Zimbabwe Domestic Cricket

[Aislabie]

Chakabva... hmmm... I don't know what his glovework is like, whether Taylor has been 'keeping because he's superior or because what he says goes, but if Brendan Taylor can be keeping him away from the gloves then I wouldn't really want him overly near the side.


I'd agree with most of what you have there, though here's my XI, Sibanda and Mawoyo should definitely be at the top of the order in the Test side, they seem to have the application to play 'proper' Test innings.

Taylor at three or four seems about right. Get him playing sensibly, and not worrying about his responsibility, and he's good enough for most Test sides in the world.

Williams, Ervine and Waller as your middle-order candidates I also agree with whole-heartedly. Williams is superbly talented, and will hopefully be right back to the level he showed in the WC. Also excellent at the time was Ervine, who looks rather classy and suited to a longer game. Waller's also a very good talent.

Chiggy at seven provides an all-round option. He is the very poor man's black Ian Botham after all, and his canny medium pace creates an interesting angle from wide of the stumps.

Cremer can bat as well as being one of the few successful spinners in First Class cricket. Unlike Natsai and Tinotenda, he looks like a potent threat when bowling well. When bowling less well, he can still be used as a partnership breaker.

Glen Querl is, I think, one of the most pivotal talents still within reach of Zimbabwe cricket. If he can ease his way into the side, and if doubts about his action can be dispelled, he might be an international class performer. Great stats.

Keegan Meth at ten has been hugely successful in the domestic series, and deserves a chance for the national side. My only real worry is that he adds to the army of military medium already on offer (more on that in a second).

Ray Price is getting older, but he's still an excellent bowler. Of genuine international class, he's got a couple of years left in him that Zimbabwe can't afford to miss out on. He NEEDS to be around the squad at all time, at the very least to mentor and coach the baby spinners.

My reserves would be Hamilton Masakadza's talent is not in doubt, but his first movement is back foot to square leg, meaning that the only way he can get the bat through is horizontally, and that won't be any real use against top bowlers.

Forster Mutizwa sometimes has to fight Chakabva for his franchise's gloveman spot, but as a fill-in 'keeper he is satisfactory, and as a batsman, his ten FC centuries and respectable ODI stats look solid.

Kyle Jarvis provides something slightly above trundler-level pace, but plenty below potent. From what I've seen of his bowling, he lacks something so basic as an upright seam.

Prosper Utseya is canny, experienced and gets sharp turn. Probably above any other candidates.

OPENERS - Vusi has 14 FC tons to his name, and Tino hit an unbeaten 163 against Pakistan. They're solid, not spectacular, but probably wouldn't let you down.

MIDDLE ORDER - It feels like everyone's a spot too high, but I think that Taylor-Williams-Ervine-Waller is your strongest combination. With ODI averages of 34, 29, 35 and 23, they're decent international performers. Those with lower one-day averages have FC averages over 40.

LOWER ORDER - Chigumbura, Cremer, Querl and Meth are all all-rounders, offering a lower order that shouldn't just fold.

PACE BOWLING - Pace, what pace? There is a flat theme of military medium. While some extra pace would be orgasm-inducingly wonderful, the only places it's going to come from are scattergun slinger and soap-story Brian Vitori, who burst from nowhere onto the scene but faded just as fast, and the scrambled-seamed and none-too-quick Kyle Jarvis. Until fast men are good enough to displace the medium-pacers, there's no real point in forcing them in. Just prepare slow wickets.

SPIN - The only place that side looks dead safe is the spin department. Price and Cremer is certainly a stronger pair than Doherty and Maxwell for Australia. Probably both of genuine International quality.

 

[CremerCurrans]

Chakabva is very capable behind the stumps, Taylor kept in the ODI's because he was still getting over an illness; So they threw him the gloves. Also Chakabva hasn't been that good in ODI cricket so far. (The later being the main reason, after Chakabva failed in the first match)

I'm a big fan of Chakabva, he's very much a FC batsmen, too slow in other formats; He tends to get stuck too often. The thing I like though is: he's willing to hang around, and battle during tough periods in matches. With Taibu gone, we really need someone like that, to push an advantage or save us from complete embarrassment. Mutumbami is very similar to Chakabva, and could easily end-up being better than him.

Agree with what you've mentioned above. I'm quite frustrated about what's happened with Querl, this whole domestic season has pretty much been a waste for him, because he's had a "chucking claim" hanging over his head. I think Streak has handled this badly. He's the coach at the Tuskers, and the bowling coach for Zimbabwe. He should of taken him aside and taken the time to help him work on his action. Now it's too late, he's gone back over to England and is set for another season with the Unicorns. Will be interested to see if anyone does anything about it over there. :/

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Also we do have one decent paced fast bowler - Tendai Chatara. He apparently bowled up around the 145 mark, in the second T20I against WI's. (Didn't watch the stream this time, but have been told that by reliable sources) Needs to work on his accuracy, and get more experience at higher levels, but could be a good prospect. I didn't know he was that quick.

 

[Aislabie]

That's promising - definitely get him in for the impact formats like the T20s. Once he has the consistency, then he could spearhead that attack quite nicely.

And if Chakabva's that good then he'd be a useful number seven to have. He could make sure he batted out the innings and holds the catches. Agree too on Querl - if he's an obvious chucker then work should have been done before now. It's no good picking up wickets at 14 apiece with a bent arm. If they can fix that without neutralizing him, he HAS to be in. As an all-rounder.

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One question though - who out of that eleven does he slot in for? Williams? Because whatever happens, you end up short of batting or bowling

 

[CremerCurrans]

One question though - who out of that eleven does he slot in for? Williams? Because whatever happens, you end up short of batting or bowling

Querl? I wouldn't call him an all-rounder yet. He's only had the one Gillespie-like Innings. (Came in as a night watchmen and spent enough time at the crease, to wear down the bowlers, and ended-up scoring 181) Happens a few times in the Logan Cup every year, due to some of the bowlers not having great stamina. Hope he does work on his batting, could be like Lamb & Cremer; A handy lower-order batsmen.

 

[Aislabie]

Maybe, but he's scoring 40s and 50s pretty regularly, and his 180 (I think it was 180ish?) came very quickly too, but that seems pretty fair. Waller, Williams and Taylor could fill in his missing overs. I think Mawoyo bowls decent seamers.

Would also like to see Charles Coventry in the T20 side, and not just because I'm a Tuskers fan. I think he's the most explosive Zimbabwean batman and the only one with the real hitting power to clear the boundary, something that was sorely sorely lacking against the Windies.

 

[CremerCurrans]

Yeah, he showed in the BPL how destructive he can be. Doesn't have the patience or the ability to build an innings in other formats.

 

[Aislabie]

Agree there, although he could be useful as a flat track bully in ODIs. But in T20s I reckon he could find his niche, and the selectors really missed a trick opening with Masakadza and Sibanda.

 

[CremerCurrans]

Glen Querl has been given a trial with Hampshire. I read that he played a practice game for them yesterday. Good luck.

 

[Aislabie]

Excellent, it's good to see players being given an opportunity. I just hope he doesn't end up turning his back on the Tuskers

 

[CremerCurrans]

For any other Zimbabwe supporters out there:

Zimbabwe?s Craig Ervine has decided to play cricket in England this summer after turning down his latest contract offer from the national board.

Getting sick of drama ahead of every series. I can't believe Zimbabwe cricket has allowed this winter contract controversy to happen. We've become a complete joke, and the players can only put up with it for so long. The remaining players will continue to have to put-up with this rubbish, until they decide to leave as well or if there is a complete clean-out of Zimbabwe crooks. We're only heading one way, and that's into the ground. Bangladesh are going to flog us in the coming series. From what I've heard Alistair Campbell is one of the biggest crooks, which is awful. :/

 

[SpitfiresKent]

For any other Zimbabwe supporters out there:



Getting sick of drama ahead of every series. I can't believe Zimbabwe cricket has allowed this winter contract controversy to happen. We've become a complete joke, and the players can only put up with it for so long. The remaining players will continue to have to put-up with this rubbish, until they decide to leave as well or if there is a complete clean-out of Zimbabwe crooks. We're only heading one way, and that's into the ground. Bangladesh are going to flog us in the coming series. From what I've heard Alistair Campbell is one of the biggest crooks, which is awful. :/

Do you know what team Craig has signed for? And are you referring to the same Alistair Campbell who is currently commentating on the IPL?

 

[CremerCurrans]

Do you know what team Craig has signed for? And are you referring to the same Alistair Campbell who is currently commentating on the IPL?

Not sure which club he plays for over in England, but has played some second XI matches for Hampshire in the past. That was during the last county season.

Yeah the same AC. He's a crook. Has to be involved in everything, and is just interested in the money he can make. Cares little about cricket in Zimbabwe improving. :/

 

[CremerCurrans]

A fantastic article about the state of Zimbabwe cricket:

Here.

That the goings on at 10 Maiden Drive is broadly defined as 'cricket' attests to how elastic the definition has become. In evidence that is now well-documented beyond rational disputation, events this past week saw Zimbabwe's cricketers, who are in the training squad in preparation for the upcoming series against Bangladesh, boycotting scheduled practice sessions and a warm up match. While points of emphasis and nuances on the matter may differ, the generally shared view is that these age-old, never-ending, self-defeating conflicts are all too familiar as it is not the first time that the administrators and players are not singing from the same song sheet, and put frankly, it's a mess.

So far, the response from the ZC administrators to their dirty line being washed in public has been to attempt to portray a corrupted perception that they have it all under control and that the players are being greedy in their demands, but even to the most foolish in our midst, the symptoms are there for all to see that the game in the country is terminally ill, everyone knows that something will have to give; they are just hoping it's not too painful. Alarmingly though, for a reason lost on those who care, the governing body of the game in the country cannot see this, or they choose to ignore it.

Are the players within their rights to demand better wages and some form of financial commitment from Zimbabwe Cricket in exchange for their untold hours in the nets? Without a shadow of doubt they are, playing for honor will not pay the bills and any breadwinner would be sympathetic to this position. The audience takes these things for granted, often forgetting that the characters we watch, and from whom we expect so much have families to feed and the game of cricket encouraged them to start them. Against the odds, cricketers in Zimbabwe have persevered despite the administration's continued unwillingness to provide a conducive environment that motivates players to want to improve.

It is the administrators who should get all the stick for failing to get their house in order. Those who speak with open mouths and shut minds will want to argue that the players have no basis to ask for money since their performances in the recent past do not warrant any monetary compensation. The reality on the ground though is that the players care for the performance of the team and cricket is their source of livelihood, but frustratingly the administrators through their decisions and conduct simply do not have the best interests of the players at heart.

The recent player boycott is a case in point. Consider the manner in which how ZC administrators initially showed a total disregard for the welfare of their non-centrally contracted players by not offering them winter contracts. Players were simply expected to turn up for practice and contribute their skills in fulfillment of fixtures accrue without any remittance for services rendered, and instead a meager daily allowance was dangled in front them.

Credit to the players for being bold in realizing their worth in an otherwise intimidating environment, an environment in which such actions can easily be framed by the oppressive administrators at ZC as rebellious and as being sufficient grounds to end your international career, just ask Taibu. Craig Ervine has seen enough and joins the long list of talented cricketers in the Diaspora who could be holding fort than the incumbents. Think about such talents like Balance, Ruswa, De Grandhomme, Samumderu, Chaitezvi, Chihota, Mwayenga, the list is endless.

Whether ZC had the money for the initial US$100 a week allowance and the subsequent five month, 800-American-dollar-per-month contracts that were eventually offered for those with no central contracts, or they sourced the money from elsewhere sensing the volatility of the situation, the fact remains that the matter was handled incompetently and the humiliation the player boycott could have been avoided, mindful of the wider responsibility to the people of Zimbabwe and the international sport of cricket.

For the ordinary Zimbabwean, particularly in the prevalent underperforming Zimbabwean economy, these figures might seem affluent, but as far as market rates go the completion earns far more than this, and given the short career life-span of a sportsman and the overheads required for one to be able to perform consistently at the highest level, these figures are small change.

The real issue here is governance, or lack thereof, and the product that the current administrators claim to represent so passionately is crumbling at their own hands. What solution, if any, is there for the chronic blindness of the administrators to the reality of the increasing irrelevance of Zimbabwean cricket?

Former coach Butcher made the point that 'we are simply not good enough' and Aussie great Gillespie termed ZC administrators as 'liars'. How embarrassing it is for outsiders to come into our backyard and tell us what we are not honest enough to acknowledge.

Plain and simple, the narrow minded and self-serving administration currently led by the weak Wilfred Mukondiwa, have shown no intention of reforming itself. Doubtless, the only thing that can be credited to them is overseeing the degradation and humiliation of cricket in Zimbabwe. Not only is the administration amateurish, it lacks credibility.

Just by surfing the online social media platforms out there you can see that people love the game in the country, but the administration is letting them down. Just pay a visit Harare Sports club and see the size of the grass on the outfield that the Zimbabwe training squad is currently practicing in.

Zimbabwean cricketers are demanding action and accountability. Someone has to stand up and say enough is enough and solve this thing once and for all. The cricketers everyone gets to see on television are trying hard to pull a brave face and compete, but the weight of incompetent administrators is damaging to their psyche and continues to pull them down.

How can it be that in a country with a population of 13 million and over 500 000 passionate male and female cricketers only 18 are being compensated for their efforts, how can it be? Even those 18 still have complaints of late payment of salaries, how can it be? Never mind the salaries, grounds are without covers, no net facilities to practice, no cricket balls to practice, no umpires, how can it be?

Someone must hear the plight of Zimbabwean cricketers; do not turn a blind eye. The boycott was a way of shouting out to the world that none of the principals at ZC have the best interests of the game at heart. Regis Chakabva, Chris Mpofu and Tino Mawoyo despite being injured in the line of duty, do not have contracts. If this is a thinking person's game, who is doing the thinking for Zimbabwe cricket?

 

[MUFC1987]

Querl has had his action reported by the ECB, so he's banned from bowling right now in County Cricket. Probably not the worst thing to happen though, as at least now he'll have the opportunity to work on it and improve his action.

 

[CremerCurrans]

Not surprised. Just hope he gets some help from somebody. Still disappointed that Streak did nothing. He's been great at assisting Mpofu, Jarvis, Shingi & Meth, but just let Querl pile-up the wickets for the Tuskers, while knowing his action wasn't correct. :/