Well it's almost crunch time for the boys. Who's going to turn up on the day ?? The Zimbabwe that beat both Pakistan and Australia....or the Zimbabwe that self destructs under pressure.....Fingers crossed it's the first
Either way, compared to the 2007 squad that we took to South Africa, this one seems more experienced, colourful, and above all......TOUGHER !!
So what would your team be for the first game ?? Having seen Chiggs perform so admirably is there actually any room for Andy Blignaut.......ofcourse there is !!
1. Hamilton Mazakadza
2. Brendan Taylor
3. Tatenda Taibu Wkt
4. Elton Chigumbura
5. Craig Ervine
6. Andy Blignaut
7. Chamu Chibhaba
8. Greg Lamb
9. Prosper Utsea Skipper
10. Graeme Cremer
11. Raymond Price
I'd love to include Chappie, but since he's out of form I don't see how I can do so. Though his powerful 30 was extremely valuable
1. Hamilton Mazakadza
2. Chamu Chibhaba
3. Tatenda Taibu (wk)
4. Brendan Taylor
5. Craig Irvine
6. Elton Chigumbura
7. Andy Blignaut
8. Graeme Creamer
9. Prosper Utseya (capt)
10. Ray Price
11. Chris Mpofu
I know that without Lamb the batting depth isn't as much, but Creamer seems to be doing okay with the bat lately.
I also brought in Mpofu to add another seamer as Bliggie hasn't been in the best form so far, with the bat or ball, and Mpofu has been on top of his game.
Elton is at 6 to start with, but that is obviously a floating position, but I didn't want to put him too high up the order, else he might be in in the first 3 overs...
It's still a difficult one though.... Hard job for the bosses!
Zim Rules
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dr Satendra Singh, Delhi, India
Twitter: @drsitu
H Masakadza
T Taibu (wicketkeeper)
C Ervine
B Taylor
E Chigumbura
A Blignaut
G Lamb
A Cremer
P Utesya
R Price
C Mpofu
I wouldn't really have a batting line up; I'd have more of a "you go in then ..." policy. Masakadza and Taibu SHOULD open though. They really should. Those two batsmen are the best (going by what people say on here and what I've seen), batsmen in the Zimbabwean squad and have the most experience. Taibu scored a wonderful century against SA a couple of months ago which is he should open. We've recently struggled with our opening partnerships lately so we need to make sure we have a decent base to start from. If these two players can get about 50 without loss then it will be fantastic base for the rest to build on.
If we have lost an early wicket, then we should put in Brendan Taylor. Taylor is another one with a wealth of experience and he has the ability to hold the innings while hopefully no other wickets have gone at the other end. When the bowler has been taken of, or finished his spell, then he should be able to play his natural game which as we know is to attack. He is a very useful player.
Now for the middle order. We should have Chigumbura at 4. I haven't seen much of him, but I do know that he sounds like a very good player to come at four. BUT, if the bowler(s) are bowling very well, then we should maybe have Ervine in front so Chigumbura can play his natural game? I think Chigumbura is a player that just attacks ( ??? ) so he could stick around a bit at 4, play himself in, and then go mad haha!
At number 5 I'm tempted by Lamb if we are at crisis point. Yes, he couldn't hit a ball in the WI a couple of months ago, but he can stick around which is want we would want if we are i don’t know ... 32-4 in the 10th over or something mad ! If not, then he should drop down the order and instead Blignaut should come in. I don't know how he will perform. He hasn't played cricket for months and has only recently came back, but I have seen a video of him smashing it around in the domestic T20 so he has got the shots! He should obviously come in when it’s the last couple of overs.
After that the batting line up picks itself!
So thats what I think haha. Most of it wouldn't actually work, but it was fun picking that selection! I can't wait to watch the Zims play!
new zealand are a very good t20 team and have a lot of dangerous playerss, but i believe the likes of jesse ryder,brendon McCullum,Jacob Oram ect like the ball coming on nice and quick.This suits us just perfectly with the likes of price,utseya,cremer and lamb slowing the pace up and not allowing mcCullum and Ryder to get the ball coming onto them nice and quickly.I believe Blignaut has to play , he might not have proved much in the warmups but he has a reputaion of being the X factor ,everyone knows what he is capable of with both bat and bowl.I also believe Taibu needs to open to provide creativity and quick running between the wickets.We have proven we can beat anyone in this form of the game all we need to do is bat right through and not throw our wickets away and bowl nice tight areas and take our catches, i believe if we do all this we will beat new zealand tonight and show the rest of the world zimbabwe is on the rise again and get nations fearing us. All i can say is go ZIm . THis would be my lineup.
