Is the end near?

[stone bird]

Streak retired. I doubt he will ever go back now
Wishart, Carlisle retired. Rogers kicked out.

Zimbabwe flogged by Kenya.

Zimbabwe now do not possess a quality opening bowling pair with streak gone. Will Bliganut stand up? Will zimbabwe offer unwanted Qld bowler Scott Brant a contract?

Will South Africa convince Taibu to stay and qualify for them?

Zimbabwean cricket really is on its last legs...something needs to be done --> soon!

[Greeny]

I believe it is time for a two tier system in Test cricket.

Zim, Bangas and Kenya should be joined maybe by some of the "lesser" nations in maybe a four day tournament played over four years. Other nations? Maybe Ireland, Holland, Scotland, etc etc (Australia?).

[The Phantom Ram]

Originally Posted by stone bird

Zimbabwean cricket really is on its last legs...something needs to be done --> soon!

I believe that once a nation is a Test playing nation everything should be done to help them by the other Test Playing nations. Whether this be by helping resolve political (cricketing only, I know Zimbabwe have issues that go beyond cricket) such as the West Indian sponsorship row or what ever is causing the loss of Zimbabwean test players (contractual issues). Whether it be by playing 3 tests instead of 2 or 4 tests instead of 3, this would only be a small increase for each individual nation but could mean 3 extra tests a year for the likes of Zimbabwe and Bangledesh. Countries like England could host not test playing tours where by Zim or Ban tour England playing first class matches getting to know other playing conditions. There is lots that could be done and I believe it is the responsibility of all the Test teams to look after each other. 10 strong teams will improve the standard, popularity and money spinning ability of cricket all around the world. Remember 20 years ago Sri Lanka couldn't buy a win.

[Paoli]

Enough's enough. The ICC should get on the phone to Peter Chingoka in a couple of days and say, thanks for the past few years, but pack your bags up as the organisation no longer exists. Kick Zimbabwe out of the game, for the good of the game.

[stone bird]

Paoli for what zimbabwean cricket has been through over the last 2 years, they should probably be kicked out.

But for world cricket...there needs to be as many competitive teams as possible!

The ICC should call up chingoka and say...there is obviously something wrong (streak, carlisle, wishart + 10 others have all quit, mashonaland have had enough, the on-field performances are beyond belief and the players are unhappy with just about everything)...we are sending in a group of 4 neutral people with cricketing backgrounds from Australia, South Africa, India and England (or somebody from somewhere) to oversee the running of cricket in the country for the next 2 years. If chingoka/bvute/mugabe decline then zimbabwean cricket is history (banished from the ICC)...mind you the mugabe politics would be left out at all times!

Their roles would be to:

1. sort out the contract problems.
2. see to the re-establishment of club and domestic cricket
3. appoint a full time national coach
4. see to the re-lauch of the of the CFX academy
5. Organise more quality first class matches.
6. select a national team based on MERIT
7. At the end of the 2 years, hand over the reigns to people they have been working with and feel will do their very best for zimbabwean cricket.

[Paoli]

I made similar comments on this thread, but I think that a bunch of businessmen should take over the reigns, and let them appoint a full time cricketing department.

My first reaction was perhaps rash; but we've lost one of our greatest post-test inclusion cricketers, and it's very disappointing to see Heath go.

I strongly oppose to the selection commitee being all Zimbabwean; perhaps get Phil Simmons, unless Mugabe's deported him, and a few other blokes (in all honesty who will want to be a Zimbabwean selector though?) to lead the selection panel.

It's not feasable to see it happen. The ICC haven't enough balls because of monetary reasons to cancel Zimbabwean tours, let alone overthrow a cricketing board which they CLEARED of any racial wrongdoing, or any wrongdoing whatsoever, just last year. Sport and politics are so interconnected in Zimbabwe, yet it's considered "apolitical" by the likes of Chingoka. It's a bit like telling someone that if they eat KFC for the rest of their lives they won't die.

Mugabe's still the patron of ZC as I understand, though only attends the odd (and I use that term loosely) match. It's all well and good to say we should get guys to run it- but IMO it ain't feasable.

[Teatime FatCat]

While you're at it, they have served Phil Simmons with an expulsion order, and have ordered him to leave the country - he says they haven't even sacked him properly yet, and is still unofficially coaching in the country.

This is madness, and serves the young Zimbo cricketers no good whatsoever. What can be done?

[Paoli]

It's incredibly strange TTFC that one would be expelled from a nation for passing his thoughts about his sacking on. But hey, it's Zimbabwe.

The players signed a petition to have him reinstated. Alas, it'll take much more than a petition to get ZC Arses in to line.

[The Phantom Ram]

I read a piece in Wisden Monthly that said Zimbabwe is no longer a cricketing country as no one plays or watches the game now. It is such a shame because if all players were available they would have a team that would perform constantly better than the likes of WI and Bangledesh and capable of beating anyone.

[Paoli]

Originally Posted by The Phantom Ram

I read a piece in Wisden Monthly that said Zimbabwe is no longer a cricketing country as no one plays or watches the game now.

People do play it; it's still very strong in the Public Schools (maybe known as private schools elsewhere) like St. Georges, Churchill, Peterhouse and St. John's etc, and many kids play cricket as a summer sport, but it's after that when the system just falls away.

Like Zimbabwean Rugby. Zimbabwe Schools have almost been a match for KwaZulu Natal and other provinces in the past. I remember they beat Natal 31-26 in one game back when I was there. They used to belt the socks off sides like Namibia and Kenya in schools comp, but once they're beyond school it's too hard to maintain the standards, alas the structure falls away.

Nobody watches it though; alot has to do with the poor scheduling. One of the tests was between Monday and Friday!!! Not even a day spared for the weekends?