Are we seeing a Zimbabwe revival?

[gani999]

Let us admit that leveling a ODI series against a senior side like Sri Lanka, in Sri Lanka is no mean achievement - for a side like Zimbabwe at least.

Never mind that they lost a series at home to Afghanistan, but the Afghans aren't exactly a walkover either. They have been playing good cricket.

So is this just a flash in the pan, or are we seeing a Zimbabwe revival?

One more thing worth noticing is the number of white players, including the captain. There are almost as many whites as blacks in the present Zimbabwe team. I would have thought that Zimbabwe has a much stricter quota system than SA.

 

[ExpressPacer]

As much as I want to say yes, the unfortunate answer is no. They were just recently humiliated at him by the likes of Afghanistan, beaten by Scotland and annihilated by the Netherlands of all teams in an ODI series. This is most probably a fluke vs a rapidly declining Sri Lanka. There is hardly any talent to look forward to in the the domestic structure. Any young cricketers that we're good have migrated to different parts of the world i.e Curran's, Byron etc.

Let's hope this is the start of something new hopefully but with a declining white population and a huge uninterested black population, I can only see them becoming the next Kenya.

 

[gani999]

They were just recently humiliated at him by the likes of Afghanistan, beaten by Scotland and annihilated by the Netherlands of all teams in an ODI series. .

Let's hope this is the start of something new hopefully but with a declining white population and a huge uninterested black population, I can only see them becoming the next Kenya.

They beat the Netherlands 2-1 and tied the series with Scotland 1-1.

But you may be right about the lack of interest among the black population. That will kill the game faster than anything else.

 

[Arham_PakFan]

Sadly no.

 

[Billy1999]

No,Sri Lanka are just a poor bowling unit and the pitches are belters

 

[ExpressPacer]

They beat the Netherlands 2-1 and tied the series with Scotland 1-1.

But you may be right about the lack of interest among the black population. That will kill the game faster than anything else.

Sorry, I meant games.

 

[Markhor]

As much as I'd like that to be the case, no. The bowling is still very weak. If anything, its a reflection on a struggling Sri Lanka.

They really need to qualify for the 2019 World Cup as their financial state is precarious.

They have a new managing director in Faisal Hasnain, who used to be the ICC's financial officer, and one of the things he's going to review is the issue of wages in domestic cricket. Several times over the years, domestic players have gone on strike due to unpaid wages.

Domestic cricket itself is in need of overhaul with a lack of talent coming through.

 

[Hasan123]

Would need to see how they perform vs better opposition. But it's unlikely were seeing a revival. Changes need to be made in Zimbabwe cricket for us to see a revival.

 

[aloo paratha]

I hope so, cricket needs competitive teams, I hope BD, WI, Zimbabwe, Afghanistan and Ireland all become top sides in the next 5-10 years.

 

[Major]

could be

Say whatever you want, Sri Lankan bowlers are not as bad as associate bowlers. Posting 300 against a test team member is no easy job.

WHat Zimbabwe has done has been magnificent.

Zimbabwe cricket could still prosper. If it could get its board sorted out, plus they should ha collaborated with SA, and started an African Premier League. Have a combined T20 tourny.

 

[Arham_PakFan]

Zimbabwe have also beaten SA,Aus and NZ in the odd ODI at home,it's not that they don't have talent,but things at the top need to change to allow the talented bunch to truly flourish.

 

[The Googly]

I hope so, cricket needs competitive teams, I hope BD, WI, Zimbabwe, Afghanistan and Ireland all become top sides in the next 5-10 years.

Agree.

Cricket is struggling. In the UK leagues, teams are struggling to field players. Interest in cricket is waning.

I really hope the number of competitive sides in workd cricket increases to rekindle interest.

Asian cricket would hugely benefit from Bangladesh realising their potential. Bd has passion and a huge population. I'm sure they will continue their improvement.

 

[Billy1999]

There bowling needs to improve,Batting is very good and it's quite decent.

My Zimbabwe 11

1:Solomon Mire
2:Hamilton Masakadza
3:T K Musakanda
4:Craig Ervine
5:Sean Williams
6:Sikandar Raza
7:Malcom Waller/Alrounder
8 J Moor
9:Greame Creamer
10:Tinishne Panyangara
11:Tatendai Chatara

With Sikandar Raza,Sean Williams,Alrounder to bowl 20 overs

 

[MMHS]

Mughabe is 94 almost, so there is hope for ZIM cricket in near future (God bless him & Zimbabwe as well). But, Zimbabweans are probably counting on that hope for 25 years now

As a kid, I once travelled Harare & travelled to Victoria Falls by train (or bus, not much memory left) - this hurts me that such a beautiful country is ruined this way. I am a car fanatic from kids days - still can recall so many Mercedes & Jaguars in Zimbabwe that time. In last 38 years (since independence from Smith Govt.), I believe their economy has shrunken at least to half, when our economy has grown over 6 times.

Cricket (sports as a whole) is a white dominant thing there - despite constant migration of white people all those years, I wonder ZIM has given world sportsmen like Nick Price, Bruce Grobler, Christy Coventry, Black brothers, Flower brothers, Streak, Houghton, Fletcher, Tricos, Curren.

Unless, there is a political changeover (& reform), I don't think ZIM cricket will revive to it's glory.

 

[Joseph Gomes]

Hell no. They got thrashed by freaking Scotland last month. Scotland has never beaten a top 10 side in history. These 2 wins are flukes and Sri Lanka is going through a bitter rebuilding

 

[Dios]

Heath Streak deserves the credit. His track record as a coach is fantastic.

 

[Shutdown Corner]

54 all out vs Afghanistan at home a few games ago amd 150 run loss to Netherlands albeit minus their leading players.

Its most likely a fluke.

That being said, even flukes are toughat at this level...so credit to Zimbabwe.

 

[Nil Dhumrojal]

May be Lankan decline.

 

[Convict]

Nope. This is more about Sri Lanka.

 

[leatherface58]

Sri Lankans have fallen a lot. This also shows that Zimbabwe still have talent at least in batting. But they need better administration much like a lot of countries playing cricket currently.

 

[kingusama92]

Says a lot more about Sri Lankan cricket.

 

[sam_ahm]

Scotland and Netherlands are not bad teams either, in fact the associates are at an all time high. Zimbabwe as a matter of fact beat Netherlands 2-1 and drew against Scotland 1-1. Afghanistan are an impressive side these days and Zimbos lost that series 2-3, so it was a close fight.

They also beat West Indies ladt year to make it to the finals of the tri series against Sri Lanka and also beat New Zealand in an ODI to lose the series 1-2. The had also beaten India in a T20 game last year.

Compare that with past 7-8 years, this had indeed been a better phase for Zimbabwe cricket. Much better.

Hoping they continue to build from here on.

 

[ExpressPacer]

Scotland and Netherlands are not bad teams either, in fact the associates are at an all time high. Zimbabwe as a matter of fact beat Netherlands 2-1 and drew against Scotland 1-1. Afghanistan are an impressive side these days and Zimbos lost that series 2-3, so it was a close fight.

They also beat West Indies ladt year to make it to the finals of the tri series against Sri Lanka and also beat New Zealand in an ODI to lose the series 1-2. The had also beaten India in a T20 game last year.

Compare that with past 7-8 years, this had indeed been a better phase for Zimbabwe cricket. Much better.

Hoping they continue to build from here on.

Agreed about the Netherlands bit. Only if they were given more importance. They've produced some fantastic cricketers over the years and have always had the ability to cause massive upsets. The need to be given preference over teams like Ireland because they certainly ly have a lot more talent.

 

[hadi123]

Zimbabwe are only slightly worse than Afghanistan but are still better than the likes of Ireland etc. If they got as much games as the big boys they would be decent

 

[Shutdown Corner]

Nope. This is more about Sri Lanka.

True.

People keep talking about Sri Lanka's weak bowling being unable to defend 300, etc. On these pitches they should be scoring 350 and then they wouldn't have to worry about their bowling. SL batting is also quite weak though not as poor as their hapless bowling.

That being said, full marks to Zimbabwe because as weak as SL may be, ZIM were never even expected to win 1 game on this tour let alone have a chance to seal the series, fluke or no fluke.