[Match Thread] Pro50 & Logan Cup: Tuskers v Rhinos

CrimsonAvenger wrote:Brendan Taylor, for heaven's sake hand over the ball to someone else! We should not be giving an FC "10 wicket in an innings" haul to a greenhorn outsider...

Thank you, Chinouya :)

Tuskers just have no batting besides Williams; it must be a huge worry for them. The Rocks batting lineup looks better to be honest.

Losing so much experience in such a short space of time... Ewing, Duffin, Coventry... they haven't coped well with that. Querl and Meth would be top order batsmen in this team. The current team composition is genuinely worrying.

But seriously, having the imports in the team to help lift the standard is one thing, and succumbing to them completely is another. As much as it is about winning, the skippers must ensure this kind of swamping of an opposition does not happen "due to" an import. No one is gaining anything from this (apart from embarassment).

From the national team point of view, Taylor could have taken off Wadlan after the initial 2 or 3 wickets (which ensured victory), and handed over the ball to Malcolm Waller. Or from local talent development point of view, he could have given a spell to Bhasikoro straight away. Why continue with Wadlan? Rhinos are not even in the running for the Logan Cup.

I am equally critical of Mountaineers excessive usage of imports this year, but some of those were not avoidable once they were in the middle and scoring runs... Not sure if these views are correct, but just don't see a point in Wadlan getting so many wickets for nothing.

You can't just show mercy to the opposition though. This is supposed to be a professional sports tournament, not a charity match.

If an import is ripping through line ups, it's a sign that the batsmen need to get better because it's not going to get any easier at A team level or international level. Those that are good enough should be scoring runs. Those that are not should be using this as a learning experience. Hell, they should be pleading with Wadlan once the match is over to bowl a few overs to them in the nets so they can tighten up their technique.

Rhinos win inside 2 days, by an innings and 299 runs. Ouch.

I'm a firm believer in imports. Our players have talent and should raise their game. There's no point in playing franchise in a bubble, it proves the point that we need to do something about improving the quality of our local game. We all know it but we need our noses rubbed in it or no-one pays attention. Wadlan is in the Glamorgan T20 side and not in their First Class or List A set up, that's pretty scary.

Taylor has a wedding to get to. The extra couple of days off will be great for his mental health and that is more important than a cheap wicket or two for Waller.

Jemisi wrote:Taylor has a wedding to get to. The extra couple of days off will be great for his mental health and that is more important than a cheap wicket or two for Waller.

:D

Just to make my stand clear. I'm not against imports, one or two per team will definitely help rise the level, and help our guys learn. My point is about, when nothing is at stake, and a win is guaranteed, we can experiment a bit to give more learning opportunities to "our guys".

Yeah, I am mostly with you, just trying to cut Taylor a break.