Taibu Quits Zimbabwean Cricket

[SJS]

Aaargh, this makes me so angry.

The ICC is an embarrasment to the sport.

Its amazing how cricket attracts the worst administrators both at national level (particularly in the sub continent) and international. Or is it that ICC has inherited the worst in "British tradition' ?

 

[Slow Love™]

Its amazing how cricket attracts the worst administrators both at national level (particularly in the sub continent) and international. Or is it that ICC has inherited the worst in "British tradition' ?

Do you mean in an imperial sense? Maybe, although the irony of this particular situation is that one of the most thrown-around arguments against any intervention as far as Zimbabwe is concerned (as I think, Henry Olonga pointed out) is that it would be motivated by imperialism. Obviously, because of this, nothing whatsoever should be done.

A sad state of affairs. There are no easy solutions to Zimbabwe's wider problems, but there really are simple ways that the issues over there regarding how cricket is run need to be dealt with.

 

[Prince EWS]

I could easily see the pair in the same side...

But why exactly would you do that?

That makes as much sence as batting Gilchrist at #4 and picking Haddin, giving the reasons "so he can concentrate on his batting." Gilchrist is clearly a very good batsman, capable of making the side on batting alone, but he is also a very good wicket keeper, which allows Australia to pick him in that role and pick another batsman.

Same story with De Villiers, IMO.

 

[marc71178]

If that's the case, why don't the South Africans drop Boucher long term for de Villiers then?

Presumably because they see Boucher as the better keeper.

And since IMO Taibu is in terms of glovework far better than Boucher, it therefore follows that he's above de Villiers?

That's before you look at the logistics of opening the batting and keeping.

 

[Prince EWS]

If that's the case, why don't the South Africans drop Boucher long term for de Villiers then?

IMO, its only a matter of time.

That's before you look at the logistics of opening the batting and keeping.

I wouldnt have him open - I'd bat him at #5 or #6. Gibbs and Smith are both natural openers with great records. There is no unwritten law that ensures De Villiers opens the batting.

 

[Protea]

Boucher is far from finished and he's pretty safe with the gloves. He also adds a huge amount of experience to the side and AB de Villiers can only benefit from having him around, in terms of keeping anyway.

de Villiers is a very good keeper, at least from what I've seen of him in the Tests v England and the domestic games, where he kept ahead of Kruger van Wyk, who, IMO, is one of the best wicketkeepers in the country. I think South Africa would really rather have him as a specialist batsman this early in his career and to keep occasionally so he can become accustomed to the pressures at the highest level. It'll be useless to waste his talents in the domestic game while waiting for the current keeper to retire. I have no doubt he'll take over the gloves after Boucher's retirement though.

 

[Prince EWS]

Boucher is far from finished and he's pretty safe with the gloves. He also adds a huge amount of experience to the side and AB de Villiers can only benefit from having him around, in terms of keeping anyway.

de Villiers is a very good keeper, at least from what I've seen of him in the Tests v England and the domestic games, where he kept ahead of Kruger van Wyk, who, IMO, is one of the best wicketkeepers in the country. I think South Africa would really rather have him as a specialist batsman this early in his career and to keep occasionally so he can become accustomed to the pressures at the highest level. It'll be useless to waste his talents in the domestic game while waiting for the current keeper to retire. I have no doubt he'll take over the gloves after Boucher's retirement though.

I completely agree with all of that.

Back to the Taibu situation though - it'll take him five years (I think) to qualify for South Africa, by which time De Villiers will have the position all tied up.

 

[chris.hinton]

Zimbabawe should be banned from world cricket for the next 25 years

 

[Shounak]

Zimbabawe should be banned from world cricket for the next 25 years

Hahahah Gold.. Can you please come back to OT a bit more..

 

[greg]

Has there actually been ANY official ICC response to this yet?

 

[JASON]

Seems like Zim cricket is run by guys without any Brain !! They are desperately trying to get rid rid of every cricketer who has any talent.

At the rate they are going , it shouldn't be too long before they start losing to Scotland/Ireland/ Canada/Holland etc on a regular basis and then their position in Test arena will have to reviewed . (Can't understand why its already not under review ).