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As Zimbabwe shimmied towards their latest defeat in the second Test against Sri Lanka, thoughts turned to that age-old question: what are the ingredients for an effective turnaround for Zimbabwe cricket?A lot has changed over the last 15 months. A new board and a new chairman have taken charge. The backroom staff at the national level have all changed, and there is a new head coach now in Heath Streak. Tatenda Taibu has taken over as the new convenor of selectors, and has the responsibility of setting up a new structure below the national team.There are some promising new players coming through. Whats more, Streak has infused positivity into a group of players that had for some time seen survival as their only goal.Further evolution is in the pipeline. Last seasons Logan Cup, the countrys first-class competition, comprised just six rounds, with the national players missing most of them. Although the fixtures of the upcoming season are awaited, the number of matches are expected to double. The four first-class provinces that will contest the Logan Cup will also be supplemented by five Associate provinces who will make up a feeder league.One might look at all this and wonder what else is to be done to improve a Test team that has now failed to take 20 wickets in a match in eight games, and has conceded more than 500 runs in the first innings of its last five Tests.An obvious answer is to entice players who have left - such as Brendan Taylor, Kyle Jarvis and Solomon Mire - back into the fold, but that may not happen in the short term. A less obvious one is to provide better support for the players theyve got. Streak pointed out that, as a coaching unit, the resources at Zimbabwes disposal in an increasingly technological age are miles behind even those of Bangladesh, and said he would be asking Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) for backing in this regard.Further questions arise. Is it possible for Zimbabwe to move forward whilst ZC remain saddled with an asphyxiating debt that, in truth, calls into question the viability of its domestic plans? One also wonders whether anything can really improve until there is a turnaround in the countrys economy, and its political landscape stabilises.In short, there are numerous problems to tackle, but there are some good men doing their best to come up with solutions. The question then is what could happen in the global game that would assist Zimbabwe?A decade ago, with accusations of corruption swirling around ZC, many observers wanted them to be expelled from the ICC. When that did not happen, the rest of the world quietly forgot about Zimbabwe. India have been consistent visitors over the past six years - all-weather friends, in the local parlance - essentially providing the income for ZC to remain a going concern. New Zealand, Pakistan and Bangladesh have all done their bit, but their tours cost ZC more money than they make. Everyone else has largely given up on Zimbabwe, and the disintegration of the Future Tours Programme has allowed other countries to ignore them.Since returning to Test cricket in August 2011, Zimbabwe have played just six away Tests, three of them in a single series in Bangladesh. Without more international games, especially Tests, Zimbabwe is unlikely to get far even if they reform themselves in every possible way.We have too many long periods without international cricket, and unfortunately the gap between our domestic cricket and international cricket is massive, Streak said. Our next scheduled Test series is in June next year. If youre a specialist Test player like Tino Mawoyo, your next Test is in eight months time, and his only cricket in the meantime will be domestic cricket. You cant expect to go from that to facing Rangana Herath. But Im telling the players we cant just expect people to want to come and play us. Weve got to earn the right.The next few years will be crucial for the game here, and Zimbabwes future is likely to be tied to what happens at the ICC. If nothing comes of attempts to add context and structure to bilateral cricket, and Zimbabwe fail to qualify for the 2019 World Cup, then its difficult not to see former coach Dav Whatmores prophecy coming to pass and Zimbabwe going Kenyas way. But if the ICCs Members can agree on a new format for bilateral cricket, there is reason to be hopeful.The two-tier system discussed by the ICC in September would have solved the lack of cricket, but ZC opposed it. I mean that was like doing this, said a former Zimbabwe international this week, cocking his right hand into the shape of a gun before pretending to blow his brains out through the roof of his head. In July, ZC chairman Tavengwa Mukuhlani said the opposition to the proposal was because, whatever restructuring of international cricket is done must be aimed at ensuring that it improves cricket, and our belief is that you can only improve when you play against the best. The fact that only one of Zimbabwes Test opponents since August 2011 have been ranked in the top four at the time that the two teams played - South Africa visited for one Test in 2014 - confirms they are not playing against the best as things stand. We have to earn the right to step up, and the only way youre going to do that is by playing regularly, said Streak. Im very keen for us to play even non-official Tests against Ireland and Afghanistan, because youre going to be better off for it than playing Mountaineers versus Tuskers.By opposing the two-tier system, ZC have effectively gambled on the ICC Members agreeing on a better proposal soon. The ICC is not known for moving quickly with small decisions, let alone big ones. Should it all come together, though, there are other changes on the horizon that would benefit Zimbabwe.An ODI league would bring quantity and quality, guaranteeing games against everyone and even encouraging England to resume ties. The new structures look set to make all of these fixtures financially viable, rather than adding to ZCs debt burden.Furthermore, if India come on board with the DRS and the ICC secure a global sponsor for the system, it would become readily available in Zimbabwe. The last two series have shown how badly it is needed.And if ZC can pool their television rights with other boards, they should secure more money that could result in their games being broadcast to a wider audience. Their last two series have been aired in just a handful of countries, and Zimbabweans have been vulnerable to the whims of the state broadcaster, ZBC.There is much to be hopeful about then, but the stakes are high. The ICCs drive to change bilateral cricket was largely borne out of a desire for context in games among middle-ranking nations. But failure to transform the landscape could easily see its most embattled Full Member go quietly into the night. Air Force 1 Italia . Cuban testified Thursday that he was upset when the companys CEO told him news that would reduce the value of his shares, for which hed paid $7.5 million. But he said he did nothing improper when he sold those shares over the next two days. Nike Sf Air Force 1 Saldi . The visitors took a deserved lead in the 16th minute with midfielder Yohan Cabaye curling the ball beyond Adrian from inside the penalty area. http://www.nikeairforce1scontate.it/ . Perhaps Carroll was so prepared for a break because he believes there is very little the Seattle Seahawks need heading into the off-season. "I dont see anything that we need to add. We just have to get better," Carroll said. Air Force 1 Scontate Italia . Pence singled in the winning run with no outs in the ninth inning to give the Giants a 7-6 victory over the San Diego Padres on Sunday. Air Force 1 In Offerta .com) - Manchester City midfielder David Silva is expected to miss the next four weeks because of a calf problem. PISCATAWAY, N.J. -- Unlike past seasons when Rutgers figured out ways to lose, the Scarlet Knights are doing the opposite this year.Were figuring out ways to win games, said coach Steve Pikiell after Rutgers took an 82-69 victory over Fairleigh Dickinson on Wednesday night. Each team weve played has presented a different challenge and weve been able to respond and take care of the game.Corey Sanders and Mike Williams had 15 points each for the Scarlet Knights (10-1), who won their fourth straight and continued their best start since 1975-76. Rutgers has won three more games than all of last season.This team has a never-say-die attitude, Williams said. You gotta give it to our coach. He came in with a plan, with a lot of energy. That was different for us. We kind of feed off of that.C.J. Gettys had 12 points, eight rebounds and four assists for the Scarlet Knights. Candido Sa added 11 points, Nigel Johnson had eight points and seven assists and Deshawn Freeman had six points and 13 rebounds before leaving late in the game after getting hit in the face.Darian Anderson had 22 points and four assists for the Knights (2-8), who lost their sixth straight. Mike Holloway added 14 points and eight rebounds and Earl Potts Jr., in his third game back from a foot injury, had 13 points.In a first half that featured four ties and five lead changes, Rutgers ended with an 8-0 run for a 38-32 advantage. The Scarlet Knights maintained the advantage throughout the second half and pulled away after FDU got within 59-55.BIG PICTUREFDU: Anderson has 55 points in his last two games. Holloway was ejected after being called for a flagrant foul after hitting Freeman in the face on a drive with 4:36 remaining. The New Jersey-based Knights dropped to 1/3 against Jersey schools this season but coach Greg Herenda was proud off his teams effort.dddddddddddd love them, they just gotta love themselves, and they went down fighting tonight, said Herenda, whose team reached the NCAA Tournament last year and was picked to win the Northeast Conference this season. Our mantra tonight was `Fight dont fold, and they didnt fold. I see a bright future for Fairleigh Dickinson.Rutgers: Johnson, who entered the game tied with Freeman as Rutgers leading scorer with a 13.0 average, got his first start of the season. Freeman had 10 rebounds in the first half. The victory gave the Scarlet Knights their first 8-0 home start since 2001-02, while Pikiell continues to enjoy the best start for a first-year head coach in Rutgers history.Thats very important, Sanders said of the home record. We dont want anybody coming in here thinking they can walk out with a win. Coach Pikiell said were gonna pack them up and send them back on the bus so they wont want to come here any more.PLAYING SICKSanders played 26 minutes and shot 6 of 11 despite battling an illness all day. I was just taking good shots and it was just coming to me tonight, he said. Im going to push through with whatever sickness Ive got.OFFESTING FREE THROW WOESThe Scarlet Knights shot just 14 of 29 from the foul line, but were 51.7 percent (31-of-60) from the field and held a 43-31 rebounding advantage against the physical Knights. After making 1 of 9 3-pointers in the first half, Rutgers hit 5 of 7 in the second.UP NEXTFDU: The Knights travel to No. 23 Cincinnati on Saturday for their first game of the season against a ranked opponent.Rutgers: The Scarlet Knights play Fordham on Sunday for the first of their two games at Madison Square Garden this season. ' ' '