Letters

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NATIONAL YOUTH LEAGUES

Zimbabwe has got a lot of growing talent which can be brewed to the advantage of the future national teams. I suggest national youth leagues to give everybody a chance. For example I currently play for Purnells Youth Under-17 and will have a chance to show off our talent and improve our cricket. England gives us a chance to enjoy our cricket. Zimbabwean talent in England is growing.

Ivan Mukandi (England) - used to attend Allan Wilson Technical High School.

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ZIMBABWE'S TEST STATUS

First up, thanks for the continuation of ZCO! The specials about Zims first steps as a Test nation were quite interesting, and not only in historical perspective.

Having read Phil Garlands letter regarding Zimbabwe giving up Test status and going back to play ODIs only, several thoughts come to my mind. I agree with your reply that such a move is impossible. Zimbabwe would probably never ever play a single Test match again. The thought of major Test-playing nations coming over to Zim for extended ODI-tours is unrealistic when everyone knows how difficult it has been to get these teams to play in Zim in the last ten years (before the ICC Test Championship was introduced).

But Zim players and officials should nevertheless not take Test status as it is today for granted. In every discussion about whether Bangladesh deserves Test status or not (and everyone writing on cricket at the moment seems to be convinced they should lose it immediately) Zimbabwe gets a mention. Realistically, Zim cricket has nothing to fear at the moment. Test status has never been withdrawn before. But there are already calls for the introduction of a kind of divisional Test Championship. Zimbabwe would then play against Kenya and Bangladesh (with other emerging nations such as Nepal following), with only the odd series against major Test nations. The impact on cricket in Zim would be huge, the financial loss devastating.

At the time of writing, these are only suggestions by journalists and cricket fans predominantly in England and Australia. But only positive results will put an end to talk like that. Zim have achieved good results in the past and the critics often forget that when a bad patch arrives. English or Australian cricket writers don't really take notice when Zim narrowly lose an ODI-series in India. Zim reaching the Super Sixes at the last World Cup ahead of England and Sri Lanka seems to be long forgotten. But a few whitewashes less, a few hard-earned draws more, would be some argument.

Maybe it's time for the Zimbabwe players to rediscover the spirit in which they approached their first Test matches. In your interviews on Zim's first Test they recalled how they wanted to prove being worthy of Test status, not to embarrass themselves and so on.

I'm not in the position to criticize any players, and I have high hopes for some of the younger players coming through. Zim, with its limited resources, will probably never become world-beaters. But the likes of Alistair Campbell should be aware that it is their responsibility to make sure today's youngsters get the opportunity to be tomorrow's professionals. International cricket would be less colourful without Zim.

Where will Zimbabwe cricket (and the whole country) be in another ten years time? Hopefully, fit and well (and politically settled and economically sound).

A final thought on selection. Much has been said about the inconsistencies of the selectors. Maybe they should sit with former Zim captain Duncan Fletcher. The current Ashes disaster notwithstanding, consistency in selection has been a major factor in the resurgence of England. Only three years ago they were rated below Zim in Test cricket. The latest twist came with the first ODI against Kenya. Surprise, surprise, Marillier is back! Were the selectors hiding their secret weapon for the World Cup? To have a look at Sims and to blood other young players, the current series would have been ideal. The series against Wasim, Waqar, Saqlain and Shoaib was not. One has to feel sorry for the boys, especially Matsikenyeri.

Hopefully, Zim can spring a surprise or two at the World Cup. I guess everybody who supports Zim keeps their fingers crossed for the pacers to get and stay fit!

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A GRIPE FROM KENYA

Although I understand your bias towards the Zimbabwe Cricket, I am shocked the way you view Kenyan Cricket.

Just to remind you that during the World Cup where we beat West Indies, Zimbabwe was in deep trouble until the time when rain came to the rescue otherwise Kenya would have beaten them hands down.

Comparing Kenya to Bangladesh just goes to show how naive you are in regards to cricket in Kenya. We have always beaten Bangladesh, twice beaten India (once in India) and of course West Indies. If you go through the one-day table, we have played less games yet we are ranked 10th just below Zimbabwe. You can imagine if we are given more games then we might just end up on top of Zimbabwe.

As for the test, it is noticed that we are way out better then most A teams. Zimbabwe A team would be easily be beaten by Coast select so how do you expect the national team to play Zimbabwe A! Yes, playing against Australia A would be a different story.

Lets not try to brag that Zimbabwe is a better team or was better prepared. As long as stats show Zimbabwe are nothing better then Kenya if not weaker if the time they have been in test cricket is taken into consideration.

For your Kind information, there is more to Kenyan cricket then Steve Tikolo and Maurice Odumbe. Try to watch Brijal Patel and you will know how well cricket is at grass-root level.

It would be appreciated if you could be less bias and more realistic in our articles. I am sure we are going to thrash Zimbabwe on our current tour.

Reply: Readers can judge for themselves whether I was being unfair to Kenya in my tour preview last week. Have readers from other countries any views on Kenya's qualifications for Test cricket?