Fill the gaps for the 1st Test against Bangladesh

[eugene]

Did I hear someone mention Matsi? Hopefully it was only the wind.

[eugene]

My team for the first test against Bangladesh would be:

1. Tino Mawoyo
2. Vusi Sibanda
3. Sean Williams (I think you always want your a player with strong technique at three, hence why I am going with Williams)
4. Brendan Taylor (c)
5. Hamilton Masakadza
6. Craig Ervine
7. Richmond Mutambami (w)
8. Elton Chigumbura
9. Ray Price
10. Kyle Jarvis
11. Tendai Chatara

[aydee]

My team for the first test against Bangladesh would be:

1. Tino Mawoyo
2. Vusi Sibanda
3. Sean Williams (I think you always want your a player with strong technique at three, hence why I am going with Williams)
4. Brendan Taylor (c)
5. Hamilton Masakadza
6. Craig Ervine
7. Richmond Mutambami (w)
8. Elton Chigumbura
9. Ray Price
10. Kyle Jarvis
11. Tendai Chatara

Do you think Elton's bowling is reliable enough to be one of just 3 seamers and 4 bowlers? I would only pick him as one of 5 bowlers at the moment.

[eugene]

I think Elton in combination with Hamilton will provide a 'third' seamer. Jarvis and Chatara looked in good in the West Indies and Ray Price could bowl for ever seemingly. I think Elton batting at 8 will allow him to focus more on his bowling.

[aydee]

I think Elton in combination with Hamilton will provide a 'third' seamer. Jarvis and Chatara looked in good in the West Indies and Ray Price could bowl for ever seemingly. I think Elton batting at 8 will allow him to focus more on his bowling.

I'm not convinced. That would really put a lot of pressure on the new ball. Clearly Chigumbura would be a superb number 8, but I don't believe that his bowling is sufficiently reliable (at present) to be part of a 4 man attack. I would happily have your line up, but with another bowler in for Mutumbami and Taylor taking the gloves. Whether that is a seamer or spinner would depend on conditions. I will admit that this would make the tail look very long, but your top 7 are there to score the runs, and the bottom 4 to take the wickets...

[sloandog]

I like Eugene's side.

However, Price won't play, not now a certain Utsea has been given a chance and taken a couple of wickets. Mangongo and Makoni will want him to be a permanent fixture in this side.

It's interesting, but I read Henry Olonga's book recently, and he briefly mentioned Mangongo and Makoni and described them as militant individuals, with no real sophistication with what the say and how they say it, and lack intelligence. It;s pretty telling

[aydee]

I like Eugene's side.

However, Price won't play, not now a certain Utsea has been given a chance and taken a couple of wickets. Mangongo and Makoni will want him to be a permanent fixture in this side.

It's interesting, but I read Henry Olonga's book recently, and he briefly mentioned Mangongo and Makoni and described them as militant individuals, with no real sophistication with what the say and how they say it, and lack intelligence. It;s pretty telling

I would pick Price, but Utseya has shown he is not a dreadful choice. He is not a total imposter at number 8, is a decent fielder and could do the containing role nearly as well (although neither of them carry much wicket taking threat). I think Price's main advantage is simply that he takes the ball away from the majority of players (being left-handed) which makes it fractionally harder for batsmen to get on top of him when they are set. However, it is worth pointing out, that Utseya was left out of the Mountaineers side at the start of the season for Mushangwe.

[eugene]

I think Elton in combination with Hamilton will provide a 'third' seamer. Jarvis and Chatara looked in good in the West Indies and Ray Price could bowl for ever seemingly. I think Elton batting at 8 will allow him to focus more on his bowling.

I'm not convinced. That would really put a lot of pressure on the new ball. Clearly Chigumbura would be a superb number 8, but I don't believe that his bowling is sufficiently reliable (at present) to be part of a 4 man attack. I would happily have your line up, but with another bowler in for Mutumbami and Taylor taking the gloves. Whether that is a seamer or spinner would depend on conditions. I will admit that this would make the tail look very long, but your top 7 are there to score the runs, and the bottom 4 to take the wickets...

I think against Bangladesh at home Elton as the third seamer would be ok. Against stronger batting lineups perhaps not - I can certainly see both sides of the argument. If only Cremer has done more with the ball, him at 8 is a much better proposition than Price, Jarvis, or Utseya.

I look at Australia who have at least scored respectable totals in India due to the fact that their 8-11 can often add another 100 runs. With Zimbabwe, once we are 6 down it is pretty much all over.

[Jemisi]

Our tail is a worrry at the moment. The solid theory of old cricket heads that 1-7 are there to make the runs is generally sound, but most tails are making good contributions these days, which makes our weak one just another disadvantage.

[foreignfield]

Did I hear someone mention Matsi? Hopefully it was only the wind.

I knew I'd get a response with that, even if there are no takers for the idea of doing without a specialist spinner. Last time against Bangladesh Price bowled something like 14 overs out of 97 in the first innings and only 2 in the second. Hamilton did not bowl a ball, I think.

I'm all for strengthening the tail. For example Shingi is not an inferior bowler to Chatara or Mpofu, but ten times the batter.