Has anyone noticed that the Logan Cup appears to be only 2 rounds this season, instead of 3? In other words, the teams play 8 matches rather than 12... It also appears from the fixture lists that there are no fixtures after February.
This seems to be a very disappointing decision to me. I think it is widely acknowledged that much of Zim's strides in the last couple of years can be attributed to the franchise system. In my opinion, one of the biggest positives was the fact that the teams got regular first class cricket. This is the most technically and mentally challenging format of the game, and I thought that a calendar that incorporated 12 fc games could help the players gain the necessary experience. Therefore, I think to trim this to just 8 matches would be a significant step backwards. The fact that no other test nation plays as few fc matches as this in a season should say all we need to know...
Discussion
Logan Cup
Discussion
Veteran
Criminal if you ask me. Not as if there isnt time to fit the games in and yes this is how you grow cricketers not Tcircus...just had to get that in...but seriously this needs further thought..
Member actions
ShareZCF Hall of Famer
Costs money to put the teams up as they move around the country. Well-established that ZC doesn't have any. That's probably the reason right there.
Member actions
ShareVeteran
Looks like the situation is dire! Desperate times call for desperate measures!
Perhaps they should cut out all the overseas pros from our Logan Cup completely, and use the money to pay for accomodation, trans, etc - I'm sure it'll go a long way. Wessels, Horton, Wheater etc can be released permanently. If not then they should be offered a chance to play on a voluntary basis. :|
We already have Hall&Harris as mature player/coaches, and Gillespie&Lynch as coaches. Apart from Houghton&GB as 'local' coaches, I don't suppose the rest are needed anymore. Those two have done well DH-Logan Cup with a second one comfortably on the way, and GB the T20. Hondo, Bryan Strang etc, can be roped in to coach for lesser fees and we won't have to worry about coach turnover to County cricket as they simply USE us to build up their CVs.
With the sad prospect of Dizzy&Houghton going, it's an opportunity for ZC to employ experienced former cricketers from local. There should be no assistants, and designated old local players can be groomed as player/coaches instead so that we have options in futures. That way a team of two imported consultants(Batting coach & bowling coach) can be rotated among the franchises each season.
Restricting the contracted players per franchise, and classifying them accordingly to salary bands, will make the player salary budget more understandable to the public. I mean, an average of us$1000/player with 16 players per franchise, will give you us$16000 making it us$80,000/month for all franchises. National players naturally have separate, more rewarding contracts over and above that, but they should be obligated to play for their franchises when available.
The B league should be abolished and clubs rescucitated, while identified fringe players for their respective franchises are salaried in some way as well when they play club cricket and can be brought in to replace national/injured players as the need arises.
Instead of 'reducing' or 'spreading' the administrators' salaries, maybe ZC should also retrench/release some as well. Work tight and efficient! Would help to review their salary structure. I think a lot is being wasted!
To cull the number of sides would cause a riot because that's akin to causing unemployment in a sport you desperately seek to grow which they won't do. So inevitably they will have to add another side in order to even out the sides. Let's trust the locals, and with the help of consultants and national team coaches helping out when they are idle we should be fine!
Just throwing around ideas, but the point is we need to streamline, and fast. It doesn't help to live a lifestyle you can't afford i.e. employ coaches&players who are beyond your purse. The potential weakness of our FC competition is exaggerated. The way I see it, the Kasuzas and Vitoris have come up anyway, and will continue to come up regardless.
It doesn't look like we have much of a choice!
Perhaps they should cut out all the overseas pros from our Logan Cup completely, and use the money to pay for accomodation, trans, etc - I'm sure it'll go a long way. Wessels, Horton, Wheater etc can be released permanently. If not then they should be offered a chance to play on a voluntary basis. :|
We already have Hall&Harris as mature player/coaches, and Gillespie&Lynch as coaches. Apart from Houghton&GB as 'local' coaches, I don't suppose the rest are needed anymore. Those two have done well DH-Logan Cup with a second one comfortably on the way, and GB the T20. Hondo, Bryan Strang etc, can be roped in to coach for lesser fees and we won't have to worry about coach turnover to County cricket as they simply USE us to build up their CVs.
With the sad prospect of Dizzy&Houghton going, it's an opportunity for ZC to employ experienced former cricketers from local. There should be no assistants, and designated old local players can be groomed as player/coaches instead so that we have options in futures. That way a team of two imported consultants(Batting coach & bowling coach) can be rotated among the franchises each season.
Restricting the contracted players per franchise, and classifying them accordingly to salary bands, will make the player salary budget more understandable to the public. I mean, an average of us$1000/player with 16 players per franchise, will give you us$16000 making it us$80,000/month for all franchises. National players naturally have separate, more rewarding contracts over and above that, but they should be obligated to play for their franchises when available.
The B league should be abolished and clubs rescucitated, while identified fringe players for their respective franchises are salaried in some way as well when they play club cricket and can be brought in to replace national/injured players as the need arises.
Instead of 'reducing' or 'spreading' the administrators' salaries, maybe ZC should also retrench/release some as well. Work tight and efficient! Would help to review their salary structure. I think a lot is being wasted!
To cull the number of sides would cause a riot because that's akin to causing unemployment in a sport you desperately seek to grow which they won't do. So inevitably they will have to add another side in order to even out the sides. Let's trust the locals, and with the help of consultants and national team coaches helping out when they are idle we should be fine!
Just throwing around ideas, but the point is we need to streamline, and fast. It doesn't help to live a lifestyle you can't afford i.e. employ coaches&players who are beyond your purse. The potential weakness of our FC competition is exaggerated. The way I see it, the Kasuzas and Vitoris have come up anyway, and will continue to come up regardless.
It doesn't look like we have much of a choice!
Member actions
ShareLegend
maehara wrote:Costs money to put the teams up as they move around the country. Well-established that ZC doesn't have any. That's probably the reason right there.
I'm sure you're right. But that doesn't mean it's not frustrating. They afforded for the previous 2 seasons...
Member actions
ShareZCF OriginalZCF Hall of Famer
I hadn't noticed we were down to 8 games. That is dissapointing. 12 is much better. But it is probably a cash issue.
The Third Innings
Member actions
ShareZCF Hall of Famer
puts the pay cut issue into perspective in a way.
i dont think its that bad, considering they are broke, and something has to give...this is probably a good idea.
i dont think its that bad, considering they are broke, and something has to give...this is probably a good idea.
Member actions
Share