Zimbabwe bowling situation..

TapsC wrote:there are a few issues that I have with this structure. first of all will there be a promotion and relegation system into the top tier? for example if the west Indies finishes last would they then be replaced by a team from the bottom tier? I personally don't think its fair on us and that it should at least be 7-5 and not 9-3 to bring context into both leagues and not just one. I doubt they will really force the top 9 teams to have to play one of the bottom 3. it will more likely a situation where we are begging them to play.

The BCB president has spoken and he says there is no relegation...which I think is a dumb concept. There should only be promotion, no relegation.

Cricinfo has said the bottom 3 countries wont be eligible for promotion "right away". So my guess is if after 10 years or so if any country does well, they will get promoted into an expanded 10 team top tier. So its important for the 3 teams in Division 2 to dominate the others.

It wouldn't count for nothing if we win one off tests against Div 1 members. Sure you don't get a point in your league, but victories in tests will always have an impact.

Well those Tests would be in name only as BRMT has noted, which is essentially meaningless. Further teams wouldnt play their first choice side for fear of injuries affecting their D1 clashes. If 12 teams have status they should be in a single division, otherwise its pointless.

TapsC, your stats are definitely true, but the Zim team of the 90s is fundementally a different side than the one post 2004, IMO. Further, I think the split has put a lot more weight on recent results and future prognostic performance. There are clearly 9 teams and then the rest. Ireland flirt at world cups but there recent form has been poor, and that is being generous. Afghanistan will eventually crack the top 10, but they aren't quite there yet. Zimbabawe's top young players just got beaten 4-1 by team fielding as many as 8 list A debutants in the XI. My prognosis is rather bleak for the "Chevrons".

Assuming a 3 team tier with say 8 series on a home/away basis per 2 year cycle, how would the teams pan out?

We'd have to assume the 8 Tests in Ireland would be largely rain affected. Assuming 6 drawn Tests, really negates Ireland's home advantage vis a vis Afghanistan and Zimbabwe. So thats 6 draws for Ireland, 3 each for Zim and Afg.

It appears as though Zimbawe would likely finish 11th, ahead of Ireland, and behind Afghanistan. Of course the game can't be played on paper, but that seems likely to me.

Anyways, the ICC is known for abrupt changes, so this 9-3 may very well revert back to 7-5 or 8-2.

Why is there not a statement by ZC? This is a big issue and their silence typifies the disregard they have for the stake holders. With our system in tatters it's easy for the ICC to just push us in whatever direction suits them. Here's a slim theory-

That ICC rep that has just been here came to see what was going on with our unforthcoming reports, but also came to discuss this proposed format and bear gifts if ZC tows the line. I heard a rumour over drinks last night that we've been guaranteed funding for the next 6 years. If this is true the current guys will never be prised out and we're just going to limp along. We have this large structure of boards and provincial reps whose sole raîson d'être is to maintain the status quo. If there was a coup, the incoming guys would gleefully rub their hands together and entrench themselves in turn, that's the really sad part. The more people you look after who do nothing, the harder you are to displace.

The fact that ICC are prepared to tolerate our administration is surprising. They must know this admin is not turning it around, and must know they could squeeze us, but they don't. A weak and corrupt Zim set up is somehow acceptable to them, which is surprising when it's clear we could easily be replaced by Afghanistan, Holland, Ireland etc and could be forced to be more transparent and even accept appointees to run our affairs. It's clear that ICC need us more than we realised and are prepared to tolerate the shenanigans here.

Googly, from the ICC's perspective the money they spend on Zim would be spent on Afghanistan/Ireland anyways so to the powers that be, its all the same to them. Ie its money they wont see either way. So they dont mind that ZC wastes money that CI or ACB would have put to good use. The right to be agrieved lies with Irish and Afghan fans.

That being said, ZC will get guaranteed funding until another country comes along a makes a compelling case to cut Zim out in place of them.

So far, Ireland have lost both ODI series vs ZIM, and Afghanistan had only beaten them twice, by close 3-2 margins. This is from the ICC's viewpoint. That doesnt yet warrant a spot ovet ZIM.

However, with these new leagues, ZIM has a real chance of falling below the 2 associates and being relegated further. Zimbabwe are only a Cremer golf career or a Ervine hip hop album away from the World Cricket League and Intercontinental Cup.

Unless Murray, Burl, Musakanda, Jayden, and Mumba can arrest the slide. Based on the just concluded A swries, that is 50-50.

I'm not advocating relegation by any stretch. I am enormously frustrated that ICC are not turning the screws on our administration and am even more frustrated that there's not a concerted orchestrated effort from within to put proper people in the right places with checks and balances. Everyone has all but given up and they just go with the flow and mutter about their lot in life.

Googly wrote:I'm not advocating relegation by any stretch. I am enormously frustrated that ICC are not turning the screws on our administration and am even more frustrated that there's not a concerted orchestrated effort from within to put proper people in the right places with checks and balances. Everyone has all but given up and they just go with the flow and mutter about their lot in life.

I think the ICC action will come, perhaps in stages...just wait 4 years. Thats my bold prediction. But one fears the damage is done when you look at Taylor, Jarvis, Ballance, and the Curran bros.

The ICC want Zimbabwe to die I think. They know Zimbabwe has no future as a competitive nation so it is easier to let things plod along until the ultimate demise. I imagine most view the decision to grant full membership back in the early 1990s as a mistake.