Zimbabwe vs England | Only Test | 22 - 25th May 2025

[CholeZimbo]

Nasser relentless in comm box lol. Says you have to keep your standards up if you want to play in England.

[ZIMFAN]

Has the door closed on Higgins? Or has he closed the door. There will be a lot of middle order depth retiring in a few years. He would add so much. And regardless of whether the perceived quota is real or not there would be less of an issue with all the whites leaving in bringing in another white player.

[Googly]

ZC said he'd be welcome to come try his luck in fc for a couple of years and see how he goes. Hes captained middlesex
He had an ordinary time of it when he was here. I thought he'd do better, but hes a good player.
Same like Byrom, no doubting his pedigree, but not set it alight here either.
Same as NW and BC, took them a season or more to start playing well

[secretzimbo]

Mixed feelings! Had a great day out at Trent Bridge, despite the performance. Was like a who’s who of Zim cricket. Tom and Sam Curran sat about three rows in front of me - can’t believe they were in normal seats and not in some sort of hospitality somewhere?! Anyway they were enjoying the beers. Someone gave Tom a Zim flag and he waved it for a few overs
Saw Adam Theo from a distance….quickly turned around to avoid.
Said a quick hello passing AC early morning entering the ground.
There was a group of the Asian lads who play for Alex/OH. Also saw one of the lady chevron players. Castle Corner found its voice by the evening session, which was joyous.

I didn’t mind the selection to be honest. I called it a couple of weeks ago on here that they were going to play 4 seamers. They wouldn’t have flown in TK unless they were going to play 4. The poor performance in the tour match last week by the bowlers just confirmed that. We would have struggled massively with only 3 seam options, and Ngarava’s injury only proved that. In truth the batter that should have missed out on form is Ervine. He owes us the next couple of days.
As gutted as Welch must be, missing this probably isn’t a bad thing in the long run for him. If we get annihilated, as is looking likely, it’s probably a good thing to not be associated with that. It was between him and Wes, and to be fair Wes fielded superbly today at cover and took a wicket.

We bowled well for the first hour, Blessing and TK especially. Annoyingly they weren’t showing the speed gun in the stadium but Ngarava looked to be bowling medium pace - hugely alarming! A big fall off. I’d probably drop him for Newman in Bulawayo next month. He isn’t fit.

Nyauchi was pretty poor and unthreatening but he should have opened the bowling. The whole point of him is swing….why wouldn’t you let him bowl in the first hour when it was overcast with the new ball? Ervine’s captaincy continues to confuse me.

Yes England have battered us but I’m not that mad. It’s our level. We played pretty much similarly to how we usually do, I think everyone out there was trying their best - it is what it is. The gulf in class is enormous. Hopefully we can at least show a bit of fight with the bat. Looks like Saturday could be a washout so there’s still an outside chance of a draw somehow.

[zimbot]

Oh well, this is a true reflection of where Zimbabwe Cricket is.

I take no pleasure in seeing all this happen, but I think this is necessary.

Match over before tea tomorrow?

If you play stupid games, you will win stupid prizes. Congratulations ZC, you have proved to the whole world that communism doesn't work. But, we knew that already.

By all means, keep your revolutionary "Melanin over Merit" policy going.

[Googly]

Has the door closed on Higgins? Or has he closed the door. There will be a lot of middle order depth retiring in a few years. He would add so much. And regardless of whether the perceived quota is real or not there would be less of an issue with all the whites leaving in bringing in another white player.

It sounds like a lot of whites leaving
Ervine and Williams will be around for a bit longer...probably.
BT will be putting his hand up, probably at NW's expense.
There's Welch Jr who will knock on the door shortly, unless they keep trying to keep him out the picture and he jacks it in.
There's both campbells.
Burl.
Byrom might return at some point?
Its not a perceived quota, its real. They want a black guy in the top 4, trust me on that. This blacks bowl and whites bat looms large. It gives them sleepless nights. They've got some really good black guys waiting as well- Kaitano, Bawa, Myers. They are good players and can easily make the step up as batters. Welch is on the shortest rope, followed by Curran, followed by Bennett, who if he fails will get another go down the order. They're going to mess around with this top order very soon. Welch probably has to score in his next two innings which is grossly unfair, ditto Curran.
Maru I rate highly despite his failures.
Madande they will give chances to forever. Beyond me.
Shumba? There's plenty of good guys.

The problem is, as we've seen, its a big step up. Wes has threatened, he likes where hes batting. NW will threaten, Bennett may have crossed the threshold, Curran borderline.
Bennett will make it.
I think NW will make it only if they give him a fair go and let him clear his head. You can't bat for your spot every time you play, you'll have a nervous breakdown
Curran I'm on the fence.
Myers will get a go shortly if Welch fails.
Ditto Kaitano and Curran.

[Bulawayo Boy]

Ja, this is a bloodbath. Humiliating. I also think that the selectors have cocked up leaving Evans out.

We're way below the level of England, but put your strongest team out you muppets.

[Googly]

They'll have to be a bit careful when they declare. I wouldn't bat much past lunch if I were them. If they get too greedy we might end up drawing if we bat well in one of the innings, especially if weather plays a part.
I will cut my wrists if we roll over with the bat again. This constant disappointment is draining, man. There are currently no demons in this pitch, but we're short a batsman and an all-rounder. It will be a big ask.

I'll say it again, pick the right guys with fight and persevere. This is a game of mm. I believe in Zimbabaweans, we can improve quickly if they stop fucking us around and do the right things.

[Andy31]

Was able to watch until an hour or so after lunch.

Same kinda feelings as secret.

I think if Blessing just had one more partner on the bowling front, it would have made for better viewing.

Its a tough oval to play, Flat pitch, quick outfield and small boundaries.

This test is about players putting their hands up and seizing moments. Lets see if any of the batters take their chance. Each player has a shot at personal glory because a win ain't happening here.

Also maybe Secret you could create the crowd XI of zim players around the ground.

[ZIMDOGGY]

Has the door closed on Higgins? Or has he closed the door. There will be a lot of middle order depth retiring in a few years. He would add so much. And regardless of whether the perceived quota is real or not there would be less of an issue with all the whites leaving in bringing in another white player.

It sounds like a lot of whites leaving
Ervine and Williams will be around for a bit longer...probably.
BT will be putting his hand up, probably at NW's expense.
There's Welch Jr who will knock on the door shortly, unless they keep trying to keep him out the picture and he jacks it in.
There's both campbells.
Burl.
Byrom might return at some point?
Its not a perceived quota, its real. They want a black guy in the top 4, trust me on that. This blacks bowl and whites bat looms large. It gives them sleepless nights. They've got some really good black guys waiting as well- Kaitano, Bawa, Myers. They are good players and can easily make the step up as batters. Welch is on the shortest rope, followed by Curran, followed by Bennett, who if he fails will get another go down the order. They're going to mess around with this top order very soon. Welch probably has to score in his next two innings which is grossly unfair, ditto Curran.
Maru I rate highly despite his failures.
Madande they will give chances to forever. Beyond me.
Shumba? There's plenty of good guys.

The problem is, as we've seen, its a big step up. Wes has threatened, he likes where hes batting. NW will threaten, Bennett may have crossed the threshold, Curran borderline.
Bennett will make it.
I think NW will make it only if they give him a fair go and let him clear his head. You can't bat for your spot every time you play, you'll have a nervous breakdown
Curran I'm on the fence.
Myers will get a go shortly if Welch fails.
Ditto Kaitano and Curran.

I genuinely thought they’d put the quota away this game, it was a good chance to ‘prove’ one doesn’t exist and now you have just been eyeballed by a major cricketing nation.

I don’t buy the ‘Wes is such a fresh fielder’ argument. 12th man can field.