The Herald
By David Coltart
1 May 2013
I have a great deal of respect for Firdose Moonda, ESPNCricinfo’s South Africa correspondent — she knows her cricket well and has an obvious passion for the game. However, I have to take issue with one aspect of her article this evening written in the aftermath of the Zimbabwe/Bangladesh test series.
In it she says that:
“Zimbabwe’s squaring of a series does not even put them on the Test rankings. They will need to play a minimum of eight matches in a particular period to qualify. If all their tours go as planned, they will play eight Tests this year and probably take up a position below Bangladesh. That is probably where they deserve to sit.â€
Aside from the fact that Zimbabwe at present has 266 ICC test ranking points to Bangladesh’s 134 (and is only not on the rankings because we have not played the requisite matches) I disagree that Zimbabwe “deserves to sit†below Bangladesh.
On the contrary I think that Zimbabwean cricketers and cricket supporters deserve much better for a variety of reasons. Firstly, Zimbabwe is in fact potentially much stronger than this in terms of players which are eligible to play and Zimbabwean coaches.
The addition of Tatenda Taibu, Sean Ervine, Craig Ervine and Gary Ballance to the squad would strengthen it massively.
This may seem pie in the sky but I use the word “eligible†specifically – all are qualified to play for Zimbabwe.
In other words in different circumstances, in different conditions they would all play for Zimbabwe.
I am not blind to the fact that Taibu has “retired†and Ballance is hoping to play for England but I have no doubt that all would still play for Zimbabwe if the right conditions were created.
Likewise, we have such a wealth of cricketing coaching talent in the likes of Andy Flower, Davy Houghton, Duncan Fletcher and Paul Strang who are coaching leading teams elsewhere but who also love Zimbabwe with a passion and want to contribute to the game at home.
All who love the game of cricket in Zimbabwe do not deserve the climate which has made these players and coaches look elsewhere.
I have no doubt that if this wealth of talent and experience was fused with the superb budding young talents of the likes of Richmond Mutumbami Zimbabwe would become a strong cricketing nation — no longer a so called minnow.
That is our rightful place in world cricket.
Secondly, even from players who are eligible and available this was not the strongest team we can field.
Tino Mawoyo was sorely missed and the selection of a still injured Regis Chakabva over Sean Williams weakened our batting.
Williams has the highest first class average by some margin of ALL the current Zimbabwean players (43,1 – see the player averages on the cricinfo site), had a superb 2012/13 season for the Tuskers with an average of over 62 and was one of the few players who did reasonably well batting in the West Indies in his maiden Test match.
Indeed, it simply boggles the mind that he has only played one Test for Zimbabwe.
The failure to give our best batsman in the West Indies, Craig Ervine, a central contract forced him to choose club cricket in Ireland which pays considerably more than he would have got in Zimbabwe, and seriously weakened the batting line-up.
David Coltart is the Minister of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture.