Butcher to experiment with opening order

[tawac]

Mutizwa has earn his stripes & he will make his debut. He will bet ahead of Taibu. At no. 3 or no. 4.

[eugene]

Chakabva, Matsikenyeri, and Mutizwa shouldn't even be in the side, let alone be used in the top 3. From the current squad the team should be;

Chakabva I can understand your gripe, I too have raised it with reason (we already have 3 keepers in Taibu, Mutizwa and Taylor and he isnt exactly making tons in FC or List A)

Matsi, if you are talking Test then I may just agree, his FC hasnt brought the world to a stop, but for ODI and T20 I am at a loss what you base his exclusion on. His T20 tournament efforts were there for all to see, coupled with a very good Pro50 season so far, top runs scorer, average of 69, SR of 98, a 100 and a 50 make a compelling case, unless all you rate a player on is his name...

Mutizwa's FC season has been amazing (by Zim standards), highest Zim qualified runs getter (Ballance and Wessels not Zim), ave 68, 2 hundreds, and a 50...

I don't know what qualification you want...(should they legally change their names to Craig Ervine perhaps?)

I hate to sound like I oppose everything you say eugene, but you do come up with the most prejudice (and at times favoritism laced), none objective points. I wish you would stop and evaluate what you are writing.

I don't really see Matsi's international game suddenly being any better than it has been over the last 10 years. Chakabva is just Chakabva, and Mutizwa certainly has potential but I am yet to be convinced by him on the international scene. I am happy to be proven wrong with any of these guys however. Don't mistake my criticism as wanting these guys to fail.

I think Craig Ervine needs to adopt a Shona name and then he will be the first name on the team sheet. I just don't understand how Ervine has fallen so far out of favour. His last test innings against Bangladesh was a quality quickfire innings which helped us declare early.

[FlowerPower]

I don't really see Matsi's international game suddenly being any better than it has been over the last 10 years. Chakabva is just Chakabva, and Mutizwa certainly has potential but I am yet to be convinced by him on the international scene. I am happy to be proven wrong with any of these guys however. Don't mistake my criticism as wanting these guys to fail.

I think Craig Ervine needs to adopt a Shona name and then he will be the first name on the team sheet. I just don't understand how Ervine has fallen so far out of favour. His last test innings against Bangladesh was a quality quickfire innings which helped us declare early.

Chakabva is a moot point ...we agreed.

Matsi...forget what happened with Vusi after ten ordinary years? Besides he earned the chance

Mutizwa has an ODI ave of over 30 (31, one less than Craig who up to the WC was great) and he is "not convincing"?....

Yep a Shona surname may help but more likely would be a few 100s, at least in my books...anyways if it's any consolation I would have Craig before Chibaba and Chakabva, although one is a keeper and the other alleged opener..

[eugene]

Chibahabha is an opening bowler too from what I have heard.

[FlowerPower]

Chibahabha is an opening bowler too from what I have heard.

LOL....

[betterdays]

I don't really see Matsi's international game suddenly being any better than it has been over the last 10 years.

yet you see Taylor suddenly being a better opener than he has been over the last 10 years? Contrary to what Conant may believe - i am not sentimental about Vusi, I am just REALLY disappointed because we really don't have anyone to take the spot with any comfort ... anyone who does it will be out of place and bound to fall short (of course, I will absolutely be willing him to do well, but i do not have any confidence - in Vusi i now have some - that they will). Matsi or Mutizwa could give it a shot but I hope not FM, cos it could easily lead to "another failed international chance" - giving the doubters more fuel. Ervine hasn't fallen far out of favour, in fact he was watched closely domestically and didn't do as well as the likes of FM

[eugene]

Taylor has done ok as an opener, averaging 27.94 over all formats, only 6 runs lower than his career average. Sure he has done much better in the middle-order but we don't really have many quality openers at the moment. What if we lose two quick wickets and then Taylor gets out first ball coming in at 4? Then we really will have no-one to bat the rest of the innings.

[betterdays]

Taylor has done ok as an opener, averaging 27.94 over all formats, ...............What if we lose two quick wickets and then Taylor gets out first ball coming in at 4? Then we really will have no-one to bat the rest of the innings.

i'm only talking Tests - I'm sure in ODIs and T20s we can draught in a make-shift with some success (Matsi should do fine) - in which his ave is under 20 up front................ He's just more likely to get out first ball up front than 4.