Googly wrote:I am bitter and twisted with what they have done but a small part of me is almost looking forward to the implosion because they have gotten away with it for too long and they deserve what's coming.
Amen. As I said earlier, I will always hold Zimbabwean Cricket close to my heart, but seeing the likes of Mangongo making these ludicrous changes infuriates me
I actually think he's good. He's passionate about the game and is a staunch disciplinarian and knows a lot. He would be the only one in the system now, apart from Bundu, who commands respect. He doesn't have the depth of players to work with and doesn't suffer fools gladly. He is tainted by an old system that was flawed and racist and he's inherited that prejudice, that's his main downfall, in my humble opinion. Anyone who has lived through the last 10,20,30, 40, 50 years in this country has to have prejudice, it's impossible not to, whether you are black or white, but it's how you deal with it. The best of us are moderate and are prepared to work with fellow moderates and avoid radical people like the plague. He's not a people person and has alienated many along the way but I can see he is desperate for things to improve and for that alone he gets my vote. Like most of us he's flawed though and makes spontaneous decisions that are not always the right ones. I'm not sure how much autonomy he has in team selection, maybe Jimmy can give us an inside track? I'm pretty sure GM and a few others muddy the waters. When you have 18 out of 20 black guys in a squad, it's an uphill task for a white coach in this charged political environment and I think Steve is the right guy for the job.
He has gone on record as saying by the time he's finished there will be no whites in cricket, how serious he is about that is merely conjecture as there are many many many other factors influencing that. I know he is a big supporter of NW and has gone out of his way to give him opportunities that many are desperate to deny him so I'm not sure he's the radical he's made out to be. What will interest me is whether NW still has his franchise berth this coming season if SM is no longer the Eagles coach. I think I know the answer to that one as well.
SM has very little say in selection. He does want to keep his job and wants an all black team-look at his history with Takashinga. He does actually want to do better but with a black team- someone pointed out to me today at the ground, "if SM is so strict why are the reserves sitting by the pitchside whilst Zim is playing,eating chocolate and jellytots and reading the newspapers!" They didn't give a shite what was going on-ho hum another day at the office.
This is the current thought process in ZC- get the whites out which will break the big 5 and they'll never threaten to dissolve ZC(they-Admin-won't forget that)
Once the whites are gone or we have a token one left, ZC understand that their quality of cricket will drop BUT "just as long as we are competitive at the bottom of the table of test nations,it'll be ok"
This is the difference,,,, we all want to compete with the top order, India/Oz/UK/RSA but ZC is happy to compete with Bang/Pak vying for the wooden spoon. Whilst the battle for the wooden spoon is happening with the reprobate cricketers left, the Admin will still be paid exorbitant sums and pilfering. Why? Simply because it is not about the cricket,winning or national pride it is ALL about the Admin and their wages and "jobs". Cricket and the cricketers are just the Admins vehicle to get to work and get paid.
Having said that, the players, with exception of Williams,Raza and Richmond, the rest are a bunch of lard asses.
I think everyone is getting a little carried away here, SM is just rotating the players which I dont agree with but it's not the end of the world .....
I doubt there will be as much chopping and changing in the tri series .....
The decision to drop Taylor was baffling, but Chigs mentioned they wanted a look at some guys before the world cup. Makes sense since it was a dead rubber. Now if Chatara and Taylor continue to miss out, it means something foul is afoot.
BTW, why was Chatara out of the ODI series? Niggle or what?
Bangladesh cricket fanatic, observer of all others.
If we don't play a full strength team against Australia, I hope that the neutral commentary gets really loud about it and speaks plainly instead of coming up with possible excuses for the nefarious ZC admins