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Article by nick1408 -
So, How good could Zimbabwe be?█ Have they got enough talent to be competitive in test cricket as Bangladesh is doing right now?█ Unfortunately the future is bleak but it hasn’t always been so, but the recent series against “India B” suggests there may be some players with talent.
Way back in 1983 Zimbabwe played in that years world cup and were far from disgraced, beating Australia during the tournament.█ Names such as Graeme Hick, Duncan Fletcher, Dave Houghton, Kevin Curran and John Traicos all going on to play test and one day cricket at some stage.█ So the basis of a team was set.█ Losing some of the talented youth like Hick hurt but other players would step into their shoes.
Fast forward to 1992 and Zimbabwe are now a test team.█ Starting out as any new team they were competitive in one day matches but could not stand up to the rigours of test cricket, which sounds very familiar to the 2010 Zimbabwe cricket team.█ Zimbabwe produced players such as Andy and Grant Flower, Alister Campbell, Heath Streak, Paul and Bryan Strang, Henry Olonga, Eddo Brandes, Murray Goodwin and Neil Johnson.█ So as the team was building and becoming competitive on the back of some of the following stats:
Andy Flower averaging 51.54 batting
Grant Flower averaging 29.54 batting
Alister Campbell averaging 27.21 batting
Heath Streak averaging 22.35 batting, 28.14 bowling
Paul Strang averaging 27.06 batting, 36.02 bowling
Bryan Strang averaging 39.33 bowling
Henry Olonga averaging 38.52 bowling
Eddo Brandes averaging 36.57 bowling
Murray Goodwin averaging 42.84 batting
Neil Johnson averaging 24.18 batting, 39.60 bowling
All these stats are against strong teams.█ There was no Bangladesh to inflate averages.█ Whilst some of the numbers are unremarkable remember that.
New players were coming through for Zimbabwe all the time.█ The 2003 World Cup introduced us to Mark Vermeulen, Travis Friend, Craig Wishart, Sean Ervine, Ray Price and Andy Blignaut.█ The side was looking like making the big step forward.█ The sudden retirement of Andy Flower and Hwnry Olonga mid-tournament was the beginning of the end for the future of Zimbabwe cricket but these players are not to be blamed.█ Shortly later in 2004 the Zimbabwe Cricket Board decided to sack the popular Heath Streak.█ This prompted 14 other players to leave the team as well.█ Zimbabwe were well beaten soon after by Sri Lanka and then decided to pull out of all other tests scheduled in 2004, leaving their test status unaffected.
Streak came back into the side in 2005.█ Because of the restrictive inflation tours became shopping trips for necessities rather than the usual cricketing trip most players from other countries would take.█ Political changes to Zimbabwe led to another player walkout and the self imposed suspension from international cricket in 2006.█ The Logan Cup, Zimbabwe’s domestic competition was also cancelled in 2006 but a sub-standard one-day competition continued.█ Further harm was to come when Mark Vermeulen was accused of burning down the cricket academy.
Rhodesia (as it used to be known) had competed in the South African domestic scene since 1905 and played their last season in the Currie Cup in 1979/80.█ Should Zimbabwe domestic cricket be re-introduced into the South African system?█ The same argument could be made for New Zealand entering the Australian competitions but the circumstances are different.█ Zimbabwe is again building to be competitive and needs as much help as possible.█ Close ties between these countries can only help Zimbabwe realistically but a strong Zimbabwe is good for African cricket.
Zimbabwe’s future back to test cricket is via the Intercontinental Cup against sides such as Scotland, Afghanistan and Kenya.█ This will give regular four day cricket against opponents of similar skill.█ A new cricket committee headed by Alister Campbell has also been set up.
Test cricket may come back to Zimbabwe but it will be a long, hard road.
More...
So, How good could Zimbabwe be?█ Have they got enough talent to be competitive in test cricket as Bangladesh is doing right now?█ Unfortunately the future is bleak but it hasn’t always been so, but the recent series against “India B” suggests there may be some players with talent.
Way back in 1983 Zimbabwe played in that years world cup and were far from disgraced, beating Australia during the tournament.█ Names such as Graeme Hick, Duncan Fletcher, Dave Houghton, Kevin Curran and John Traicos all going on to play test and one day cricket at some stage.█ So the basis of a team was set.█ Losing some of the talented youth like Hick hurt but other players would step into their shoes.
Fast forward to 1992 and Zimbabwe are now a test team.█ Starting out as any new team they were competitive in one day matches but could not stand up to the rigours of test cricket, which sounds very familiar to the 2010 Zimbabwe cricket team.█ Zimbabwe produced players such as Andy and Grant Flower, Alister Campbell, Heath Streak, Paul and Bryan Strang, Henry Olonga, Eddo Brandes, Murray Goodwin and Neil Johnson.█ So as the team was building and becoming competitive on the back of some of the following stats:
Andy Flower averaging 51.54 batting
Grant Flower averaging 29.54 batting
Alister Campbell averaging 27.21 batting
Heath Streak averaging 22.35 batting, 28.14 bowling
Paul Strang averaging 27.06 batting, 36.02 bowling
Bryan Strang averaging 39.33 bowling
Henry Olonga averaging 38.52 bowling
Eddo Brandes averaging 36.57 bowling
Murray Goodwin averaging 42.84 batting
Neil Johnson averaging 24.18 batting, 39.60 bowling
All these stats are against strong teams.█ There was no Bangladesh to inflate averages.█ Whilst some of the numbers are unremarkable remember that.
New players were coming through for Zimbabwe all the time.█ The 2003 World Cup introduced us to Mark Vermeulen, Travis Friend, Craig Wishart, Sean Ervine, Ray Price and Andy Blignaut.█ The side was looking like making the big step forward.█ The sudden retirement of Andy Flower and Hwnry Olonga mid-tournament was the beginning of the end for the future of Zimbabwe cricket but these players are not to be blamed.█ Shortly later in 2004 the Zimbabwe Cricket Board decided to sack the popular Heath Streak.█ This prompted 14 other players to leave the team as well.█ Zimbabwe were well beaten soon after by Sri Lanka and then decided to pull out of all other tests scheduled in 2004, leaving their test status unaffected.
Streak came back into the side in 2005.█ Because of the restrictive inflation tours became shopping trips for necessities rather than the usual cricketing trip most players from other countries would take.█ Political changes to Zimbabwe led to another player walkout and the self imposed suspension from international cricket in 2006.█ The Logan Cup, Zimbabwe’s domestic competition was also cancelled in 2006 but a sub-standard one-day competition continued.█ Further harm was to come when Mark Vermeulen was accused of burning down the cricket academy.
Rhodesia (as it used to be known) had competed in the South African domestic scene since 1905 and played their last season in the Currie Cup in 1979/80.█ Should Zimbabwe domestic cricket be re-introduced into the South African system?█ The same argument could be made for New Zealand entering the Australian competitions but the circumstances are different.█ Zimbabwe is again building to be competitive and needs as much help as possible.█ Close ties between these countries can only help Zimbabwe realistically but a strong Zimbabwe is good for African cricket.
Zimbabwe’s future back to test cricket is via the Intercontinental Cup against sides such as Scotland, Afghanistan and Kenya.█ This will give regular four day cricket against opponents of similar skill.█ A new cricket committee headed by Alister Campbell has also been set up.
Test cricket may come back to Zimbabwe but it will be a long, hard road.
More...
