Chatara Article

[jimbo]

Chatara ready for Tests test
Thursday, 02 June 2011 20:28
Kevin Mapasure

FAST bowling sensation Tendai Chatara is on the brink of a maiden Test expedition as Zimbabwe resumes the long version of the game.
Whether or not he is ripe and ready for the gruelling five-day game, is for the selectors to decide but inexperience aside, the national team’s deficiency in seam bowling probably means that Chatara is likely to make his debut.


With 56 wickets in first class cricket last season, the Mountaineers quickie is fast emerging as the find of the season since most established players were unavailable on national duty.


Having put to good use the opportunity he got with the unavailability of established bowlers, he can seize upon another with such zealous to gain and maintain place in the Test team that is bereft of pace.


The national team coaches are working with him and others to fine-tune their styles to match the rigours of Test cricket.


An admirer of express bowling legend Glen McGrath, Chatara tries to imitate the skills of the former Australian pace man’s good line and length.
The national team had to endure waves of scorn after a pathetic show at the World Cup.


Manoeuvres are being made to assemble a squad of competitive players.


Part of the plan has been to microwave Chatara in an attempt to equip him with all the requirements of the longer version.


National coach Alan Butcher has already indicated that they will move away from a spin dominated attack to a seam bowlers for Test matches.


While names such as Chris Mpofu, Shingi Masakadza and Kyle Jarvis have been widely mentioned for this job, Chatara’s name continues to echo from a distance.


The 20-year old is an example of how cricket has been taken to the masses to try and widen the pool of players to take Zimbabwe out of its performance woes.


After surveying the wreckage of the World Cup, selectors and coaches have decided to assess Chatara’s readiness.


The Chimanimani born cricketer is not short of international experience, albeit little, as he has represented Zimbabwe XI last year after a T-20 international debut against India.


Assistant national team coach Steve Mangongo bemoaned Chatara’s inexperience but said the player could still play an important role.


“I think they will be looking at picking three fast bowlers for the Tests and he will be seriously considered. His only disadvantage compared with the other players is that he does not have international experience. As a bowler, he would need that ability to study the opponents and know what to do, but since he has not played much at the top level, he may not have that quality. Having said that, I think he is a very talented pace bowler and genuine wicket-taker. He has that ability to make batsman uncomfortable by consistently bowling above 135 km/h,” said Mangongo.


Mangongo said the emerging star’s height gives him the ability to make good use of the new ball by initiating awkward bounces.


Chatara’s cricket career only started after he dumped a promising career in athletics having represented Manicaland in the 200m and 400 m events in his school years.


Zimbabwe will test its own readiness with two unofficial Tests against a strong Australia A side featuring some Test players.
It is during these two matches that Zimbabwe can experiment with different combinations opening the way for Chatara to showcase his capabilities.

[jimbo]

Rainsford/Chatara and Shingarai for the seamers position for me!!

Chatara looks like he has something special

[sloandog]

Chitara, Mpofu, Nicholson for me. With Price as the main spinner.
Rainsford has no pace what so ever anymore, I don't know where any of the forum members got the impression from...

[geraldaliseni]

Watched this kid and all I can say he is the future..What impressed me was his control at his age with the pace he possesses. He will be a major assest come tests along with Njabulo Ncube..Possibly the two best paces currently in zim..

[jimbo]

We need some bowlers who can bat a bit too, A tail of say rainsford/price/Mpofu and chatara would be blown away relatively quickly say, Shingi can lay claim to be an aspiring all rounder as he does have a first class century and numerous good scores

[bayhaus]

We need some bowlers who can bat a bit too, A tail of say rainsford/price/Mpofu and chatara would be blown away relatively quickly say, Shingi can lay claim to be an aspiring all rounder as he does have a first class century and numerous good scores

I think its not too important. if wer have to depend on our tailend scoring runs then again we are not ready for test cricket. It would be nice if they can but it should not determine their place in the team. If the go out and bowl and the top order and middle order do their job then they can relax and focus on batting not trying to play the ALL rounder role and end up being good at neither.

[bayhaus]

I thin the bowler's batting prowess shuld be a factor when trying to split very close options

I agree.

[brmtaylor.com admin]

Surely experience has to come into the equation? Rainsford has played international cricket for a long time and has done pretty well by Zimbabwean standards. S Masakadza has a lot of potential but nobody with an ODI economy of 8 deserves to playing ODIs let alone Tests.

In fairness, they both have very good First Class bowling records. Eerily similar to be honest... Rainsford averages 21 to Masakadza's 23 and strike rates of 44 and 43 respectively... close economies, 2.8 to 3.2. But again, Rainsford has sustained these performances over a full decade while Masakadza has only been on the scene for a few years.

Rainsford for Tests in my opinion, S Masakadza needs to further his skills by playing for Zimbabwe A and get his economy rate under control.

[hhm]

Surely experience has to come into the equation? Rainsford has played international cricket for a long time and has done pretty well by Zimbabwean standards. S Masakadza has a lot of potential but nobody with an ODI economy of 8 deserves to playing ODIs let alone Tests. In fairness, they both have very good First Class bowling records. Eerily similar to be honest... Rainsford averages 21 to Masakadza's 23 and strike rates of 44 and 43 respectively... close economies, 2.8 to 3.2. But again, Rainsford has sustained these performances over a full decade while Masakadza has only been on the scene for a few years. Rainsford for Tests in my opinion, S Masakadza needs to further his skills by playing for Zimbabwe A and get his economy rate under control.

Precisely! Well pointed out. Over and above being part of the equation, experience should really be the underlying factor, particularly in the early stages of our return. Glad to say I very much agree with you brmtaylor.com. I know I've been a strong advocate for experience in these discussions, I don't know why but I'm a little bit surprised to see you displaying a preference for experience. From most of your sentiments I got the impression that, say given a choice of the Mpofu/Rainsford/Panyangara axis to Jarvis/Nicholson/Chatara you would have gone for the latter. I don't know....

[jimbo]

Dont think Mpofu set the logan cup alight last season, But being match fit i would bank on rainsford as the workhorse