Test XI - Windies series

[zimfan1]

Burl is in Bangladesh with the BPL. Can't see him playing in the test series.

[jaybro]

Burl is in Bangladesh with the BPL. Can't see him playing in the test series.

That’s disappointing

Just checked, Burl could be available for 5 matches for his franchise plus finals, which makes sense why he’d go over.

I guess it’s all a case of compromising with the players, Burl was available for the whole Ireland series, but since he’s not a mainstay of the test side they’ve let him go to the BPL.

Shows the growth in the relationship between players & ZC, rewind 3-years and Burl was having a great BPL before being called back early for the Sri Lanka Test series. Burl wasn’t selected for either test and subsequently wasted his time & money coming over.

[secretzimbo]

It says a lot about the state of test cricket generally. As it stands, test matches are largely pointless with zero context for ZC.

I’m still expecting Burl to be back for the tests and Raza to be an available for the first test though.

[jaybro]

I’m still expecting Burl to be back for the tests and Raza to be an available for the first test though.

That would mean he would play 3 games for his franchise if he were to return in time for the Test match.

[sam_ahm]

Quite disappointed not to see Ben Curran in the warm up game, if ZC are serious about their future they should invest in players having good potential, they cannot simply go by numbers in domestic competition.

I'm not saying that domestic performers should not be rewarded, of course they should be, however in some exceptional cases, even if a player hasn't had a stellar season but you see potential in him, they should be in the frame for national selection.

In a way I'm biased because I don't want players like Ben to regret having comitted to play for Zimbabwe and the lose such talents to county cricket again.

[TapsC2]

Quite disappointed not to see Ben Curran in the warm up game, if ZC are serious about their future they should invest in players having good potential, they cannot simply go by numbers in domestic competition.

I'm not saying that domestic performers should not be rewarded, of course they should be, however in some exceptional cases, even if a player hasn't had a stellar season but you see potential in him, they should be in the frame for national selection.

In a way I'm biased because I don't want players like Ben to regret having comitted to play for Zimbabwe and the lose such talents to county cricket again.

His situation is complicated because I can't remember a County player coming and struggling like that. The expectations are high so there is pressure. It might just be a case of him getting in the right place mentally and adjusting to a new situation.

He will get there but my suggestion to him would be to open. That's the gap that's there. Then when Ervine retires you move 1 down. You have to come up with a game plan. Same goes to Marumani where he might have to take his keeping seriously because there is a gap.

I also really do hope that we have a couple of counties coming. That will really tell us where our domestic players stand. Blessing,Craig, Raza, Ballance and Williams shouldn't play those games. We want to see where the other guys stand.

[Googly]

We had quite a heated discussion about this. Taps do you know if any of the counties are definitely coming?
They could actually field 2 teams simultaneously, give everyone a run.

Matt Parkinson's arrival is really interesting. He's a high profile cricketer. Zim as an option for off season cricket and then as an option for pre season team warm ups is a real game changer for us in Feb and March. We need to encourage that at all costs and hope they enjoy it here.
We need to prepare good nets for them and we definitely need another indoor facility. I just don't think we have the firepower to give them decent opposition, particularly if we exclude our national players. One of the options is to mix their players with ours.

[zimfan1]

Burl is in Bangladesh with the BPL. Can't see him playing in the test series.

That’s disappointing

Just checked, Burl could be available for 5 matches for his franchise plus finals, which makes sense why he’d go over.

I guess it’s all a case of compromising with the players, Burl was available for the whole Ireland series, but since he’s not a mainstay of the test side they’ve let him go to the BPL.

Shows the growth in the relationship between players & ZC, rewind 3-years and Burl was having a great BPL before being called back early for the Sri Lanka Test series. Burl wasn’t selected for either test and subsequently wasted his time & money coming over.

Burl is not even in the XI for the match today. They are top of the log so he may not even get a game.

[andrea lanzoni]

It says a lot about the state of test cricket generally. As it stands, test matches are largely pointless with zero context for ZC.

Test cricket problem is not with ZC.
Apart from England and (maybe) Australia, nowhere in the world Test Cricket may economically compete with ANY T20 League.

When this simple truth is undestood, the only way to save Test Cricket is to concentrate ALL Test matches in two months of the year, ideally February and June (or September).

In such two months the WTC can be hold and all best players can play Test matches, being free for T20 Leagues on the other 10 months of the year.
A WTC with promotion and relegation with an elite robin of 8 best nations and a second tier robin with other 4 Test nations.

Test Cricket is bound to become like lawn tennis which is played (by all best players in the world) in one month and a half every year and nothing in the other months.

[CalZim]

Predicted starting 11 for the warm up game, obviously most players will take part throughout the match as they usually do in these friendlies.

It’s not a strong team but hopefully a couple of players can make a name for themselves against a strong Windies team. Akram and Chivanga will probably take the new ball.

Gumbie (wk)
Makoni
Maunze
Madhevere
Maruma (c)
Shumba
Munyonga
Mashinge
Akram
Chivanga
Mufudza

Tiripano
Tsiga
Mumba
Chesa