Williams needs to come back into the side - no question about it. I don't think he is the messiah, to quote another poster :P , but there's no doubt that his all-round presence improves the team. He's capable of making fifties, he's capable of nipping out a wicket or two.
Utseya needs to get this action remedied fast. I've been critical in the past about his strike rate, but he's been in undeniably great form over the last few months. Plus he strengthens the tail; Panyangara can hold a bat but he's not a number eight by world standards. I'm not saying Utseya is a Mitchell Johnson quality batsman - he's probably a rung below that but that is still pretty good.
So we add these two guys back, and we're probably a net 25 run better side with the bat and maybe save 10 extra runs with the ball.
Discussion
What needs to change for the next series
Discussion
ZCF OriginalZCF Hall of Famer
What needs to change for the next series
The coach
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sloandog wrote:
What needs to change for the next series
The coach
And the players.
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
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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We have two proven batsmen. At least one of them will have to produce a big score every time we walk out to the middle. This is irrespective of whether we have Williams or not. Law of averages suggests that this won't happen as regularly as we need. So, we are destined to lose regularly. We need to produce more quality players to backup Taylor and Hammy so that they can afford brief lulls in form. That does not seem to be happening. Hence, we are doomed (don't want to sound like Googly or jimmylesaint, but that's the bottom line).
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I think the blunt fact now is that we will never ever reach the heights of even 2010/11 as the mal administration has well and truly take its tole.
Zimbabwean Cricket will never peak again, in my opinion, as we aren't even taking one step forward and two steps backwards. It's simply three step backwards with every series and every domestic season. Contract issues, racism, shite administartion and incompetent players being selected are now the norm and it's really starting to wear thin, with me at least.
What needs to change?
1. Mangongo has to go. You can't rule by fear as an international coach. In fact yes, perhaps you can, but you have to have had some form of international cricketing background to back it up and justify yourself, as well as the respect of your players. Mangongo has neither, and he swaggers about and throws his weight as though he's played alongside the likes Flower. Just because he nurtured a few black cricketers from Takashingai does not give him the right to be a national coach. He is a bully, a racist and his man management skills are nothing short of appalling. For Christ sake the guy assaulted a player! In any half decent, forward thinking country, this guy wouldn't ever be allowed to even coach 9 year olds, let alone a national side.
2. The correct players need to be selected. This tour has shown exactly why we need to select the correct players to win. We know about the Sean Williams situation, so I won;t go into that, but we all know why he should be in. Mr Kamungozi....ok, here's one for you all. He is arguably the worst excuse for a leg break bowler I have ever seen in my life...ever! I play cricket to a very high standard at University of Birmingham in the U.K, number 10 out of 232 Universities over here, and I'm telling you all now, there are leg break bowlers here who turn it square, both ways, at a fantastic speed. This guy Kamungozi does not bat, he doesn't turn the ball at all, he has no variations and his arrogance is very apparent. He shouldn't be anywhere near this side. I would much rather have selected Wellington Mazakadza.
I would have played Craig Ervine for Sibanda. Sibanda is by far one of my favorite players. He has a solid technique, he's fit and it appears he can now bowl. However, I'm starting to lose patience with a guy who averages 23 with the bat in over 120 ODI's. His continued lack of focus and mental solidity is starting to p**s me off because he's got way more talent than Ervine. However, I rate Ervine, he's left handed, and given the correct amount of time, I think he can reach the heights he achieved in the 2011 CWC where he scored three half centuries, one of which was against a very strong Pakistan bowling attack on a green surface.
I'm glad Mire is in, however. Looks to be a good player, a god fielder and he can bowl too. Good selection, but again, Mangongo illustrating double standards in selecting him and not Sean Williams.
3. We need a bowling coach, a batting coach and a fielding coach. It's laughable, pure hysterical even, that a side of test status does not have a bowling, batting or fielding coaching unit to help the players. I know Mangongo has now realized this and have requested the help of Wayne James and Dougie Hondo, but It's a bit late for that. You had one of the best batters we've ever produced by Zimbabwe virtually working for peanuts just to help the lads bat, and in Heath Streak you had our greatest ever bowling all rounder. Both have now moved abroad. Bangladesh are going to destroy us and Pakistan are crushing anybody who walks in their path. In addition, we have Andy Waller in the background doing some job that ZC has thrown at him until his contract expires, who could be a great asset even if it was just for the fitness side of things. Seeing the likes of Mankoni sat there, in his shirt, frowning, messing with his phone and smirking with Mangongo is arguably the most frustrating thing I've seen on this tour. Why is here there ??!!
Will it ever change? No. Lets be honest fella's, our beloved Zimbabwe Cricket probably won't be around in the next 7 years. Players will retire or take up jobs in the U.K, Oz, NZ, India, Canada etc which will provide much more stability than what ZC are providing for them, and the domestic circuit will soon be dissolved. It is indeed the end, and it's heartbreaking because all it takes is for the players to stand united and refuse to play.
Zimbabwean Cricket will never peak again, in my opinion, as we aren't even taking one step forward and two steps backwards. It's simply three step backwards with every series and every domestic season. Contract issues, racism, shite administartion and incompetent players being selected are now the norm and it's really starting to wear thin, with me at least.
What needs to change?
1. Mangongo has to go. You can't rule by fear as an international coach. In fact yes, perhaps you can, but you have to have had some form of international cricketing background to back it up and justify yourself, as well as the respect of your players. Mangongo has neither, and he swaggers about and throws his weight as though he's played alongside the likes Flower. Just because he nurtured a few black cricketers from Takashingai does not give him the right to be a national coach. He is a bully, a racist and his man management skills are nothing short of appalling. For Christ sake the guy assaulted a player! In any half decent, forward thinking country, this guy wouldn't ever be allowed to even coach 9 year olds, let alone a national side.
2. The correct players need to be selected. This tour has shown exactly why we need to select the correct players to win. We know about the Sean Williams situation, so I won;t go into that, but we all know why he should be in. Mr Kamungozi....ok, here's one for you all. He is arguably the worst excuse for a leg break bowler I have ever seen in my life...ever! I play cricket to a very high standard at University of Birmingham in the U.K, number 10 out of 232 Universities over here, and I'm telling you all now, there are leg break bowlers here who turn it square, both ways, at a fantastic speed. This guy Kamungozi does not bat, he doesn't turn the ball at all, he has no variations and his arrogance is very apparent. He shouldn't be anywhere near this side. I would much rather have selected Wellington Mazakadza.
I would have played Craig Ervine for Sibanda. Sibanda is by far one of my favorite players. He has a solid technique, he's fit and it appears he can now bowl. However, I'm starting to lose patience with a guy who averages 23 with the bat in over 120 ODI's. His continued lack of focus and mental solidity is starting to p**s me off because he's got way more talent than Ervine. However, I rate Ervine, he's left handed, and given the correct amount of time, I think he can reach the heights he achieved in the 2011 CWC where he scored three half centuries, one of which was against a very strong Pakistan bowling attack on a green surface.
I'm glad Mire is in, however. Looks to be a good player, a god fielder and he can bowl too. Good selection, but again, Mangongo illustrating double standards in selecting him and not Sean Williams.
3. We need a bowling coach, a batting coach and a fielding coach. It's laughable, pure hysterical even, that a side of test status does not have a bowling, batting or fielding coaching unit to help the players. I know Mangongo has now realized this and have requested the help of Wayne James and Dougie Hondo, but It's a bit late for that. You had one of the best batters we've ever produced by Zimbabwe virtually working for peanuts just to help the lads bat, and in Heath Streak you had our greatest ever bowling all rounder. Both have now moved abroad. Bangladesh are going to destroy us and Pakistan are crushing anybody who walks in their path. In addition, we have Andy Waller in the background doing some job that ZC has thrown at him until his contract expires, who could be a great asset even if it was just for the fitness side of things. Seeing the likes of Mankoni sat there, in his shirt, frowning, messing with his phone and smirking with Mangongo is arguably the most frustrating thing I've seen on this tour. Why is here there ??!!
Will it ever change? No. Lets be honest fella's, our beloved Zimbabwe Cricket probably won't be around in the next 7 years. Players will retire or take up jobs in the U.K, Oz, NZ, India, Canada etc which will provide much more stability than what ZC are providing for them, and the domestic circuit will soon be dissolved. It is indeed the end, and it's heartbreaking because all it takes is for the players to stand united and refuse to play.
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I wonder if Mangongo has read KPs book and thought, "im going to copy andy flower".
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