Zimbabwe take tentative steps towards Test return

[zimfan1]

ICC executive meeting

Zimbabwe take tentative steps towards Test return

Cricinfo staff

April 17, 2009

Zimbabwe's return to Test cricket might still be some way off, but it remains on the agenda after the first day of the ICC executive meeting in Dubai. Exactly when will depend on a series of recommendations from an ICC task team being implemented by Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC).

The board was presented with a report from West Indies board president Julian Hunte following his fact-finding mission along with ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat to the country late last year. Hunte, who faces escalating pressure on his position following a string of crisis in the Caribbean, gave an encouraging report on the state of the game inside Zimbabwe

Hunte said that a sustainable return to Test cricket was possible when Zimbabwe's national representative sides had satisfied reasonable performance criteria in first-class and other multi-day matches. Recent displays suggest that time is still some way off, however.

He added that domestic structures had been upgraded and a longer and more competitive first-class league introduced.

The Zimbabwe board accepted the report's recommendations and agreed to continue to work with the ICC.

"Led by Hunte, we sat down and looked at the current structures and resources of Zimbabwe Cricket, spoke to stakeholders and assessed the current state of the game in the country," Lorgat said. "Our purpose was to create a pathway for a sustainable return for Zimbabwe to Test cricket as soon as practicably possible and we believe that, through this report, we have created the platform for that to happen."

Peter Chingoka, the ZC chairman, said he was "very grateful to the task team and the ICC for their efforts in this matter," adding that "we really believe that we have a talented group of youngsters that have the potential to play at the highest level with success and we look forward to ensuring that happens."

[maehara]

Full ICC report here (PDF document). There's a lot of reading in it, but you really want to read it.

[brmtaylor.com admin]

Overall, it was Aleem Dar's last point which summed everything up:

In view of the above factors I feel that Zimbabwe should continue playing ODIs
at international level for another couple of years and should organize regular
3 or 4 day cricket in their domestic structure. If they really show their
improvement in batting, temperament and partnership building skills, they may
be able to regain Test cricket status.

He openly said our bowling has got a lot better since the Pakistan tour, which I think we can all agree it has due to the twin-spin of Price and Utseya, the return of Rainsford, and now the inclusion of Cremer. Chigumbura continues to be a vital allrounder for us, he is a strike bowler.

The ZC Managing Director indicated that ZC found the cost of participating in
four day games prohibitive. He indicated that it generally costs around USD 150-
200k to host a four-day game in Zimbabwe and suggested ZC would make a USD
500k loss on the Sri Lanka ODI series.

Wow, I never realised it costs so much for a 4-day match. That's unbelievable - I'd like to know where the majority of the money goes. (flights, accomodation, player/officials fees, living expenses, paying for use/preparation of the ground... ?)

Pre-series media coverage of the Sri Lanka tour was low and spectator attendances
were very low. There was an overseas television contract with Ten Sports but the
matches were not covered in full by the local broadcaster. The local promotion of
the game and its media profile is integral to its ability to generate interest and
income and encourage new people to play the game.

ZBC should be broadcasting the matches in full. I guess that is a money issue. Pre-series media coverage being low - no surprises there. Attendences "very low"? I seem to remember the crowds being okay in the afternoon session.

A final point to note in this area is the standard of umpiring. Several Sri Lankan
players passed unsolicited comments on the poor standard of officiating in the
Bulawayo 4-day game that preceded their five ODIs. Poor umpiring can give
players a false impression of their performance level.

This is something that I don't think has ever been discussed on here, but is entirely believable. How can we increase the standards of domestic umpires? I wonder if the ICC have some sort of programme in place for this...

The majority of stakeholders interviewed – including current and former players -
said there should be more rounds of matches in the Logan Cup and that matches
should be scheduled over a longer time period during the cricket season rather than
in a condensed block.

Agreed. Logan Cup should start in November for a few rounds, then a hiatus over Christmas and the new year. And then it should continue over the next 2 or 3 months. The same with Faithwear matches - instead of holding them all at once, they should be dispersed over several months. Happy to have the Twenty20's held at the end of the season at the same time though.

None of the domestic competitions - first class, one-day and Twenty20 – currently
generate sponsorship income so they are all funded by ZC.

Faithwear might not sponsor the series in terms of dollars, but they provide the clothes. Which is fair enough. But what about the Metro Bank T20? Metro Bank surely couldn't provide anything other than money?

Review Cricket Committee composition and increase cricket expertise and
experience on this Committee (including international playing experience);

Good idea.

The national team and „A‟ side are both selected by a National Selection Committee
(“NSC”) comprising four selectors. The depth and relevance of the playing
experience of these selectors was a concern to the Task Team. Only one of the
selectors has played Test cricket (in the 1960s) while the other three have very little
high profile cricket playing experience. The Task Team noted a distinct lack of
awareness amongst stakeholders, including current players, of the composition and
workings of the NSC.

Who is the fourth: we know about Moyo, du Preez, Ziehl... But ZC should definitely increase the experience on the selection panel. In Appendix 3 there is a long list of ex-players, a few of which are still in Zimbabwe; like Carlisle, Streak, Wishart... all would be useful additions.

[zimfan1]

im worried that if we play in the ICC intercontinental cup then it will condemn us to being seen as an associate side

i think the A team should play in the ICC intercontinental cup

[brmtaylor.com admin]

im worried that if we play in the ICC intercontinental cup then it will condemn us to being seen as an associate side

i think the A team should play in the ICC intercontinental cup

I agree, I don't think it is good for our image. But as you said, nothing wrong with the A team playing.

[maehara]

Playing the national side in the Intercontinental Cup would have its risks - if they walked to the title, it would prove that we don't belong at Associate level; if the didn't it would give ammunition to those who want to see Zim downgraded.

I think they should play (and since the fixture list for the next running hasn't been finalised yet, so they could be dropped in easily) -- I think we *would* walk it, and we shouldn't miss the opportunity to prove the point.

[brmtaylor.com admin]

Playing the national side in the Intercontinental Cup would have its risks - if they walked to the title, it would prove that we don't belong at Associate level; if the didn't it would give ammunition to those who want to see Zim downgraded.

I think they should play (and since the fixture list for the next running hasn't been finalised yet, so they could be dropped in easily) -- I think we *would* walk it, and we shouldn't miss the opportunity to prove the point.

It wouldn't only give ammunition to the people wanting Zimbabwe downgraded, you would also have the situation of the associate teams demanding answers. (ie. why is extra funding going to Zimbabwe and not them?)

21. Zimbabwe national or representative team be given the opportunity to participate in ICC Intercontinental Cup 2009/10. The prospect of Zimbabwe's return to Test cricket in two years would be enhanced by participation in the ICC Intercontinental Cup and in first-class matches against Full Member representative sides;

As ZC have supposedly agreed to all of the points, maybe it will happen. The opportunity would be fantastic for the players, as it gives continued and structured First Class exposure. But the risks of not winning the trophy are still there, and would that do more damage than good?

I would like Zimbabwe to have a 4-day match against the Bangladesh national team - to give us an idea of where we are at.

[Detective RDS]

I think,Zimbabwe should participate in the Intercontinental Cup and play the national side there.Zimbabwe isn't an associate side and should play there just as a team which is in a way to return in the longer version of cricket.Nothing is better than challenges.Zimbabwe is currently not playing test cricket.So,what's going to be better than winning against all the associate sides,I mean win the Intercontinental cup title.It will proove that Zimbabwe deserves test status.

Only notable performance can take Zimbabwe into the test arena again and I reckon it's a great opportunity of doing so.

Before returning to the test arena,Zimbabwe will definitely need a decent amount of preparations.I know there are some good players in the Ireland,Scotland side and practise makes things better.

And as for the domestic cricket of Zimbabwe is concerned,the domestic cricket should be played throughout the whole season.It will extend the domestic cricket experience of the players.

[brmtaylor.com admin]

I think,Zimbabwe should participate in the Intercontinental Cup and play the national side there.Zimbabwe isn't an associate side and should play there just as a team which is in a way to return in the longer version of cricket.Nothing is better than challenges.Zimbabwe is currently not playing test cricket.So,what's going to be better than winning against all the associate sides,I mean win the Intercontinental cup title.It will proove that Zimbabwe deserves test status.

Only notable performance can take Zimbabwe into the test arena again and I reckon it's a great opportunity of doing so.

You are probably right "nothing is better than a challenge". The challenge being Zimbabwe know they have to win every match and win the trophy, or face backlash from the media and associate countries. I don't think countries like Ireland and Scotland will fancy a tour of (or by) Zimbabwe - we'd probably be wise to get a few matches under our belt in UAE. 3 ODI's and a 3-day match against Afghanistan anyone?