more thought must go into who we import to play domestically

Zimdoggy, it's important for everyone to realise that while Zimbabwe gained Test status in 1992, as we all know, Zimbabwe virtually ended circa 2003 World Cup. That in itself signalled the start of Zim's irrelevance to World Cricket. Tours to Eng & Aus still including a large complement of the 'old order'(minus Andy and the imports Murray&Neil), were also met with pathetic results. Decent experienced batsmen like Grant & Carlisle fell to young and hardly bowlers you would deem WMD - Jimmy Anderson. After all, but for Olonga & Mbangwa's brilliance(with a bit of help from a couple non-Zim products), it's not like the 'supreme' batsmen tamed Saqlain, Wasim, Waqar & Shoaib, any much better than the new guys coming in at the time.

You are right in saying we need exposure to certain types of bowlers because even during that heart-rending 3 years, the likes of express pace seamers - Lee, Bond & Fidel Edwards; and tricky spinners - Murali, Ajantha Mendis proved too hot to handle for our boys.

My point is we can only look at Zim cricket from 2011 onwards(when we resumed Test status), taking into consideration that the unstable franchise system introduced before that, based on ICC recommendations, was merely a foundation. In my eyes, despite all the intermittent exposure to one day cricket that the current lot had, Zim cricket is just two years old. And already I can say it's competitive enough to regularly play a full five days and draw or even beat a genuine SA XI side.

While they had the likes of Donald and later Polly, South Africa only unearthed a Ntini 7 years later, yet the domestic system they had was as solid as any during that time. They are yet to produce a mystery spinner, while 21 years later they are still to produce a batsman(Black) who certifies their development/FC structures.

Your argument focuses mainly on our batting and how it holds up against these types of bowlers, and my answer to you is there's no need to waste money on these players. Zim cricket will develop organically over the next 10 years, with a number of better versions of Cremer & Vitori, to test better versions of Vusi & Matsi. Meanwhile ICC should ensure that we have plenty of tours like we look forward to in 2013. That's the only way we should look to get that kind of exposure. The more international games we play, hopefully most being incoming tours, the higher the chances of our fringe players as well getting "free" A games. As Brickhill's review shows, isolated inward A tours are too costly. What's the point of spending on specialist players when you'll only get to test your lessons learnt just 2-3 times a year!? Rather use that money to support FC & Club structures.

Train Driver wrote:'all' that's got to be done is to kick out the thieving and incompetent people that are lining their pockets with ZC cash

Name them, and number them.

Its against my nature to have foreign imports join our teams for a season or two at the cost of our upcoming local players. I however acknowledge that quality players that have been part of our Logan Cup competition have raised the levels significantly and the stand outs are Nick Compton and Garry Ballance who are in the England mix .I am a serious believer in paying top dollar to quality players and unfortunately we have gotten hasbeens or untested chancers such as Andre Nel,Jon Kent Alex Obanda Phil Mustard Liam Dawson who are looking for a short term distraction for the off season and pay day. Zimbabwe has not packaged the franchise system in a manner that would entice a Brad Haddin , or Monty Panesar or even a Monde Zondeki / Thami Tsolekile to come over and have a few games to raise the standard of our games. Our poor Logan Cup does not provide an adequate financial incentive to pay players on time , accommodate them adequately . In addition our host franchise towns apart from Harare and Bulawayo lack the bright lights and adventure a young player would want to experience imagine having to spend 3 months in Masvingo Kwekwe or Mutare id rather cut myself than be holed up in those towns.Lastly our national teams performances do not show a competitive local first clas and List A competition for a player wanting to push for selection or wanting to put their skills to the test i stand corrected but i remember Monty going of to Sri Lanka to develop as a spinner or Steve Harmison going of to play for the KZN Dolphins this was based on the strength of their domestic competitions.

I would want ZC to engage our experienced lot players like Blignaut , Croxford , Rogers , Carlise , Bryan Strang , D Hondo , D Ebrahim < Dougie Marilier even my all time favourite Guy Whitall (Allrounder Crush) and there are a whole host of others with international and County cricket experience who are active to come back and add depth to our competitions they still have a lot of experience and ability to add some real quality. To peg our hopes on non committed players such as Queral, Ballance who are only involved in our Logan Cup to keep active and boost their first class stats foe County Cricket should come in as last choices to our local players. We cant go forward with out some good experienced teachers imagine haveing Guy Whittal explain to Chigs the value of the wicket when he scored that wonderful 188 or Bryan Strang showing Keagan Meth how to swing and contain a bowler. Thats what i belive we need in our system.

Couldn't have put it any better gargamel.