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Zimbabwe - The Future (ICC 2002)

Jamee999

Jamee999

Hall of Fame Member
The year is 2021 and Zimbabwean cricket, and the country itself is slowly climbing out of the pit that the racist government left them in.

But the cricketers are re-building a team, fit to play Test cricket.

This has been started over the previous few years, with the climbing off the bottom of the 9 team Test Championship. But some people around the cricket world are saying this is solely to do with Australia's fall to the bottom of the tables, they have lost all of their last 16 series. (Tables below)



BUT Zimbabwe's captain has retired, Hamilton Masakadza was one of the greatest ever Zimbabwean batsman, ranking along side Andy Flower and his opening partner for many years, AJ Ryder. But on the last tour of England, 5 years ago, a new opener came through and broke in to the team, and Masakadza dropped down to 3. But with the axing of this partnership had great rewards for the team. Nick Murphy, who at that time was a 24 year old Mashonaland player, has since hit 2686 Test Runs at just over 50. And just 2 months before Hamilton's retirement Murphy hit a Zimbabwean record score in Tests: his 300 against India set up the series, which in the end was drawn 1-1 with the first test drawn. Zimbabwe won the ODI's 3-2.

Next: Meet the Team
 
Jamee999

Jamee999

Hall of Fame Member
The Zimbabwean Team

Now we'll meet the 18 man squad that's going to England.

Openers

Nick Murphy - Allready been discussed, highest ever Test score for a Zimbabwean, 300 against India, averages over 50 in Tests, yet to pick up a ODI ton though.

AJ Ryder - NEW CAPTAIN A legend of Zimbabwean cricket, with 5683 Test runs, opened the batting his entire career and is forging an immensly succesful partnership with Murphy, which at times has rivaled Masakadza-Ryder.

Trevor Henley - Backup opener, was shoved in and out of the Test team to early, got one Test to his name 2 years ago, could yet force himself in to the team.

Middle Order

Ed Batson - Moved into the middle order from the reserves, really need him to play well enough to become a regular. Played 3 tests a few years ago in someone elses injury, played quite well but there wasn't quite a spot for him.

Khanu Wilkinson - Another great player, always bats solidly in the middle order and has worked very hard on his ODI game and is now a key componant of that team. Picked up his 50th Test Cap last year.

David Owen - 19 year old with the natural talent to get into the team, will be taking the Number 5 spot into the warmups, but will be battled hard for it by...

Danny Strachan A bit more experienced than Owen, at age 31 but not as much as a prospect for the future, will be part of the group considered for selection for many years to come.

All Rounders

Andy Dyson - A very promising young all-rounder, averaging 50 in Test cricket. His bowling has talent but needs some work to make it truely good.

Steve Tong - An experienced capainer, Tong is now missing out but is looking to the sub-continent where he'll be looking to be the 2nd all-rounder and 3rd spinner.

Wicket Keepers

Iain Murray - A young wickie' who has shown much promise at First Class level but is yet to perform at International level. He has the talent though and should really be shown faith.

Ieric Quayle - A solid keeper but not up to scratch with the bat, was once the best Zimbabwe had and there was very little competition, but then along came Murray, and his spot was gone, in as reserve keeper.

Bowlers

Harry Kitson - A solid seamer, who although quite young should have a future in the International game.

Graeme Carey - A new seamer, he impressed greatly in his first couple of Tests, and although it's not been quite as rosy since, he's a good young player.

Jackie Halsted - The 3rd seamer in the side who is younger than 30, Halsted took 5 wickets on his only Test, last year and looks forward to a long career.

Hau-Whin Yau - Not quite up to Test class unfortunately, but Yau is a more than able back-up and he has experience from his travels with the team.

Henry Burton - Yet to represent his nation, but Burton is the perfect player to have in reserve for a long tour, willing to bowl long spells and takes wickets, along with a useful economy rate. Will more than likely play some Tests in his career.

Hashmu Dowland - Allthough he has great talent, Dowland has become infamous since "that" ODI series from which he came with 40-223-1. He may well come good, but he'll have to work hard to shed the reputation of his inital series.

Robert Flint - The sole specialist spinner in the squad, Flint has had success at a young age in International cricket, through being willing to bowl long spells, and he is economical. These make him a very useful asset to any team.

Next: The First Warmups
 
Chubb

Chubb

International Regular
I did this once! a few years back on the cricketgames.com forums, started in 2039, on page 29 of the forum archive I think if anyone wants to have a look...

Good luck, but I think you need to change some of your guy's names to african ones, to be more realistic, Bothwell Mapunzu, Ngodnizashe Lahbura, Oliver Utsamybura, that kind of thing.
 
Last edited:
Jamee999

Jamee999

Hall of Fame Member
Hey, we're a multi-cultural society now :p

You've got HASHMU Dowland, IERIC Quayle and KHANU Wilkinson, the latter has 50 tests.

I probably should have some more though, I'll try to mix them in with the new rookies:)
 
Jamee999

Jamee999

Hall of Fame Member
Essex vs Zimbabwe - Four Day Friendly - Chelmsford

Our first match of the Tour to England was a friendly at Chelmsford. We had 3 friendlies before the first Test (of 3) so we decided to pick what we thought was our first choice going in to the series.



We won the toss and chose to bat, as the batsman needed to get the match set up.



A nice performance there, 3 of the batsman making good knocks, Ryder's century, Murphy's 90 and Dyson hit 85. 8 wickets for Flint and 5 for Kitson as well. All in all a very pleasing start to the tour.
 
Jamee999

Jamee999

Hall of Fame Member
Combined Universities vs Zimbabwe - Four Day Friendly - The Parks, Oxford

Upon looking at the pitch we decided to name an un-changed team, the pitch was flat and the batsman all wanted a bat on it. Unfortunately AJ lost the toss and we were out in the field...



Another batsman makes a score, good century from Owen, and Kitson takes a 7-fer. Also Dyson shows his all-rounder capabilities. Still waiting on Batson and keeper, Murray for scores. One Warmup before the first Main Event.
 
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