ICC blueprint urgently required

By now the Zimbabweans are back home to harsh reality, and I’ll bet still shaking their heads in disbelief that their sojourn down under was not extended by an extra week.

How the hell can they be so magnificent against a pumped up Australian team on Sunday, yet so dismal against the West Indies just 2 days prior in a winner take all clash.

Their performance against the host nation in the last of the minor round games of the Carlton Series was top drawer. Think about it. They were out of the competition and their thoughts no doubt were wandering towards ‘home sweet home’ – if home is still sweet in Zimbabwe – I think not! They could have easily gone out on to the WACA with the view of let’s get this tour over with, and recklessly chased that huge total of 303 runs to win. In the meantime they would have succumbed meekly to the outstanding Australian pace attack, who were bowling in ideal and very familiar conditions.

Full marks must go to the senior members of the side along with Australian born coach Carl Rackemann for ensuring that focus and determination was the order of the day. A small matter of national pride was also on the line.

After just the one victory on Australian soil, it’s time to consolidate and take stock of the situation facing the Zimbabwean cricketers. We are all acutely aware that although their efforts in spreading the gospel of the game back home have been impressive, the cold hard facts of the future are not at all encouraging. The cricketing base from which to identify talent is minuscule and with that in mind we have to applaud the hard-nosed competitive spirit that is currently being displayed by the proud national players. Cricketing resources in the main are diminishing fast and therefore the potential to educate, encourage and develop cricket in general is poor.

The country itself is in an awful state with stability being a thing of the past. The inflation rate runs at about 50% and as I write the Zimbabwean dollar is worth around (US) 2c. That could of course alter by the time I’ve finished! Safety and security, which is everybody’s right, is the main concern for all Zimbabweans. So basically the picture does not look rosy.

The stark contrast of the cricketing infrastructure between Australia and Zimbabwe would not have gone unnoticed by many members of the touring squad. Australian cricket is fine-tuned, professional and highly developed and embarrassed by depth. Zimbabwe’s infrastructure is coming apart at the seams – not the fault of the dedicated few mind you who are so fiercely protective of their honour.

What can be done to ensure a proud and determined cricketing nation does not fall by the wayside.

Financial assistance and a little help from their friends would go a long way for starters.

The ICC needs to get involved and find ‘rescue’ sponsorship to enable the development of facilities, the availability of equipment and the all-important education of the game. They also must ensure the endeavours of the national team are able to be witnessed by all by way of accessible television coverage to build national pride.

The United Cricket Board of South Africa could also offer a lifeline and invite participation in our domestic competitions.

Zimbabwe is not the only cricketing nation in trouble. The sooner the ICC, after 97 years of fairly lame existence realise this, the better off we will all be.

A blue print is urgently required!