It's no secret that we a
Re struggling in this department.
However, I think we potentially have a great band aid solution for the short to mid term.
Garry Ballance!
He's a few months off the four year threshold for switching allegiances.
I don't think he's playing for England again. But he's still a good batsman and would be amazing for Zimbabwe up top.
I would monitor him and see how he goes next county season. Unless he's on red hot fire, he's done as an England rep.
So let's throw the good money at him to make it worthwhile to come home for this upcoming World Cup campaign and the next!
He's a ready made international caliber bat. He bats up the top.
I don't want him fighting with Taylor for the number 4 spot, but let's offer him money he can't refuse for an opening berth.
He's in the final 3/4 of his career, so why not cash in and play internationals!
I'd prefer Welch and Byrom but they are still chasing the England dream and are t available for two years anyway.
1. Balance
2. Burl (?)
3. Ervine
4. BT
5. Williams
6. Wes
7. Raza
That's a fiery order.
Discussion
Potentially a fantastic short term fix for our opening dilemma
Discussion
ZCF Hall of Famer
sloandog wrote: ↑Sun Nov 01, 2020 5:11 pm
I mean, here's a question; why would he?
-Cash equal to or slightly better than his county.
- his hometown. Can probably drive his dollar further.
- cruise cushy job. Let us say he's given 3 years with every year contingent off in averaging north of 30.
- job security as per above
- test career cont.
From my understanding he is an English citizen now so he can always choose his residence after and by all reports jarvis and Taylor are cashing in here more than there.
I'd also be giving such cash to Welch if he doesn't fully kick on to England honours.
Member actions
ShareWhile it's a lovely idea it will never happen, ballance is simply too good to consider coming back from a county contract that must be worth an absolute fortune which if you remember the whole Murray Goodwin saga in 2009ish ZC would never be willing to push that kind of money for a non shona player quite frankly put.
Member actions
ShareZCF OriginalLegend
The national contracts for the best players here are decent. Financially they can do it. It’s about them wanting to actually do it.
Ballance has a list A average of almost 50. Surely he would want to play in a World Cup. He has a better chance of dragging Zimbabwe to the World Cup by himself than cracking that England ODI team again
Ballance has a list A average of almost 50. Surely he would want to play in a World Cup. He has a better chance of dragging Zimbabwe to the World Cup by himself than cracking that England ODI team again
Member actions
ShareZCF Hall of Famer
Kallum wrote: ↑Sun Nov 01, 2020 5:54 pm
While it's a lovely idea it will never happen, ballance is simply too good to consider coming back from a county contract that must be worth an absolute fortune which if you remember the whole Murray Goodwin saga in 2009ish ZC would never be willing to push that kind of money for a non shona player quite frankly put.
Except they have.
Brendan Taylor's contract has been rumoured to be 20k USD a month. Conservative opinions still put it at 10k.
But in his own words 'it made more sense financially to play for Zimbabwe'. Jarvis clearly got an equally good offer.
That initiative I think was a taibu thing but it showed they learnt from previous years that it's good to pay for top talent. So I don't see why not.
As for the Shona's, they never pay out to them. ZC are like the Democrats. They know how to manipulate the niggas to say the right, appealing things, but fundamentally really their plans are to keep them down so anything above poverty is a gain and they are appreciative.
Taibu woke up to that halfway through his career.
Member actions
ShareZCF Hall of Famer
TapsC2 wrote: ↑Sun Nov 01, 2020 6:04 pm
The national contracts for the best players here are decent. Financially they can do it. It’s about them wanting to actually do it.
Ballance has a list A average of almost 50. Surely he would want to play in a World Cup. He has a better chance of dragging Zimbabwe to the World Cup by himself than cracking that England ODI team again
Bingo.
If the will is there this ain't no pipe dream.
It will rely on a too heavy strategy from ZC but considering the weak Logan Cup, it may not be a terrible strategy.
Member actions
ShareAh I wasnt aware of quite how much money they were putting into BT and KJ, I still think theyd have to put up easily half a mil a year to get Ballance playing for Zim
Member actions
ShareZCF OriginalLegend
If they were playing Streak 20k a month it shows they have the ability to pay. I still don’t know why people don’t believe BT and Jarvis were paid that much 😂 These guys are good and I would rather they get the money than the admin. Raza is also making a lot of money with those T20 gigs.
In theory they can actually bring everybody back since they are supposed to be debt free now.
In theory they can actually bring everybody back since they are supposed to be debt free now.
Member actions
ShareZCF Hall of Famer
Googly wrote: ↑Mon Nov 02, 2020 5:14 am
The list of young guys in recent years who have gone to another country to play cricket specifically includes Matigimu, Madhevere, Muyeye, Lock, Hopper, Evans, Byrom, Welch, Schardendorf x2, Curran x2, Bhawa, Mitchell, (these two are still at school),.....can't think of any others atm.
Oh Huchu, but he went as an all-rounder.
Of these Byrom, Welch, both Currans, Madhevere, and a Schardendorf have contracts. That's 6 from 14. That's a serious strike rate.
Matigimu probably has an outside shout at Titans and a firm opportunity in Zim.
Muyeye is a dead cert for Zim if/when he returns.
Bhawa is the same. He's a serious talent.
The guys who went to University outside who hedged their bets between cricket and an education were Geyle, Lake, King and .... can't think of rhe others atm. There's a lesson- none of them are on a radar. Looks like s**t or bust.
Who has stayed here in recent years and been picked for Zim? Shumba, Burl and Jongwe. Again can't think of others atm but there are a few.
Make of that what you will. My take is if you're any good is that if you want to make a go of it overseas you have to leave early, but you're in long shot territory. Cricket is a very uncertain career, especially here.
Surprised you missed Murray.
There's actually a lot more such as the 2x Higgins, James Cameron, Adam Rouse etc but I can't expect you to remember them all. There's a lot.
What I did gain from your post though is the boys that go over to do uni and cricket don't seem to make it work in terms of cricket. All those guys in your second list Id never have heard about since the World Cup they featured in if I didn't read this forum.
Member actions
Share