Guessing & Compiling Franchise Squads

This conversation thread certainly serves to remind us just how miraculous Andy Flower was. He really was a once-in-a-lifetime talent for Zimbabwe. He is the only player we have ever had that would automatically walk into every test team in the world.

> ##Dougie Mariller wrote:Zimbabwe Under 19 Cricketers doesn't have future, 50% of them moves to other nation, 20% of them attains universities, 20% opts for other sports and remaining 10% of them plays some cricket. Transistion of young players is very weak in Zimbabwe.

If they don't find a way to get these guys playing then Zim cricket has no future. The current economic situation makes it virtually impossible anyway, but assume that something changes for the better in a big way in the next two years and Zim becomes a place that you can see a future and people start coming back, ZC has to make cricket a viable career for wannabe professional cricketers. To date they have not shown any inclination for doing so. Even a few years ago when there was more cash and more decent players around they made no effort to integrate school leavers into the system. As long as ZC keep getting their ICC allocation they don't seem to worry about results. Compared to most other member nations it's nowhere near enough, but in Zim terms it's a fortune. You've got administrators and board members that are more than happy to get their monthly salary and retain their cushy one hour a day desk job with no desire whatsoever to do anything. In fact to work harder than one's peers might be imprudent. As that money source slowly dwindles the opportunity to develop players becomes less and we're now on a vicious downward spiral with little hope of recovery.

When was the last time their PR department issued a statement? When did we last hear anything from Streak, Taibu, Klusener or anybody? In fact they are probably under instruction or know it's not going to end well if they say anything beyond the usual platitudes.

When was the last time they did anything constructive like send promising players to batting or bowling academies? There would be a few more than willing to go, they'd come back better players and could be locked into a two year cheap contract to play. What happened to the HPC? What happened to quality coaching clinics for national age group players?

We don't even have a proper indoor facility that can be used. Why can't they engage Gary and John Brent, why on earth did they let those guys go? The list of monumental blunders ZC have committed, and continue to do so, could fill a book.

Robin Brown will be coming back to Kwekwe. He might even park off in my house, which is fine because he always brings his own bottle of red.

As it stands, he has convinced both BT and Jarvis to play for us as overseas pros.

Wow, that is amazing news!!! How are they going to manage that with such a late start to our season? Does that mean they're not going back for the County season?

That's the other thing- our season has to be played in the English off season so we can get a few of their players over here. Anybody shouting about those guys taking a local's spot doesn't know what they are talking about. What happened to Wadham?

> MidWest Rhinos wrote:Robin Brown will be coming back to Kwekwe. He might even park off in my house, which is fine because he always brings his own bottle of red. As it stands, he has convinced both BT and Jarvis to play for us as overseas pros.

Rhinos now are the new favourites to finally win a Logan cup .....

> Googly wrote: Does that mean they're not going back for the County season?

Obviously not. Both senior players at their respective counties. They'd probably only be around until the end of Feb. Still, excellent to have their talent and experience on the local scene until then.

(shame they aren't available for Zim, but that's another very boring story!)

It's pretty lousy that the ICC or the English government or someone can't apply some common sense and say that even though these guys are Kolpak players they should be able to represent their birth country.

Big Names to watch out for in the future :

Trent Schadendorf Jayden, Alistair Ryan Frost, Liam Nicholas Roche, Kieran Robinson, J Connolly, M.Shumba, A.Shara, A.Chiradza, Greig Dollar

**** big question mark will be how many will turn up for Zimbabwe National Cricket in future, as Zimbabwe every time loses best of their under 19 talents to other nations.