Test Squad for NZ Test Announced

[brmtaylor.com admin]

I didn't see Mushangwe in the 3rd ODI; does he get a lot of turn? How did he look?

[BaijuSpeaks]

Seeing the squad, its obvious that selectors prefer 2 spinners in the squad. Additionally, Chigumbura wil be selected for the seam option. As, NZ has a lot of right handers in the squad, the preference should be given for Mushangwe. I think that is why, Utseya is omitted as Waller can provide us offspin option.

It is a big stage for Chakabwa/Waller/Mutizwa. I think one of them will make good use of this rare opportunity.

I dont find much problem with the squad. As,we need only 2 fast bowlers on Bullawayo track, it should be Meth and Jarvis. So, Mpofu will have to sit out anyway.Also, Taibu is injured. So, this the best available squad.

[BaijuSpeaks]

I didn't see Mushangwe in the 3rd ODI; does he get a lot of turn? How did he look?

Mushangwe is impressive. He is very energetic on field and has good commitment.
Has a nice smooth action.
But, he wont be good on flat tracks. Need turning tracks like sub continent pitches to get the best out of him.

[FlowerPower]

Seeing the squad, its obvious that selectors prefer 2 spinners in the squad. Additionally, Chigumbura wil be selected for the seam option. As, NZ has a lot of right handers in the squad, the preference should be given for Mushangwe. I think that is why, Utseya is omitted as Waller can provide us offspin option.

It is a big stage for Chakabwa/Waller/Mutizwa. I think one of them will make good use of this rare opportunity.

I dont find much problem with the squad. As,we need only 2 fast bowlers on Bullawayo track, it should be Meth and Jarvis. So, Mpofu will have to sit out anyway.Also, Taibu is injured. So, this the best available squad.

Interesting points (insightful if I may add), but I don't totally buy your arguments.

I would have been happier if you "explained" Mpofu's omission rather than just "he would have sat it out anyways"...see my post at the top, he has been the most successful of the lot in the two test thus far.

Chigumbura is to give seam option, implication being he's seam bowling is better than Rainsford and Mpofu?

Waller to act as an allround of spin option. Fair enough, I would have had him in purely on his batting, no harm if he can do more, but then therefore we dispense of Utseya, fresh off 3 precious wickets in the practice match, somehow that maths doesn't add up. Waller is in for Ervine. If we are to retain the same shape as we had against Pakistan at QSC, then someone should replace Lamb, and I suspect Mushangwe is that person and not Prosper, ....the greeness of the whole attack....I mean Price is the only wise head there, and perhaps Chigs...I don't know...

Meth and Jarvis (and at the risk of sounding "turn coat", having supported them earlier) for me vs NZ have found the going hard, and on a flat track as is at QSC, I shudder...and isn't Chigs supposed to be more effective to lefthanders? And you say there are more right handers in this NZ team....

Good try Baiju, but I'm not convinced...

[PieChucker]

Okay so we're looking at something like this:-
1. Mawoyo
2. Sibanda
3. Masakadza
4. Taylor (c)
5. Waller
6. Mutizwa (wk)
7. Chigumbura
8. Meth
9. Price
10. Jarvis
11. Mshangwe

Taibu injured and the selectors going for 2 spinners on the Queens deck. I can understand their thinking. No point in having 2 finger spinners who rely on accuracy and flight variation to try and tie the batsmen up(Rayzor and Prosper) so we keep Ray and bring in the young leggie, Mshangwe. We don't know much about him - he was the most economical bowler for Zim in the ODI, but that ain't saying much. I like the idea of giving him a go - Test cricket will find him out and we'll see if he's got anything to offer. The selectors obviously think so. We also have Waller to throw down some off breaks and a 3 way seam attack of Meth, Jarvis and Chiggers. Meth makes perfect sense, home track and we know he can move the ball in the air and create some kind of problems for the batters even on a flat track like Queens. Jarvis, well, I think he might rise to the occasion. I will be applying some powerful juju to help him. AS for Chigs... well his batting seems to be finding some form - been a while since his bowling worried anyone. I guess he can always turn an arm over while one of the other bowlers takes a pee.
Hamilton survives, because, he's Hamilton and the team just wouldn't look right without him.
Vusi is due some runs - I think he will come right - I will certainly be working some jujulogical mischief on his behalf.
Tino just needs to get in and then let the combination of hot weather and a good track do its magic to grind the Kiwi's down.
I hope Forster is up to a couple of long days behind the stumps..
will our fielders take catches? If they don't then they're in for a hiding..

[FlowerPower]

...and just to avoid being critical for the sake of critical, what would I have done differently?

Bowling, I agree with Baiju, 2 spin and 2 quicks, with Chigs and Waller giving an option of extra options. I would have had, Rainsford (based on his performance in the practice match), Mpofu (based on his performanc in the first two matches), nothing against Jarvis and Meth (they remain my favourites at HSC, but at QSC you are just asking for it, especially against an attack that has taken a like for them. Njabulo also is exciting, but I think its too early for him). Prosper over Mushagwe, I just believe Pro has the edge over Mushangwe, and Pro for some strange reason has been boxed as an ODI player, I think he has more to offer in the longer version.

Batting, if Mutizwa is going to keep I don't see why have Chakabva (at worst the skipper can take the gloves if need be), that leaves a spot for either Matsi or Ewing, if only just to retain players believing that good FC performance leeds to recognition, but more importantly they are in form and have the experience. The rest is dicey, we have a top order low in confidence.

Hence I would have had:

1. Mawoyo 2. Sibanda 3. Masakadza/Matsi/Ewing 4. Taylor 5. Waller 6. Mutizwa 7. Chigumbura/Meth 8.Utseya 9. Price 10. Rainsford 11. Mpofu

Twelve and thirteen is the loser of spot 3 (I am tempted to give Hami a sit out for either Matsi or Ewing).

That for me would be a stronger team than what we have. But I'm a Zim supporter so good luck to those that got selected.

Piechucker...shouldn't we use the tour games to find out more about Mushangwe, than a fully fledged test? If Creamer was there I'd understand but Mushangwe before Utseya? Not sure, although your point on variety holds some water, wouldn't the left/right combo of Pro and Price be also a different form of variety?

[BaijuSpeaks]

Good try Baiju, but I'm not convinced...

Appreciated Flower . Its hard to accept when some of our favourite players are not in the squad. Yes, I too like Rainsford a lot. I like to see him in the ODI squad for the next series as he can be very economical.
But, Meth has done much better than him in domestic cricket for a consistent period. He is better batsman too. I suppose, there is no harm in giving Meth a game just to appreciate his competitive spirit and big heart.

[Jemisi]

Ok, I've gone away and calmed down a bit.

If Taibu is really injured, then Mutizwa has to come in.

If we are playing 5 bowlers then Waller is in better form than Ervine - though I don't think Ervine deserved to be dropped with an average of 32.

If we are playing 2 spinners, then with Cremer out it pretty much has to be Utseya, but they've gone for Natsai. I suppose on the evidence that they know what Utseya is capable of and think it isn't enough. Natsai has more potential.

If we are giving Chigs another chance, then Chigs is in.

With Vitori injured - Meth is a reasonable candidate, having done enough in FC land and been in decent form lately.

Ncube hasn't done enough. Chakabva certainly shouldn't get a game.

Jarvis has been going ok, he may struggle or he may grab two or three. Fair enough for them to persist with him.

[Flower power]

Chakabva is definitely a waste of resources as a back up keeper to Taibu .I would rather invest in Foster who is providing useful knocks with the bat .When Chakabva batted last year and during the world cup he was not that convincing. Foster in can be good for middle order .In that way we can be able to compare Waller & Mutizwa concurrently.

[foreignfield]

I wonder what you guys think about Chakabva's and Foster's keeping abilities? Foster looks okay to me for ODIs, but he doesn't strike me as a natural keeper. I fear he will be out of this depth in a five day test match.

But is Chakabva really so much better with the gloves to make up for what he lacks in batting ability? I've not seen enough of Chakabva's keeping to form an opinion, so I hope someone who has can shed light on this one.

Taylor will obviously not keep (only in an emergency during the course of a match). He's got enough on his plate and hasn't kept for ages.