wishart
Also who was a better player Nkala or DT Hondo..

I see your point, however, I would much rather Carlisle than most of the guys today. Carlisle was coming through a system that was developing. He didn't have the chances a lot of todays guys had, but he was a grafter. Willing to learn and apply himself. So many of the guys today just want to get by on the bare minimum. We don't see them grafting and putting in the hard yards to want to improve and enhance their game.

[Googly]

9 year gap aside, Williams and Ervine are our stars. Players like Carlisle were just making the team. See the difference?


Who was a better player Carlsle vs Craig Wishart
Also who was a better player Nkala or DT Hondo..

I see your point, however, I would much rather Carlisle than most of the guys today. Carlisle was coming through a system that was developing. He didn't have the chances a lot of todays guys had, but he was a grafter. Willing to learn and apply himself. So many of the guys today just want to get by on the bare minimum. We don't see them grafting and putting in the hard yards to want to improve and enhance their game.

I think you'd have to name individuals in our current national side and periphery.
Probably the guy who practices the least (or so we are told) is Williams and yet he's probably our best batsman behind Andy Flower. Some guys just need less.
I'd think Ervine knows his game and prepares specifically for upcoming games but doesn't do too much in his down time anymore.
Raza I'm sure trains hard, but specifically for T20.
Once the season is underway opportunites to put in the hard yards are less because you need rest. The main work is pre-season and the rest is a top up.

I know there are guys who rely on team sessions more than individual ones and for sure you get less out of those. You're also under pressure from watching coaches, a shit net or two leading up to a game can easily get you dropped.
To get the most out of an individual session one has to work on specifics and not just pound balls.

You need a good thrower, which generally means you have to pay him. Some guys partner up with another batsman, one guy will generally be a much better thrower than the other. When you're earning peanuts you're not inclined to pay anybody.

If you don't get paid a living wage and have to do other stuff to survive in these tough times you're not going to hit 300 balls a day and you're certainly not paying anyone to throw or coach. The number of coaches that can contribute meaningfully to a pro batter here are very limited anyway. It's a huge problem. The number of guys ignorantly and diligently grooving their faults is sad. The guys I'd set some store by are Houghton, Matsikenyeri, Chigumbura, Brent, Taylor, Ebrahim, Ballance, Tinker, Campbell, but you'd be paying out your nostril for a session with them. One session is nothing anyway, you need weeks.
There are only a handful of guys that know their games well enough to get a quick fix from someone with a keen eye.

I know Myers hits a lot of balls. I believe Marumani generally plays only on grass nets, which would limit his volume a bit. Obviously good grass nets are the ideal scenario.
We're short on facilities, one indoor and generally shocking grass nets. The Hub is across town from most guys and it's expensive to get there and you pay to play. Nothing is really conducive to people practicing hard. Most guys don't own a car and have to rely on commuters or expensive fuel.
That indoor facility at HSC needs to be completed ASAP.
There are generally some good players practicing in The Hub, mostly the white guys I think, but Bawa and Myers are always in there, that's where the overseas guys congregate as well. A lot of good information will be exchanged there. You need those professional environments and we're sorely lacking them. By the time you get there, pay a thrower, pay for a net, have a gym session and buy a coffee you're down about $25.
Do that 4 days a week and you're in for $400 a month. It just doesn't stack up.