ZIM-BD-SL Tri Series 2018: Pre-series Discussion

[sloandog]

Williams almost never offers anything with the bat so he won't be a big loss IMO.

huh? The man who averages 31 in ODI cricket offers nothing with the bat?
Ok in test cricket he may have not flourished as well as he would have liked, but i still consider him one of our best ODI batters

[Kriterion_BD]

Williams almost never offers anything with the bat so he won't be a big loss IMO.

huh? The man who averages 31 in ODI cricket offers nothing with the bat?
Ok in test cricket he may have not flourished as well as he would have liked, but i still consider him one of our best ODI batters

Context. The bulk of those runs have been scored in dead rubber type situations - a point I agree on with HHM. He seems to never really have his head in the game, always seems like his mind is elsewhere. He is the white Hamilton Masakadza in my opinion.

I would still pick him as a bowler who can bat a bit and slot him #7. His bowling may even keep him in contention for a Test spot as well given that he does have a Test hundred as well.

[jaybro]

We really could have used Williams’ “dead rubber runs” whilst South Africa were arse rapping us in front of the entire universe.

This argument about Williams never making runs when it counts or games are alive is bullshit.

He scored 4 half centuries at the last World Cup FFS

They’ll regret dropping him

[jaybro]

The only positive I can see is hopefully he takes this as a kick up the arse and comes back bigger and better for the CWCQ.

We won’t qualify without Williams

[faraip1]

Williams is a very good player who offers stability to our team

[Flakeman]

This is not smart.

[Kriterion_BD]

We really could have used Williams’ “dead rubber runs” whilst South Africa were arse rapping us in front of the entire universe.

This argument about Williams never making runs when it counts or games are alive is bullshit.

He scored 4 half centuries at the last World Cup FFS

They’ll regret dropping him

Almost everyone scored runs at that WC on 400 wickets and the old PP field restrictions - which were changed that very year because the run scoring at the WC had become so ridiculous. Willy hitting a 50 in either innings wouldn't have changed much in the SA match.

[Kriterion_BD]

Btw, match times have revised. Now starting a noon local time instead of 1430 due to the dew factor. At least they realized it before the series started.

[eugene]

What is Williams' career-defining innings? Does he have one? Ervine, Taylor, Masakadza we can all recall the games they have won with the bat, against major nations, the only Williams knock I can think of is against the UAE in the CWC. There are probably others but it seems like quite some time since he played a match-winning knock.

[zimbos_05]

I dont know man , give blessing another full year or two of cricket all of a sudden Jarvis / Chatara / Blessing with Cremer more experienced doesn't look too bad. Especially with Raza/Williams. Other than 3 pace right armers it doesnt look so bad.

My problem with Raza is that it is expected of him to be a strike bowler, which then distracts from his batting. We have specialist spinners in Cremer and Chisoro who are meant to do that role, Raza should be the type who comes in to just dry up the runs. It is difficult to have him in the squad with an undefined role.

Cremer is also 31 years and has played 81 ODI's, how much more experienced does he need to get?

My main issue is the batsmen to be fair. I think our top order if dry and some of the guys are just going through the motions knowing they wont be dropped. There needs to be some young blood brought through, coached well and say to the guys in the team that no one in untouchable. Perform poorly and you will be replaced.