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On the Prospect of Returning "Rebels"...
This started off as a comment to another article, but frankly it deserves a post of its own, so I'm reposting it here, with a few additions made now that I've had a chance to think about some of what I wrote.
There have been quite a few comments lately, asking for what I think about the prospects of player x returning to the Zimbabwe squad, or why they've been overlooked by ZC. I'm not going to get into any further discussion about if or when any of the "rebels" will return, for the simple facts that a) speculating on the matter won't change the current situation; and b) a wholesale return of the old squad isn't really what we need right now.
Despite their flaws (and there are many), ZC have done a half-decent job of building the current side into a team that has a chance of going places. The return of Taibu & Brent helped add some much-needed experience, and assuming he's not immediately overshadowed by the likes of Utseya and Maruma, Ray Price could help in that department as well (although Zim are suffering from an embarrassment of riches in the spin department at the moment) - but for the big names like Flower, Streak, and a number of others, a return is simply not on the cards. I said a long time ago that ZC's best option for the future was to concentrate on developing what talent we had left - with some significant help from South Africa, they're doing that and doing it quite well, and repaying the efforts of the current side by ditching them in favour of the old boys isn't the way forward.
That said... Andy Flower has batting skills that we should be bending over backwards to make use of, but he's been allowed to go and help the English cause instead. Alistair Campbell has helped with the coaching of the current side at times, and was spoken of as a potential national coach before ruling himself out before Brown got the job. Heath Streak has I think the best bowling record of any Zimbabwean - if he returns home now that he's no longer playing County cricket, then ZC should try and get hold of his services as a bowling coach. Hell, Duncan Fletcher's currently unemployed - he's proven he can turn a side from a bunch of Test no-hopers to the #2 Test side in the world - and he's a Zimbabwean! Coaching is how most of the "rebels" can help, should they choose to, and not as players - as many of them simply aren't playing any more anyway. But none of this is going to happen until the ZC Board becomes more politically acceptable to the people who want nothing to do with Chingoka and co.
The players we should be looking to get back are the ones lost from the current generation, like Andy Blignaut and Anthony Ireland - but again, these players have issues with ZC that are unlikely to be resolved while the current Board is in charge.
When the current ZC Board is eventually replaced, we'll see who's still left available and I'll debate the pros and cons of whoever you like. Until then, it's just hot air.
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Comments
maehara i would like too say sorry about my past comments but i liked what u said i agrre we need blignaut ireland sean ervine back thats good, but what im worrying thing is what about ryan craig ervine these good young players havent played any criket first class or one day they are going to leave like their older brother i hope they play for zim what do u think of the ervines what is their future or are they following sean what ur reading on this let me no please.
well depnds upon thier performances in logan cup, i think they are performing well at national league and i knew they got talent so both of them can be good players.
I already mentioned about Shaun ERVINE its pitty zim is missing talent like of him.he is still about 24 i think so he can get chance if he want to come but seems he is inerested in ENGLAND prospectus.zim really need a qucik bolwer at moment then they can be good force on international level.
maehra you are right about using ex players as coaches for zim but i dont think this current setup is too happy ground for those players to do thier job.
Jagdish: Ryan and Craig Ervine are not at international level yet. Craig Ervine has played nearly 25 matches in total, both First Class and One Day - so I don't know where you are getting this idea that he hasn't. Craig is a decent batsman, but he's not good enough to displace any of our current batsmen. Ryan is far too young. We already have enough youngsters who have been thrown into the deep end, there's no point adding more without good reason.
If you want to demand that a particular player gets in the side, get on the Ryan Butterworth bandwagon like the rest of us. At least he has a realistic chance of getting in the team at some point.
If you look at our batting lineup, it's reasonably strong. Inconsistency is a problem, but a lineup consisting of Brendan Taylor, Vusi Sibanda, Chamu Chibhabha, Tatenda Taibu, Sean Williams, Hamilton Masakadza and Elton Chigumbura is comparable to any of the other lower ranked Test countries. Then you have reserve players like Stuart Matsikenyeri, Tino Mawoyo and Terrence Duffin who are fighting for a place in the side.
Maehara is absolutely spot on, the rebels are not coming back, it's foolish to think we will see the side of 2000 take the field again. Some may return, as Brent and Price have demonstrated. All it would take if for someone like Sean Ervine or Andy Blignaut to return as well before Zimbabwe goes from having a "reasonably strong" lineup to a "strong" batting lineup. But again, I don't know who they replace. Sean Ervine for Masakadza? I don't think so? Chibhabha, possibly. But what about Blignaut... Chigumbura, not a chance in hell. Sean Williams, unlikely.
Develop this current lineup. They have the potential to take it to the world. Getting back the rebels, most of whom are 30 now, is only a short term fix. Developing the current squad is a long term solution.
I think that zimbabwe have an excellent chance of winning against the west indies with the current line up and those who write us off are in for a big shock!!!
We have taibu,Price Brent,Williams and Masacadza who did not play in the 2006 series in the windies so we have the much needed experience of these guys
I am also intrigued into the reasons why tinash payangara isnt playing for zimbabwe these days.. Last i heard he was playing for some minor league club in england called barkisland... This guy would be a big asset, i had high hopes that Mpofu,Rainsford and payangara would one day form the core of the pace attack...All tall lads who extract generous bounce from the pitch
Im drifting from the subject i know..;Anyway andy blignaut would be a more than worthwhile addition to the squad as he is an excellent all-rounder who was once billed as zimbabwe's answer to lance klusener ( big compliment indeed)
Regarding Tinashe Panyangara, the last I heard he was trying to get into an Indian academy. Not sure how that worked out, but he was highly regarded in Zimbabwe Cricket.
A developing all rounder too mr brmtaylor.com... I think he almost won us a match with the bat when he played against the south african A team in 2004.
Not to mention what he did to the australian under 19 squad... If i were Zimbabwe cricket i would pursue him and offer him an A listed contract...He has the potential to really deliver.. Highly rated in my eyes
Can i also mention that it is imperative that zimbabwe get their test status back sooner rather than later ( i.e India series may 2008) as players like williams,Taylor, Chigumbura may well defect to county cricket, Hey they are good enough i think
With this in mind the whole rebel thing becomes inconsequential as they will have to rebuild again
Interesting views, I never stop searching for any news on Zim Cricket. For the rebels I would still Like us to see go for Sean Ervine and Andy Blignaught those guys would make the current team really strong. Masakadza is a test player so there is scope for Including ervine in his position and then Chigumbura and Blignaught are a bit similar but I think Chigumbura can also be used more as a one day allrounder and as a Test bowler. Heath Streak should be convinced to become bowling coach even on a parttime basis, The other guys were pretty average but Grant could come and coach the batting. Truth is evrybody who is Zimbabwean will always love Zimbabwe so these guys who left (the international class ones should help coach. Tinashe Panyangara is A chaminda Vaas type of player ...nagging accuracy and they should try and rescue him from playing for that small club in England. The highest level of playing cricket is Internationals so most of these guys still need Zimbabwe because no one remembers a county player but we all remember the Tests and one day players. The current squad is very strong. I love the openers with their agression but the other batsman should start to accelarate more not to get too concerned with survival. The bowling attack is really strong. Brendan Promise to never leave ...If you guys stay in 5 years time you will dominate world cricket.
Think ray mali was right when he said if we keep the current squad we can be in the top echalons of world cricket ( One day format)
This might cause a bit of controversy but i would drop the dire matsikenyeri and put him in the A side for a bit.... Over 60 one day internationals and only 5 one day 50's..Please!!!
Im not saying he's not talented he's got all the shots but unlike sibanda he hasnt reined in his shot selection, Now vusi has gone from strength to strength and plays the good balls with respect and punishes the bad
okay but sean ervine is now qulifying for englang how can u say he is coming back to zim, im also afraid his two brorthers will leave in the same manner like gary ballance glen querl these are really goo d players.
I don't think that's a controversial call at all. When Williams is able to return to the team, I think there is no choice but to drop Matsikenyeri. As much as I like him, I think Masakadza has proven himself with that 88 against SAC XI, and Chibhabha after a great series against Sri Lanka A.
Against West Indies, I think Chigumbura will move up to number 7 (Mawoyo dropped) and Price will move in at number 8. Williams will replace Matsikenyeri.
He will make his way back though. A couple of good games for Zimbabwe Provinces and he will be right back in the mix, putting pressure on Masakadza and Chibhabha.
i have heard that doug marrillier is coming back to zim national squad can u confirm that.
does anyone think that sean ervine will return to zim he hasstated saying i will never return to play for zimbabwe do u think he will return i think zc has done big mistake by letting him go if i was chingoka i would bring him back he is world class and only 24 years old.
We have enough talent in the mix not to be worried to much about the so called rebels ( Though andy blignaut would be a great addition).
We have keegan meth coming through the ranks as a good allrounder..Touch early to include him yet though..Get somemore domestic games under his belt first
It is true we have an abundance of riches in the spin departement..That kamungozi looks a good talent as does maruma but they need more list A matches domestically before they are thrown in to sharpen their skills
Johnson marumisa looks a good bet as a wild card addition to the west indies series..He is a quick scorer and unlike many zimbabweans he would be debuting at the ripe old age of 24 rather than being thrown in at 18 like most of these guys when they debuted.
The emergence of chigumbura as a batting all-rounder means we can either play the extra batsmen or bowler if the conditions dictate.
Indeed Jimbo, Chigumbura's presence adds a whole new dimension to the team because of his versatility. With him batting at number 8, as we saw against SAC XI, Zimbabwe has batting down to number 11. If Ray Price replaces Timycen Maruma, we would have 11 players with First Class centuries.
Marumisa is very promising. He scored 114 for Takashinga this weekend. He and Ryan Butterworth, being in their mid-20's, would make good additions to the team at some point for the amount of experience they have at a lower level of cricket. Unlike a lot of the kids who were thrown into the deep end against Kenya last year, these guys have been on the domestic scene for years.
Regarding the amount of spin Zimbabwe has, it's quite remarkable. Utseya, Williams, Price, Cremer, Maruma, Kamungozi. South Africa would be tickled pink if they had some spinners like those mentioned in their domestic circuit.
Your right..I think the selectors seem reluctant to throw kumangozi in at the deep end again ( and rightly so) He needs to sharpen his skills domestically first and improve his batting ( which is dire)
Cremer is more of a four day specialist who can bat a bit
The revelation for me has been maruma as a spinner..He already has nearly 60 first class wickets in no time at all, First the bangladeshi A team coudnt contend with him and then he took a shedload domestically and against Sri lanka A.
Despite this i would have to plumb for Price when the zimbabwe side take on the indies, This is more for all round experience and as a steadying influence with the bat.
I would try out marumisa at the tail end of the west indies series ( when its either won or lost) He is in the squad for the west indies series as ive looked at their official site, Mahwire and trevor garwe,Cremer also make up part of the squad......But no rainsford!!!!!!!!!!!!
Has he upset someone at ZC or something!!! On a bowlers wicket he has batsmen hopping around like no tommorow and was worth perservering with..Unlike mahwire who sprays it round all over the shop
Yeah, not too sure what's going on with Rainsford. Certainly he has done something to fall out of favour.
I would have to go with Price over Maruma as well, although Maruma is a very tempting inclusion.
I posted my preference for first XI a few minutes ago:
But usually ZC throw in a surprise, like playing Chigumbura at number 8 in the SAC XI game, so I wouldn't be surprised to see Mahwire play instead of Mpofu, or Maruma make the team, or even Duffin somewhere in the middle order.
I think duffin served his purpose when the second rebellion happened robbing us of players like taibu and masacadza ETC... His role because of the rookie squad was to get solid if unspectacular starts, Keep duffin for the 4 dayers as his one day strike rate is unacceptable
Mahwire struggles with his line and length and is just about recovered from a bout of psemonia if memory serves me correctly, The lad can bat a bit though
Think my starting 11 would be identical to yours but obviously depending on the batting and bowling form in the first couple of games i might well be inclined to give marumisa a go as pinch hitter later on to see what he is made of, I think this series would be an opportune moment.
Of course maruma deserves a go...Historically the bulawayo track which the sides will play on in the last three one day internationals spins a lot so dont be suprised if all three spinners play in the last three( price,utseya,maruma)
And no dabengwa doesnt do it for me.. His batting form however suggests he could well make it as a batsman alone
Considering that this post is about, ''...prosects of returning "rebels" and this only goes as far as the fifth post or something Zim is surely added for a bright future. Like all teams in the world, we can really do with being able to select our best players at any give time. Look England, they lost 3 or so players to injury and the seem to be having trouble in their Internationals. Sean Ervine is a marvelous players but the chances of him coming back are next to none but I will be happy if I were proved wrong. Tinashe Panyangarara still has a future with the team and I bet if ZC were to approach him he would love to be back with all his school buddies in the team(Utseya, Elton, Chibhabha and co.)
I believe the time is slowly approaching for Zim to start showing what they are made of to the world. The team should be kept together for now, thats the only way we can really start getting the points and get away from the bottom of that log. And ZC should really fix their house and insure that people who run cricket have it at heart. It takes a lot to be counted amongst the elite in the world for any game. And this should be preceived at all cost.
Whatever happened to Burney Rogers, now he was a great prospect up the order.
I believe payangara was one of the players approached before the 2007 world cup in the west indies, The fact that he didnt play speaks volumes.
Barney rogers had an argument with ZC regarding contracts along with carlisle and ferraira and that was that
Good luck for that series ...I hope to catch the live cricinfo feed. Does the team have anyone working on their phsychology I mean the rate at which some guys score is more of a mental bloch than a technique issue. I think besides Taylor,Sibanda, Chigumbura and Taibu the other guys lack confidence to attack the bowlers thus we either score slowly and end up not reaching targets. Matsikenyere has to go accumulate runs somewhere, Masakadza scores too slowly for my liking even though I think of the current lot he is the most technically gifted batsman. West Indies is beatable as long as the bowlers dont allow Gayle to bully them.