How one player affects the whole team

[bayhaus]

Cricket is a TEAM sport and as a TEAM Zim had the opening slot figured out, the most important partnership. If they Set a good foundation most likely than not everything goes smoothly for everyone down the order to play their roles without pressure.

So Vusi heads off to Aus to fine tune his skills cos he is looking at the bigger picture (rather play some four day than T20) and has the TEAM at heart, as he has been assured (how ever vaguely) that he will be able to join the TEAM for the test against NZ. The rest of the TEAM are also cool with it and no pressure (we didn't see ham opening for mountaineers to prepare).

Vusi is then included in the squad and any fears of the TEAM being destabilized are squashed and the TEAM is getting ready for camp and getting together as a unit. Vusi arrives and joins camp but he is denied to practice with the rest of the TEAM. The other TEAM members question why Vusi was included in the squad if he is not allowed to train with the squad and the TEAM was given a false sense of security. During camp the TEAM is without their captain and their inform-agenda-setting opening batsmen, who made a sacrifice to join up with the TEAM,

An "inquest" gets underway to ascertain if he will be allowed to tour. There is a lot of pulling and tugging behind closed doors. The coach emphasizing how Vusi's inclusion would be good for the TEAM and ZC insisting how his exclusion will be a good example to the TEAM. The coach and ZC both have the TEAM at heart. Then what was not clear is finally cleared up and the coach (and anyone else) in a moment of enlightenment finally realizes how they were wrong to ever side with Vusi when it had been made crystal clear (according to AC) that there were severe consequences.

Meanwhile Vusi plays for the Midwest Rhinos, and the other TEAM members still have a hope that all will work out well cos they are sure it is in ZCs best interest to send the best TEAM to NZ. But there is already a sense of uneasiness amongst the TEAM members.

Word finally comes out that Vusi will not tour (am sure he and the TEAM got to know about via the press statement) and ZC are basically using him as an example for any future lawbreakers. ZC want to show that they mean business and no one will be spared. This is a message to the TEAM. Don't mess with us!

Some of the TEAM members are angry that Vusi "should have known better", some are actually saying "dude, I told you so". Whilst some TEAM members sympathize with Vusi and feel he has been hard done. The TEAM members are also divided as some feel the punishment was too severe he should have just been fined, or play two games for Midwest without pay, or carry the captains kit bag for the whole NZ tour (Be as creative about the punishment but keep the TEAM intact). Some TEAM members feel he deserved it, whats so special about him anyway.

With all the uneasiness in the TEAM and with no captain to offer any "positives" to be gained from all this, the TEAM is already demoralized.

Now IF our players were mentally strong, one speech from the Captain to the TEAM would suffice, and they would forget about Vusi, and ZC shenanigans and would run out onto the park and perform at their peak.

The batting line up is presented to the TEAM. Tino will open with Hamilton. Tino now has to come to terms with opening with Hamilton (I am a fan of both these guys). Tino for the sake of the TEAM would have to up his run rate as we saw in the warm up since Hamilton is already low on confidence. Hamilton who was now comfy with coming in at 3 after 50 runs, accepts to take one for the TEAM although he still has not gotten over being left out (for Coventary) of the world cup where he was going to open.

The TEAM certainly smell some kind of a conspiracy as Foster who has brought even the riot police and border gezi militias to kick down the door (of which he was tired of knocking), is shoved into the number three position (SO THAT HE FAILS AND IS AXED). Some TEAM members were asking why Taylor did not play for the TEAM being the best batsmen, and come in at no.3? So as to protect the debutant Foster (especially after that sitter he dropped, which must have been a real confidence crusher)

It takes one act against one member of the TEAM to break the spirit in the TEAM. Once that spirit is broken it will be reflected in the performance of that TEAM.

[eugene]

Vusi needs to take some responsibility for affecting the team this way. He knew the risks, and he and his teammates paid the price.

[bayhaus]

Vusi needs to take some responsibility for affecting the team this way. He knew the risks, and he and his teammates paid the price.

I was hoping that if he really wants to gain the respect of the fans he come out and make a statement, eg. an apology to the fans and the team. Why does this never happen in Zim?

[eugene]

Communication must be a vestige of yesteryear within Zimbabwean cricket. I fondly remember the John Ward days of ZC Online where you always knew what was going on and what the players were up to.

[hhm]

Spot on! (but you forgot to mention that there was bias against him because he is Ndebele)!

Taylor is a coward, one again I said so long before this Test, so even if he was captain he didn't have the gonads to shield Mutizwa, not after the anticlimax of a T20 tourney that he had! He dreads the new ball, so unless it's the powerplays and fielding restrictions in the short formats, forget it!

I also believe Forster was setup to fail!

Everything you say about the team and it's spirit under the circumstances surrounding this Test is a concern!

[FlowerPower]

The TEAM certainly smell some kind of a conspiracy as Foster who has brought even the riot police and border gezi militias to kick down the door (of which he was tired of knocking), is shoved into the number three position (SO THAT HE FAILS AND IS AXED). Some TEAM members were asking why Taylor did not play for the TEAM being the best batsmen, and come in at no.3? So as to protect the debutant Foster (especially after that sitter he dropped, which must have been a real confidence crusher)

Spot on! (but you forgot to mention that there was bias against him because he is Ndebele)!

Taylor is a coward, one again I said so long before this Test, so even if he was captain he didn't have the gonads to shield Mutizwa, not after the anticlimax of a T20 tourney that he had! He dreads the new ball, so unless it's the powerplays and fielding restrictions in the short formats, forget it!

I also believe Forster was setup to fail!

Everything you say about the team and it's spirit under the circumstances surrounding this Test is a concern!

Exactly what I tried to put across on the match thread, this lad is unlucky...

[betterdays]

If you're getting into proper conspiracies, winners, losers and people out of place, then go deeper: Vusi, Taylor, Mutizwa, morale, NZ ... Coltart meets Hague. Zimdoggy...script please!!?

[Jemisi]

Communication must be a vestige of yesteryear within Zimbabwean cricket. I fondly remember the John Ward days of ZC Online where you always knew what was going on and what the players were up to.

This

[John Kachere]

[ZIMDOGGY]

how can anyone think that any player is picked 'so that they can fail"

honestly dumbest thing ive heard.

you know selectors want to keep their job right?
you know if seectors dont like players they dont pick them.