[Match Thread] 1st Match - Zimbabwe XI vs Australia A

[hhm]

It's a pleasure to see all our guys get a chance to play these kind of games, and against quality opposition at that. It's been good for everyone and I'm sure some of the guys, who won't eventually make it to the final test squad, will understand where they stand and what they need to do to change their fortunes. Obviously a lot of us in the ZCF are excited and that's how it should be. You can only imagine how the cricket loving public at home is feeling, and that will be great for the upcoming domestic season. We should see more fans starting to identify more distinctly with the teams they support and forging loyalties with them.

To see Elton respond this way with both bat and ball has been refreshing. Their snubbing him for the captaincy position has surely spurred him on and that's very much to the good of the team. It give us greater options and more balance as a team (not that he's a Kallis, but you know what I mean). His presence means, with just two other seamers(Meth&Mpofu), we can confidently select two specialist spinners all the time as Elton can carry his full load as a third seamer. On the other hand, we can also subsitute that second spinner for a genuine quick strike bowler, whoever that may turn out to be. Jarvis??

Chakbva has shown great resolve, but proven at the same time that he needs more time. Twenties & thirties here and there plus the odd fifty once in a while have no place here. So with Taylor stating clearly in his interview that he prefers to be a wicketkeeper, then if for whatever reason Taibu is unavailable, he should keep wicket. We had a chat about this subject here not too long ago, and I think considering he is now the captain, he can pick himself as the wk. So naturally a mature, proper top order batsman who is more capable than Chakabva should be the option.

Ervine has disapponted, but it's unanimous that we have no doubt that his class will show in the long run. However, with him, Chakabva, Mutzwa&Waller featuring relatively unsuccessfully in that middle order, we have been horribly exposed. Taibu will no doubt make it look a lot different, but that middle order has now become an area for close inspection. We do not doubt the talent of those mentioned, but they are clearly not the answer, as their characters have shown that they do not fit those roles. We lost this match because of their failures. It is at this point where we need to question our discrimination against the likes of Matsi, and lament the loss of Ebrahim. Mature players, who have the necessary grit and ability to spend time in the middle. My demands for Ewing are well documented. No doubt they would have ensured that this match was drawn.

Vitori has proven himself. Not enough to be a mainstay at this level just yet, in my view, but sufficient to ensure that this fast left-armer is natured and preserved with great importance, before being unsleashed when he's worthy weapon. I quite fancy the idea of him giving Smith anxious moments in the upcoming ODI tour.

I like the lineup that jimbo has come up with, and I certainly would have no arguments against seeing it in the next game. Mutizwa & Jarvis get a chance, while some questions about Ervine & Price will get to be answered.

[BaijuSpeaks]

Yes, Zimbabwe have taken a lot of positives out of this game. Atleast, in ZImbabwean conditions, we have proved that we can play quality cricket.
The most impresssive for me has been the opening pair. Its not easy to play the new ball from an Australian attack comprising of Hilfenhaus, Siddle and Copeland. So, I wont support changing this opening pair for the next game. Instead, Taylor can bat at No 4.That will add more depth to our middle order.

As a genuine spinner will feature in the team for the next game, Waller can be substituted by Mutizwa who can keep wickets as well.
But, its almost sure that there is no vacancy in the team for Waller/Mutizwa/Chakabwa as Taibu will walk into the team once he recovers.
That will inturn put more pressure on Ervine, which is always good for the team .
In case of bowlers, Jimbo's choice is good .

[ZIMDOGGY]

well the way i seee it.

That aussie A team was a genuine A team for australia,
that zimbabwe team was a hybrid A hybrid real deal side (leaning towards A status...even moreso considering the lack of Chigg and hamster form and ervines issues).

So considering that zim didnt do too bad.

we just need a bowler who can scare the top order bats (no batter is scvared if hes scoring over ar un a ball) and another batter to put in a decent score and we can be competitive and put upsets on the bangers and the out of form test teams.

[foreignfield]

The most impresssive for me has been the opening pair. Its not easy to play the new ball from an Australian attack comprising of Hilfenhaus, Siddle and Copeland. So, I wont support changing this opening pair for the next game. Instead, Taylor can bat at No 4.That will add more depth to our middle order.

I agree with that. Call me old fashioned, but I like someone up the order who simply sees off the new ball, and Mawoyo seems to be doing a job, so I'll give him another chance. He also did rather well vs. a Nz attack that included a number of test bowlers in Martin, Arnel and Franklin. As I'm new to this forum, I tried to catch up with a few discussions about the make-up of the test side, and it has struck me how almost everybody seems to be convinced that Taylor should and will open. Of course, if he wants it, he will do it (being captain), and I do hope he turns out to be our own Trescothick (not in a mental sense), who showed the world that you can smash opening bowlers around with limited foot movement. But a top three of Taylor, Vusi, Hamilton makes me extremely nervous. A scenario where Taylor gets a first-baller and Vusi immediately panicks and runs Hamilton out beckons. A middle order of Maskadza, Talor, Ervine (presumably, but Mutizwa might get a look in somewhere) and Taibu has a somewhat more reassuring look.

Add to that the weight of captaincy, especially for an opening batsman, when you have minimum time to mentally switch from marshalling your boys on the field to batting. The suggestion that - on top of that - Taylor should also keep wicket in the case of Taibu's absence, is taking things definitely too far - why he could even prepare the teas, score and do a bit of tv commentary all the while.

[eugene]

Having an opener whose only role is to see of the new ball can be a succesful method. I remeber Aakash Chopra combined well Sehwag at the top for India at one point, and Mark Richardson did a fine job for New Zealand. Perhaps Mawoyo can fit this role? Or Duffin is the other one who comes to mind. I still like Taylor at the top as he is a bit more attacking. I don't see any reason why Hamilton and Vusi can't bat at 3 and 4. As I have said, Ervine should be persisted with at 5. I was surprised to see Matsi and Ebrahim mentioned. Neither of them are decent and have had their chance. Ebrahim was out of his depth playing amateur club cricket in New Zealand so I don't really think he was much of a loss to Zimbabwean cricket. Ebrahim's international career is over and Matsi's probably is as well.

[shumbat]

Having an opener whose only role is to see of the new ball can be a succesful method. I remeber Aakash Chopra combined well Sehwag at the top for India at one point, and Mark Richardson did a fine job for New Zealand. Perhaps Mawoyo can fit this role? Or Duffin is the other one who comes to mind. I still like Taylor at the top as he is a bit more attacking. I don't see any reason why Hamilton and Vusi can't bat at 3 and 4. As I have said, Ervine should be persisted with at 5. I was surprised to see Matsi and Ebrahim mentioned. Neither of them are decent and have had their chance. Ebrahim was out of his depth playing amateur club cricket in New Zealand so I don't really think he was much of a loss to Zimbabwean cricket. Ebrahim's international career is over and Matsi's probably is as well.

Agree mate Mawoyo to see the new ball with Taylor then Hami & Vusi, Tibba @ 5 then we are talking test cricket, in batting terms.

[eugene]

The thing about an opener taking the shine off is this... If he is only scorng 30s, he will also have his share of failures. It hardly helps. To be efective this type of batsman still needs a high average even though he mayhave a low strike rate and be a blocker and a nudger. I don't think Mawoyo or Duffin have done enough to earn test selction yet. They need to put together a few more FC hundreds.

That is true, to be fair Mark Richardson was more than a blocker, he was the most succesful opener in test cricket at one point from a statistical point of view. I think both Duffin and Mawoyo have the ability to score big, but admittedly neither of them have proven that yet. If Sean Williams returns there will certainly be no room for Mawoyo unless Hammy gets dropped again to teach him a lesson.