Story Azza manages Zimbabwe :O [ICC 2005]

[Andy Caddick]

Great Story, keep it up

 

[Azza!]

Will update it today hopefully!

 

[treva]

who ya playing azza??

hope you guys win

 

[Azza!]

Sorry fellas I've been struck down with the flu and haven't been motivated to work on the diary.

But I played ICC 2001 on the old Playstation with India And wrote up on it in a little notebook to keep my mind working. I beat South Africa in a 2 game test series 1-0 and won my 2 tour matches. Kulkarni and Kumble took a brilliant 35 wickets each from 9 innings. Amazing spin tandem!

Hoping to work on it tonight and most likely will.

Azza!

 

[Azza!]

3 Day friendly:
Zimbabwe 259 (Ferreira 82) and 141 (Maungwa 54)
lose to
Guyana 291 (Sarwan 104 Streak 5-80 Price 3-21) and 6-112 (Price 2-18)
by 4 wickets

- Disappointed yet again by the start of the tour. Being comprehensively beaten in 3 days by a weak domestic side has shattered the confidence of the boys no doubt, but I keep stressing to them how important the first match always is - yet they never seem to deliver. We're now on the back foot for the test matches. It was the typical players that stood out in the minicard with Streak, Ferreira and Price continuing to perform.

1st Test:
West Indies 412 (Lara 225no Blignaut 4-74 Streak 3-105) and 5-335dec.(Sarwan 106no Blignaut 2-52)
defeated
Zimbabwe 223 (Vermeulen 63) and 188 (Blignaut 47no)
by 326 runs

- This was a farce. First of all, we let Brian Lara build an innings and gave him momentum. That is a cricketing death wish. You can certainly see the confidence we may have got bowling them out for 200 odd had we got rid of him 200 runs earlier. We thought we may have had a chance once he claimed him for a golden duck in the 2nd innings. However, like the Guyana game, our 2nd innings was horrible. Andy Blignaut was a clear best performer with his 6 wickets and 2nd innings resistance. The younger, more inexperienced fellas need to step up now.

2nd Test:
West Indies 297 (Sarwan 72 R Hinds 69 Hondo 4-76 Rainsford 3-70) and 6-483dec. (Gayle 160 Sarwan 124no Blignaut 2-120)
drew with
Zimbabwe 360 (Chari 105 Maungwa 55) and 7-221 (Chari 101no Price 23no)

- There were 2 things that saved us from another massive defeat:
1. Nyasha Chari's 2 centurys
2. West Indies batting for 140 overs in the 2nd innings
Had they not batted for so long, they would have creamed us. I feel a sense of luck that we salvaged a draw, and 'draw' is such a lenient word for our performance. I'm pleased with Nyasha Chari, my star recruit from Matabeleland, and he's developing into something with potential. One thing I couldn't help noticing is that the standouts weren't from the players like Streak and Blignaut who always perform well - the less experienced blokes stood up, and if they can continue their form combined with the more consistent players having a good day I still believe we can pull off an upset.

3rd Test:
West Indies 6-615dec. (Sarwan 191no Smith 186 Lara 120 Streak 2-99 Blignaut 2-99)
defeated
Zimbabwe 245 (Vermeulen 64 Mohammed 6-74) and 219 (Vermeulen 50 Mohammed 4-73)

- Ramnaresh Sarwan is having a blinder of a series, he has already scored 5 centuries including one for Guyana. We need to target him more in the one day series, as he is destroying. Well done to Mohammed the offie for 10 wickets, a good effort. As far as Zimbabwe goes, Mark Vermeulen AGAIN the only resistance. Perhaps some shuffling and axing needs to be done.

West Indies win the 3 game series 2-0


Pictures: Eddie Rainsford shows ecstasy as he removes Baugh for 1 (top) and Heath Streak shows his frustrations as he is hit for 4 yet again against Guyana (bottom)
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[ZoraxDoom]

Are you bowling Maungwa? He is pretty decent.
Also, try K.Swanepoel. Handy seam bowling option, but a very promising young batter

 

[Hamish]

Nice thread

 

[Mr. Kurns]

Great Thread Azza Keep It Up Mate

 

[Azza!]

TOUR OF SOUTH AFRICA

Itinerary:
South Africa v Mashonaland 3 day friendly
2 Tests
3 ODI's

South Africa 5-321dec and 2-114 defeat Mashonaland 295 and 139 by 8 wickets. Gibbs makes 97no, the top 5 all star with a 50, Shaun Pollock takes 9 wickets, and Andy Blignaut hits good form for his comeback in the first test.

- I attended a luncheon with the chairman of selectors, Joki Marika, on the 1st day of the tour match at Harare. While I was studying the techniques of the tourists, Joki was searching for some possible newcomers to the side. We are looking for new blood as things aren't working right. South Africa look very strong, and will be a struggle.

1st Test:
South Africa 572 (Puttick 145no Price 4-170)
drew with
Zimbabwe 321 (Vermeulen 138 Goodwin 76 Pollock 5-93) and 6-255 (Goodwin 85 Strydom 69 Pollock 3-65)

- They simply scored much too many runs in their only innings which basically ruled us out of the game straight off. We had no choice but to play for the draw, and did that satisfactory. Shaun Pollock is asserting dominance with 17 wickets already.

2nd Test:
South Africa 515 (Rudolph 129 Friend 102 Hondo 3-91)
drew with
Zimbabwe 309 (Goodwin 114 Pollock 6-85) and 7-167 (Chari 63 Pollock 3-44)

- A carbon copy of the 1st test. They batted into the third day and we had no choice but to bat the rest out. Pollock once again destroying us with the ball - perhaps we need to show more caution in the one dayers. Goodwin, Chari and Vermeulen have had a fantastic series with the bat, however I can't commend any bowlers at the moment. That has always been a weak spot and needs to improve. But the books will read a drawn series, and I'll take that.

Series Drawn 0-0

Attached images:
AB De Villiers is focused on the task
Gibbs drives Mbangwa at Harare
A supporter attempts to liven up the very slow-paced 5th day of the second test
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[Hamish]

Zimbabwe gets a drawn series. South Africa at fault tho for slow batting...

Zimbabwe getting better as they play more matches

 

[Wildwil]

Like the story keep it up mate.

 

[treva]

unlucky azza but keep it going mate

 

[ZoraxDoom]

Well, I'm sorry to say this, but I give up on Zimbabwe! They just keep losing, and improvement is taking too long. I haven't found any good youngsters either. So, I've quite managing Zimbabwe. I'm doing Bangla now Autoplayed all the Warmups, Bangla won 2 by an innings apiece, and drew one!! Time to beat England!

 

[treva]

yes bangladesh are very fun too manage as you can tell from me bangladesh story.
just played a game against england in the ODI.posting match report soon so zorax check it out

 

[Azza!]

It's the end of an era. Zimbabwe just aren't improving over time, I accidentally deleted the .sav file and its frustrating after an extent of time. I'll be switching sides and starting another normal diary, probably with South Africa.