*Official* Bangladesh in Zimbabwe 2021 (full tour)

[Prince EWS]

Not sure this "either opens or bats 6" thing particularly suits him either. I'd like to see him bat 3 or 4 in ODIs, at least when Ervine is unavailable.

And he's out.

 

[Prince EWS]

I recall you saying that before yes.

Am still planning a trip to Zim once COVID is over. Fingers crossed!

If you don't submit a 10 page report to CW I will be very disappointed.

 

[Aritro]

Wesley looking the goods as ever. Can’t believe how bad he went on test debut, the kid can play.

It's great to see, really enjoyed that insofar as anyone can really enjoy watching an opposition player scoring runs against their team.

He's going to need to be one of Zimbabwe's best ever cricketers to stop a pretty sudden slide into the next tier IMO.

Not ruling it out though.

Really? I was rather excitedly contemplating the prospect of Mahdevere, Muzarabani and possibly Dion Myers leading a smooth transition for them (and hopefully representing the first finds of a generation of good players).

Not so?

 

[Prince EWS]

It's great to see, really enjoyed that insofar as anyone can really enjoy watching an opposition player scoring runs against their team.


Really? I was rather excitedly contemplating the prospect of Mahdevere, Muzarabani and possibly Dion Myers leading a smooth transition for them (and hopefully representing the first finds of a generation of good players).

Not so?

I strongly suspect Zimbabwe's best batsmen (Taylor, Williams, Ervine, Sikandar) will all retire at once, and I have no real faith in the next generation of batsmen other than Madhevere.

The fast bowling will be okay, and Blessing will probably destroy some of the associate teams by himself on a good day, but between the sudden and dramatic decline of the batting standard and the serious improvement of the next tier of nations, I don't think we'll be able to confidently rank Zimbabwe ahead of the Netherlands, UAE, Oman, Scotland or USA Ringers of the world unless Wes is even better than the Williams-standard ODI player I'm expecting. And Williams would make my Zimbabwe All-Time XI.

Zimbabwe are already ranked 13th. When you're ranked 13th, all your best players are about to retire, an entire generation of batsmen after them "didn't really work out" (ie. weren't rated and moved overseas) and the newer players you're promoting now are only a couple of years past getting their arses handed to them in U19 cricket, I don't think there's much cause for optomism.

But then again - Wes is love, Wes is life.

 

[Aritro]

I strongly suspect Zimbabwe's best batsmen (Taylor, Williams, Ervine, Sikandar) will all retire at once, and I have no real faith in the next generation of batsmen other than Madhevere.

The fast bowling will be okay, and Blessing will probably destroy some of the associate teams by himself on a good day, but between the sudden and dramatic decline of the batting standard and the serious improvement of the next tier of nations, I don't think we'll be able to confidently rank Zimbabwe ahead of the Netherlands, UAE, Oman, Scotland or USA Ringers of the world unless Wes is even better than the Williams-standard ODI player I'm expecting. And Williams would make my Zimbabwe All-Time XI.

Zimbabwe are already ranked 13th. When you're ranked 13th, all your best players are about to retire, an entire generation of batsmen after them "didn't really work out" (ie. weren't rated and moved overseas) and the newer players you're promoting now are only a couple of years past getting their arses handed to them in U19 cricket, I don't think there's much cause for optomism.

But then again - Wes is love, Wes is life.

Fair enough. I didn't realise you were 13th either. Shows there's some solid teams around at our end of the top table.

What's Zim franchise cricket like? I remember there was some excitement about it when it was launched.

 

[Prince EWS]

Fair enough. I didn't realise you were 13th either. Shows there's some solid teams around at our end of the top table.

What's Zim franchise cricket like? I remember there was some excitement about it when it was launched.

Mixed, really.

When it works as it's supposed to then it's a massive advantage Zimbabwe has over the other teams I mentioned. It's routinely delayed, cancelled, shortened or played under protest though.

You usually get a round or two a season where it's really strong, and then rest of it is almost worth ignoring entirely.

 

[Chubb]

What's Zim franchise cricket like? I remember there was some excitement about it when it was launched.

Stronger than it was c.2004-2010 but not as strong as it was 2011 ish when they managed to get some quality overseas in even if some of them couldn’t stomach the lifestyle - Liam Dawson played one game in Kwekwe I think and left.

there are always money issues and a lot of people around the game try really hard but it’s so difficult for them.

 

[Aritro]

Hopefully we see off Muzarabani and knock these runs off in some comfort.

I have absolutely no interest in watching a thriller.

 

[Aritro]

It's routinely delayed, cancelled, shortened or played under protest though.

To be fair, if I was contracted to a team called the "Rocks", I'd play under protest as well.

 

[Prince EWS]

To be fair, if I was contracted to a team called the "Rocks", I'd play under protest as well.

A truly awful team historically tbf.

 

[Aritro]

**** me, one run off 2 overs in a one-dayer. Good bowling has to be respected I suppose.

 

[Aritro]

Jesus, Liton needs to man up a bit. Reacts to every knock like Neymar reacts to not being touched.

 

[Aritro]

Liton goes doing a bad impersonation of a pull shot. 2/46 off 12.2.

We've got a match on here don't we?

 

[Aritro]

That's an absolutely awful, amateurish shot from Mithun. Playing way outside his body, gifts it to the man at point. Just so bad.

 

[Prince EWS]

That's an absolutely awful, amateurish shot from Mithun.

Usually he gets away with those. He's an awful batsman with a flatteringly mediocre ODI record.

Justice today though.

 

[Aritro]

****ing Muzarabani breaks the all important Shakib/Riyadh partnership. He's the only one getting serious bounce from this pitch.

 

[AndyZaltzHair]

we are always in trouble when chase is on. Ffs

 

[AndyZaltzHair]

Miraz got promotion in such a crucial time. Hope it pays off

 

[Daemon]

I strongly suspect Zimbabwe's best batsmen (Taylor, Williams, Ervine, Sikandar) will all retire at once, and I have no real faith in the next generation of batsmen other than Madhevere.

The fast bowling will be okay, and Blessing will probably destroy some of the associate teams by himself on a good day, but between the sudden and dramatic decline of the batting standard and the serious improvement of the next tier of nations, I don't think we'll be able to confidently rank Zimbabwe ahead of the Netherlands, UAE, Oman, Scotland or USA Ringers of the world unless Wes is even better than the Williams-standard ODI player I'm expecting. And Williams would make my Zimbabwe All-Time XI.

Zimbabwe are already ranked 13th. When you're ranked 13th, all your best players are about to retire, an entire generation of batsmen after them "didn't really work out" (ie. weren't rated and moved overseas) and the newer players you're promoting now are only a couple of years past getting their arses handed to them in U19 cricket, I don't think there's much cause for optomism.

But then again - Wes is love, Wes is life.

I mean they already lost to Singapore.

 

[AndyZaltzHair]

I have absolutely no interest in watching a thriller.

Looks like its going in that direction