Test XI - Windies series

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CalZim
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Re: Text XI - Windies series

Post by CalZim »

Based on none of the above making the test squad these are the other players in contention for the main squad.

Probable squad players
Williams
Raza
Ervine
Ballance
Madande
Nyauchi
Ngarava
Chatara
Muzarabani
Burl
Kaia
Masakadza
Mavuta
Evans

Other notable players
Kaitano
Marumani
Curran
Moor
Chakabva
Jongwe
Masvaure
Mutumbami
Campbell
Chamu
Ndlovu
K long

Donald
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Re: Text XI - Windies series

Post by Donald »

Chivanga Chesa and Shumba could be considered outsiders for a test spot.

secretzimbo
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Re: Text XI - Windies series

Post by secretzimbo »

secretzimbo wrote:
Wed Jan 25, 2023 11:59 am
Zimbabwe XI squad, official:

Faraz Akram
Privilege Chesa
Tanaka Chivanga
Joylord Gumbie
Wes Madhevere
Timycen Maruma
Tanunurwa Makoni
William Mashinge
Kudzai Maunze
Tapiwa Mufudza
Tony Munyonga
Milton Shumba
Carl Mumba
Donald Tiripano
Tafadzwa Tsiga

Definitely not the team I would have picked
I wonder what we can learn from this squad.

To me it suggests that Madande and surprisingly Marumani are in the main Test squad.
It suggests Wes/Shumba/Munyonga are potentially competing for one place.
It also suggests Maunze/Gumbie/Makoni are in competition too.
Presumably the best performer will go into the squad.
I would have Chivanga in my Test squad - his first class record is exceptional.

Suggests Mavuta is in the squad and…maybe Chibhabha? Ffs.

Curran’s omission is strange. He’s definitely registered as a local player in the Logan cup, which would mean he must be available surely? Unless circumstances have changed.

it’s a really poor and weak selection and they will get completely trounced by a Windies test side. I would have picked a stronger side including a few players from the main squad.

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jaybro
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Re: Text XI - Windies series

Post by jaybro »

I don’t mind the squad, they’ve mostly rewarded guys for doing well in the Logan Cup, although Mumba is a surprise selection I did point out that the bench strength was weak for fast medium bowlers.

I understand the idea of rolling out the test batsman for a dress rehearsal for the Test, but I think it’s also a good opportunity to expose the younger guys to international class bowlers.

Interesting that Gumbie, Makoni & Manuze have been picked for this game, does that mean they’re not in the Test squad or are those three guys on trial?

If they are ruled out, surely that means Chamu will return to the side as an opener, as I posted before the best openers over the last three years have been Makoni, Manuze, Kaia & Kaitano, so it doesn’t really leave anyone else.
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secretzimbo
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Re: Text XI - Windies series

Post by secretzimbo »

Raza has requested a NOC to skip the 2nd test. Not sure if he has been granted it or not....

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CrimsonAvenger
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Re: Text XI - Windies series

Post by CrimsonAvenger »

Akram, Maruma, Mashinge, Mufudza, Mumba, Tiripano - at least 6 meaningless selections. No impact from blooding perspective. Especially when we get very little opportunities in playing tough opposition, we can't be wasting such opportunities on folks like these.
Maunze, Gumbie and Makoni have earned their right to be there.
Wes, Shumba and Munyonga deserve to be there.
Chesa, Tsiga - who knows - could argue either way.

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jaybro
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Re: Text XI - Windies series

Post by jaybro »

secretzimbo wrote:
Wed Jan 25, 2023 10:58 pm
Raza has requested a NOC to skip the 2nd test. Not sure if he has been granted it or not....
Now that’s interesting, considering Zim play so little test cricket it will be interesting to see if ZC take the view that ‘This game is so precious because it’s rare’ or ‘Tests are irrelevant to Zimbabwe because they’re not in the test championship’

I guess if Williams is fit for the second Test it will lesson the blow, Raza could easily just retire from Tests which are so rare anyways it won’t really affect him.

Not sure which tournament he’s rushing back for, both the BPL & ILT20 have just one round game left before finals by the conclusions of the first test. Is he really rushing back for one or possibly 2-3 games ?

The PSL doesn’t start till the 14th, he’d only miss one game for his Lahore franchise, so surely he can miss one game there?
Last edited by jaybro on Thu Jan 26, 2023 3:35 am, edited 1 time in total.
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jaybro
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Re: Text XI - Windies series

Post by jaybro »

CrimsonAvenger wrote:
Thu Jan 26, 2023 2:36 am
Akram, Maruma, Mashinge, Mufudza, Mumba, Tiripano - at least 6 meaningless selections. No impact from blooding perspective. Especially when we get very little opportunities in playing tough opposition, we can't be wasting such opportunities on folks like these.
Maunze, Gumbie and Makoni have earned their right to be there.
Wes, Shumba and Munyonga deserve to be there.
Chesa, Tsiga - who knows - could argue either way.
Not sure there’s enough bench strength coming through to provide viable alternatives. Mashinge & Mumba shouldn’t be seen as spent causes, with such little pace bowling options coming through, ZC should be looking to resurrect their careers.

Mashinge has actually done really well with the bat over the past 3-seasons of Logan Cup. I don’t have my spreadsheet in front of me, but from memory his batting numbers were quite good.
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CrimsonAvenger
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Re: Text XI - Windies series

Post by CrimsonAvenger »

jaybro wrote:
Thu Jan 26, 2023 2:53 am
Not sure there’s enough bench strength coming through to provide viable alternatives. Mashinge & Mumba shouldn’t be seen as spent causes, with such little pace bowling options coming through, ZC should be looking to resurrect their careers.
Yes, what I meant was - some of the up and coming folks close to national selection need to be in the mix even in these because they hardly get an exposure of this kind without any A tours in sight. Like Nyauchi and Evans. I know it is an injury risk to play them given they are needed for the test XV and also about not exposing their secret weapons to the tourists early, but these guys haven't played better oppositions - and can learn a lot too. But I understand it is a double edged sword.

Mashinge at this point seems to be a poor man's Tiripano. Worse with the ball, slightly better with the bat, may be. Not much pace to talk about as well. Mumba has reduced himself to lower order T20 bludgeoner - not sure if he is bowling like he did in his heydays. So, that's the reason to group them there. No realistic national duty readiness in sight - at least in the longest format.

TapsC2
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Re: Text XI - Windies series

Post by TapsC2 »

From what I'm reading and hearing it seems like they just wanted to give people who didn't participate in the last series a chance barring Wesley who was struggling I guess. Its good for the overall harmony of the the entire ZC ecosystem. Also a lot of worries about injuries expressed by Craig, probably played a bug role too. Imagine Ballance or Craig getting injured again in the warmup. People would be really upset.

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