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The John Ward column

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Opening post

My question: if Taylor doesn't get a new contract with Notts after this season, do you think he would come back to Zimbabwe given his main gripe was a lack of fixtures?
Bangladesh cricket fanatic, observer of all others.
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I'm not John ward but I think Taykors gripe was more than just the fixtures, the fixtures excuse just seems a relatively OC excuse to give.

That said, I saw his stats the last twelve innings he has played and he averages 25. That's Elton chigumbura styles, so he may not get signed, one high case I'm sure we will see him back you'd think. He doesn't hate us.
ZCF OriginalZCF Hall of Famer

ZIMDOGGY wrote:I'm not John ward but I think Taykors gripe was more than just the fixtures, the fixtures excuse just seems a relatively OC excuse to give.

That said, I saw his stats the last twelve innings he has played and he averages 25. That's Elton chigumbura styles, so he may not get signed, one high case I'm sure we will see him back you'd think. He doesn't hate us.


Well that or it was Mangongo. Maybe money, but I reckon he was making around he same amount as he is with Notts. Counties have a lot of young talent and Id say there is a good chance BT might get cut after this season. Unless he scores a boatload of runs and pulls a Kyle Jarvis. Jarvis got demoted to the 2nd XIs before he started ripping through the county scene.
Bangladesh cricket fanatic, observer of all others.
Legend

ZIMDOGGY wrote:I'm not John ward but I think Taykors gripe was more than just the fixtures, the fixtures excuse just seems a relatively OC excuse to give.

That said, I saw his stats the last twelve innings he has played and he averages 25. That's Elton chigumbura styles, so he may not get signed, one high case I'm sure we will see him back you'd think. He doesn't hate us.


Thing is that Notts are one of the biggest clubs around. Taylor would definitely be able to a county gig somewhere if he doesn't get a new offer from Notts. The fact that he has been in Zim a lot, and is rumoured to be playing domestic cricket this season suggests that a return is not beyond the bounds of possibility. I wouldn't be putting any money on it though...
ZCF OriginalZCF Hall of Famer
Do you know have Ryan Burl, Kyle Bowie, Deven Bell, Craig Dollar signed a franchise contract or not ? What do you think about their future in Zimbabwean cricket ?

I don’t actually know if anybody has signed a contact yet, or been offered one – there is the usual fuss and inefficiency about them.

Ryan Burl is an excellent prospect as long as he can stay free from injury and stays in the country: he is a very mature and impressive batsman. I can’t offer any opinions on the others yet as I haven’t seen enough of them.
My All-time Zimbabwe XI
Neil Johnson, Brendan Taylor, Murray Goodwin, Andy Flower (w), David Houghton, Sean Williams, Heath Streak (c), Andy Blignaut, Paul Strang, Eddo Brandes, Blessing Muzarabani
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Kriterion_BD wrote:

ZIMDOGGY wrote:I'm not John ward but I think Taykors gripe was more than just the fixtures, the fixtures excuse just seems a relatively OC excuse to give.

That said, I saw his stats the last twelve innings he has played and he averages 25. That's Elton chigumbura styles, so he may not get signed, one high case I'm sure we will see him back you'd think. He doesn't hate us.


Well that or it was Mangongo. Maybe money, but I reckon he was making around he same amount as he is with Notts. Counties have a lot of young talent and Id say there is a good chance BT might get cut after this season. Unless he scores a boatload of runs and pulls a Kyle Jarvis. Jarvis got demoted to the 2nd XIs before he started ripping through the county scene.


Mango go was definitely the catalyst.

I feel I do sometimes talk myself up a bit on this forum but I called it to a tee in that game he was dropped against Bangladesh a few years back. I can't be fugged digging it up but I said it.

I am an expert in reading people and there was a part of the coverage on the stream that showed Taylor sitting in the dressing room eating a oacket of chips or doing something.

Even though he appeared somewhat jovial My guy read at the time was him acting like he didn't care anymore and was just in sarcastic happy mode knowing that he's going to go out the door.

This was proved correct in the interview with the blind dude when he said he made his mind up to leave during that trip.

I guarantee he made his mind up in the hour prior to that footage if anyone remembers it.
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No doubt. A big part of that was wanting to experience an actual professional set up too.

The career span of a cricketer is limited, so if he wanted to experience how a proper cricket club was run it was a sort of "now or never" situation.

I guess it's the same with most people. There comes a time in your career where even though you like your job (and I think there's no question that BT is patriotic and liked representing his country) you know that professionally the only way to advance yourself is to move elsewhere.

The real shame about this is that it's not possible for him to do both. How is it fair that Elton Chigumbura got a gig as an overseas county player a few years back (so no conflict with international duties) but BT had to quit ZIm in order to be a Kolpak player?
Legend

brmtaylor.com admin wrote:

The real shame about this is that it's not possible for him to do both. How is it fair that Elton Chigumbura got a gig as an overseas county player a few years back (so no conflict with international duties) but BT had to quit ZIm in order to be a Kolpak player?


A short term overseas contract wouldn't have made it worth his while to up-sticks and move to the UK though. No county ever offers a 3 year contract to an overseas player, like the Kolpak deal he did get.
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Over the years there's been Aussie players that seem to spend heaps of time playing county cricket, I don't think any of them are part of Kolpak deals though.
Legend

brmtaylor.com admin wrote:Over the years there's been Aussie players that seem to spend heaps of time playing county cricket, I don't think any of them are part of Kolpak deals though.


Yes, but none of them would have been given a 3 year, full-time deal at any point.
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aydee wrote:Yes, but none of them would have been given a 3 year, full-time deal at any point.


Yes, if we look a little deeper, the English counties exploit talent and contracts very badly. Even at his promising best, Tendulkar got a single season with Yorkshire in early 90s, and Kumble too, at the top of his game, one season for Northants (taking bucket loads of wickets for fun in that season). They would mostly have per season contracts with even those regular Aussie visitors, but as soon as they see an opportunity of a Kolpak player, they are very keen to lock them up with multi-year deals. They most probably even actively pursue some folks like BRMT who is sitting on the fence of such decisions by dangling deals of that kind. But when it comes to promising youngsters / national discards of say, teams like Sri Lanka, even when it is clear that they may not get national gig regularly for a couple of years to come, no such overseas investment is made.
Legend

CrimsonAvenger wrote:

aydee wrote:Yes, but none of them would have been given a 3 year, full-time deal at any point.


Yes, if we look a little deeper, the English counties exploit talent and contracts very badly. Even at his promising best, Tendulkar got a single season with Yorkshire in early 90s, and Kumble too, at the top of his game, one season for Northants (taking bucket loads of wickets for fun in that season). They would mostly have per season contracts with even those regular Aussie visitors, but as soon as they see an opportunity of a Kolpak player, they are very keen to lock them up with multi-year deals. They most probably even actively pursue some folks like BRMT who is sitting on the fence of such decisions by dangling deals of that kind. But when it comes to promising youngsters / national discards of say, teams like Sri Lanka, even when it is clear that they may not get national gig regularly for a couple of years to come, no such overseas investment is made.


You're right, but I don't think you can blame the counties. They don't have any responsibility to look after anyone other than themselves. The whole problem with Kolpaks is that it doesn't count as "overseas investment". Kolpaks count as local players, and can therefore command lengthy deals like local players. Actual overseas players have only a fleeting involvement with counties in 98% of cases, as well as other commitments abroad, be that internationals, family, etc. In other words, there was no chance whatsoever that Notts would have considered Taylor worthy of a 3 year deal as an overseas player (his performance last year would vindicate this belief). Let's face it, these circumstances worked out well for Notts and Taylor. Just not Zim. Sadly. As normal.
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I know this would have already been talked about and debated here but did Brexit have any effect on Kolpak deals ??
Legend

jaybro wrote:I know this would have already been talked about and debated here but did Brexit have any effect on Kolpak deals ??


Not yet, obviously. If it does change anything, it wouldn't kick in for a few years anyway. To be honest, nobody really knows, but for now, status quo.
ZCF OriginalZCF Hall of Famer
If Taylor doesn't get a new contract with Notts after this season, do you think he would come back to Zimbabwe given his main gripe was a lack of fixtures?

With Notts now in Division 2, I would expect Taylor to have a good season – as long as he is still enjoying county cricket — and be offered a new contract.

I think the main gripe that pushed him over the edge was his clashes with Stephen Mangongo, then the coach.

He could decide to return to Zimbabwean cricket after the next English season, if he can be satisfied it is being run well and there is plenty of international cricket, but really I have no idea what his thinking might be right now as I have no contact with him.

I think there will be certain people in Zimbabwe cricket, Heath Steak and others, who will be in contact and will encourage him to return, so we can only wait and see which way he will hop.
My All-time Zimbabwe XI
Neil Johnson, Brendan Taylor, Murray Goodwin, Andy Flower (w), David Houghton, Sean Williams, Heath Streak (c), Andy Blignaut, Paul Strang, Eddo Brandes, Blessing Muzarabani
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aydee wrote:

jaybro wrote:I know this would have already been talked about and debated here but did Brexit have any effect on Kolpak deals ??


Not yet, obviously. If it does change anything, it wouldn't kick in for a few years anyway. To be honest, nobody really knows, but for now, status quo.


Thanks mate
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Are the players going to be paid in bond notes?

Will the coaching staff and the ZC hierarchy be paid in bond notes?

Will the incoming ICC funds be grabbed by the Reserve Bank and be converted into bond notes?

Does the ZC have an offshore account that receives the funds prior to them sending it to a local account?

It's not going to be easy for the cash strapped ZANU to ignore an inflow of $20 million, it will be too much temptation.

My guess is Taylor would consider a return but if he doesn't get paid in Usd it's a non starter. It may also make a few people consider a move or give up cricket altogether.

What's happened to Trenchard? He brought some spice to the table and was a good batsman.
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Mr Ward had the following to say regarding bond notes.

The bond notes have apparently now run out. Salaries are paid into bank accounts, from which it’s virtually impossible to retrieve them in cash. The biggest problem of ZC will be in paying out all the match expenses.
My All-time Zimbabwe XI
Neil Johnson, Brendan Taylor, Murray Goodwin, Andy Flower (w), David Houghton, Sean Williams, Heath Streak (c), Andy Blignaut, Paul Strang, Eddo Brandes, Blessing Muzarabani
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That's temporary shortage, one only has to press "print"

There's a word for people that do the same f%%* stupid thing twice and expect a different outcome!

The s**t is neck deep.
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Do people even use cash for transactions anymore?
My All-time Zimbabwe XI
Neil Johnson, Brendan Taylor, Murray Goodwin, Andy Flower (w), David Houghton, Sean Williams, Heath Streak (c), Andy Blignaut, Paul Strang, Eddo Brandes, Blessing Muzarabani
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