For crying out loud - DROP KYLE JARVIS!

[Jemisi]

You know Hhm, there is a certain comfort in being able to pick up a relationship just where you left it, even after an absence.

I think my comment stands. If Zimbabwe beat NZ over a home and away series we would all cheer the fact that we were superior to them for the moment. None of us would be worried about their depth or structure or solvency etc.

We need some more extended series against Ireland, FC matches as well as ODIs, a T20 each way to see where we are against them. Money and visas may prevent it, but the debate will rumble along until we smash them or until we are consistently beating a major team once a series or more.

[sloandog]

Zimbabwe cricket doesn't have much of a future, surely Ireland must have a better future?

clearly pissed

[eugene]

What up and coming young players can we name for Zimbabwe who are actually half-decent? Our age group sides are on about the same level as PNG and Nepal.

[gargamel]

I would not worry too much about our age group side as in truth the side did not represent a true reflection of real talent in the country. The selection process is extremely biased an narrow considering the focus of selectors is on the elite schools which is not necessarily the best and thus we send a school boy 15 to play in a tournament for young men big difference. Of the lads in the under 19 side that performed consistently and above the average which were Peacemore Zimwa , Luke Masasire , Luca Jongwe Kasuza , Bowie all played some franchise or club cricket. The captain Ryan Burl has been out of form for the past 2 years and im beig very honest if the lazy selectors could get out of bed on a Sunday morning and make an effort to eye talent in the club league where some of the players face the available franchise and national team players . There are 12 to 15 players i know who did better than some of the team that went to the under 19 world cup.

[Jemisi]

Wasn't Bentley the captain?

[sloandog]

What up and coming young players can we name for Zimbabwe who are actually half-decent? Our age group sides are on about the same level as PNG and Nepal.

True but Ireland dont have a first class structure mate, surely that counts in our favor...

[samedwards]

Regarding the Irish first-class structure, there are plans to start them by next year.

[eugene]

What up and coming young players can we name for Zimbabwe who are actually half-decent? Our age group sides are on about the same level as PNG and Nepal.

True but Ireland dont have a first class structure mate, surely that counts in our favor...

They don't have a first-class structure and are already beating us, just imagine what it will be like once they do have a first class competition.

[maehara]

Regarding the Irish first-class structure, there are plans to start them by next year.

Yup. And their club-level structure is *way* ahead of Zimbabwe's at the moment - 5 provincial unions, 135 active clubs between them, with most clubs fielding sides from junior age groups right through to senior sides. Our club structure is barely surviving. More than anything else, that's where your future players come from. The existence of that player base, and CI's ambitions plans for FC & Test, are why they have a future ahead of them.

As for our future? We came 15th out of 16 in the U19 World Cup. We have a senior side with a majority of players who have some major weaknesses - but they keep getting game time because there are no quality replacements. We've had those problems for 7-8 years now, and always we keep hearing "they just need experience" - how much more experience do they need?!

[hhm]

Point taken Jemisi.

over a one-day or T20 series with both sides at full strength, I think Ireland would beat us. 4-day games, we would win.

The good thing is we have beat Ireland in an ODI series(thanks largely to Rainsford) so there is a fact available to dispel assumption. Just as previously England thumped SA in an ODI series following defeat in Tests(a similar experience to the Aussies post the Ashes loss), and none of those counted for much, all that matters is the longer format. In that I'm glad you have a remote idea who would win.

Through your assessment of Ireland's club structure, you make very convincing points why perhaps their system is better. In my opinion, at the end of the day the Saffers will overrun Eng, Ire & Scotland, so it'll be a case of Zimbos against Afrikaaners. So that foundation will turn out to be cosmetic. After all, the British kids have got rugby and football to aim for - don't see them dreaming to be international cricketers. That's were the migrating disgruntled second grade Saffers fit in. This is why Zim will always be superior to Ireland - not only we'll we beat them in the field of play, we have developed an identity that will never be lost.