[Match Thread] 2nd T20I (South Africa v Zimbabwe)

[sloandog]

I agree about Coventry. He's got too much talent to be just used in T20 games, but he's got to prove that he can bat long periods, and judging off his performances of late, the selectors will think he can't.
Oh and what's the deal with Chigumbura ?? I'm sure he used to bowl......

[brmtaylor.com admin]

I agree about Coventry. He's got too much talent to be just used in T20 games, but he's got to prove that he can bat long periods, and judging off his performances of late, the selectors will think he can't.
Oh and what's the deal with Chigumbura ?? I'm sure he used to bowl......

I'm wondering if he's injured?

Otherwise he might have decided to focus on his batting now that he's become captain. It's a damn shame if this is the case, having an allrounder of Chigumbura's calibre (on his day he is a better bowler than Mpofu and Rainsford) gave the side so much versatility - it's what allowed Zimbabwe to play Utseya, Cremer and Price in tandem. Our pace bowling has been exposed in this series, we need to stick to our strengths and that is spin. Obviously (?) Price won't take any part in this ODI series, so Grant Flower becomes an important player if he can provide a bit with bat (build partnerships) and ball (tie up an end reasonably well). I don't want to throw around any numbers for Flower (ie. he's been a failure if he doesn't score X runs or take Y wickets), I will view his performances in context. How did he perform in relation to others in the team? How did his presence impact on others performance? It's that second point that I'm focusing on. If he is a solid batting partner who helps build the partnership and stops a potential Zimbabwe Collapse™ and if he is able to keep it tight from one end to put some pressure on the batsman or even trigger a false shot from the other end, then I would say he's done his job. His role in the team is one of developing other players more so than standout individual performances, although that wouldn't hurt either against a team of South Africa's quality

Time and time again Dabengwa has shown he is not up to it with the occasional flash-in-the-pan performances (which at 12* isn't saying a hell of a lot) suggesting maybe he'll come right. At the end of the day he's on the wrong side of 30 and I don't think we are going to get any improvement out of him now.

[bayhaus]

Enjoyed the game and especially Chibhabha's performance with the bat. My beef with Chibhabha was his bowling especially when he was smo0ked for 3 sixes to give Bang the match in Bang. I was like Chibhabha must not come close to a ball ever. But he is really refreshing as a batsmen, and he can smoke that ball those sixes today and on friday were just a joy to watch. Our bowlesr will have to SOOOO get their act together for the ODI's.

[bayhaus]

I'm wondering if he's injured?

The Commentators on SABC said that he is injured hamstring if I heard right. A friend of mine was asking about Coventary just after he came in and if he can hit the ball and I said the dude can totally smoke the ball but he will hit one or two sixes and he will go out, in my opinion his technique is not great. And thats what happened, a bit too often for my liking but for a dude who scored 194 runs he set the bar very high for himself.

[sloandog]

Enjoyed the game and especially Chibhabha's performance with the bat. My beef with Chibhabha was his bowling especially when he was smo0ked for 3 sixes to give Bang the match in Bang. I was like Chibhabha must not come close to a ball ever. But he is really refreshing as a batsmen, and he can smoke that ball those sixes today and on friday were just a joy to watch. Our bowlesr will have to SOOOO get their act together for the ODI's.

Ya I mean in all honesty, I'd prefer to see him in the side instead of Craig Ervine in the way he's batted. He's played some fantastic shots, and he's very good at playing spin, something he's shown in both his innings. Craig Ervine's got a few points to prove in this series if he does indeed start. He's only scored one ODI half century, and i'm sure a player of his class will want to put that right.

[Conant]

Enjoyed the game and especially Chibhabha's performance with the bat. My beef with Chibhabha was his bowling especially when he was smo0ked for 3 sixes to give Bang the match in Bang. I was like Chibhabha must not come close to a ball ever. But he is really refreshing as a batsmen, and he can smoke that ball those sixes today and on friday were just a joy to watch. Our bowlesr will have to SOOOO get their act together for the ODI's.

Ya I mean in all honesty, I'd prefer to see him in the side instead of Craig Ervine in the way he's batted. He's played some fantastic shots, and he's very good at playing spin, something he's shown in both his innings. Craig Ervine's got a few points to prove in this series if he does indeed start.

Actually till now Chibabha's biggest weakness was spin. He would poke and jump into defensive shots; he would double step only to miss by mile and get stumped: he was excruciating to watch. But evidently he has worked hard at it, though it will be a while yet before he can meet out the same treatment to the Harbajan Singhs or Anil Kumbles.

Now the advent of Sean Williams and now him will create a headache for the selectors. Given that they want Grant Flower for his expirience in the middle and that you can only play six batsmen plus Chigumbura, where does that leave Craig Ervine.

The first match match for instance might look like this:

1. Masakadza
2. Taylor
3. Chibhabha
4. Williams
5. Flower
6. Taibu
7. Chigumbura
8. Utseya
9. Cremer
10. Mpofu/ Rainsford
11 Shingi Masakadza

The headache also lies among the fast bowlers, because none really impressed though the younger Masakadza showed enough to suggest he has something in him.

Mpofu, like Coventry, is quickly writing himself out and they will all be looking over their shoulders for a certain Panyangara.

[eugene]

Perhaps we should just play five spinners and be done with it. We clearly have few pace bowlers of international standard. Until we do, there is no point selecting pace bowlers who will get smoked for 12 an over. At least S Masakadza showed some potential today. Mpofu should probably be forgotten about. He tempts us with an occasional patch of good bowling, but it seems he lacks the goods to play internationally. Let's hope Kyle Jarvis comes back soon.

Also Dabengwa is not going to get any better, stop selecting him.

We rarely seem able to combine good batting and bowling. One series our bowling is great, yet the batting fails. Next series our batting is great but we can't bowl. Kind of frustrating.

[shumbat]

Its high time Streak is selected to lead the bowlers, we ain't getting anywhere without somebody to lead these bowlers on the pitch

[zimfan1]

Any Highlights Guys, unfortunately Sunday is a working day in Hong Kong

[sloandog]

Enjoyed the game and especially Chibhabha's performance with the bat. My beef with Chibhabha was his bowling especially when he was smo0ked for 3 sixes to give Bang the match in Bang. I was like Chibhabha must not come close to a ball ever. But he is really refreshing as a batsmen, and he can smoke that ball those sixes today and on friday were just a joy to watch. Our bowlesr will have to SOOOO get their act together for the ODI's.

Ya I mean in all honesty, I'd prefer to see him in the side instead of Craig Ervine in the way he's batted. He's played some fantastic shots, and he's very good at playing spin, something he's shown in both his innings. Craig Ervine's got a few points to prove in this series if he does indeed start.

Actually till now Chibabha's biggest weakness was spin. He would poke and jump into defensive shots; he would double step only to miss by mile and get stumped: he was excruciating to watch. But evidently he has worked hard at it, though it will be a while yet before he can meet out the same treatment to the Harbajan Singhs or Anil Kumbles.

Now the advent of Sean Williams and now him will create a headache for the selectors. Given that they want Grant Flower for his expirience in the middle and that you can only play six batsmen plus Chigumbura, where does that leave Craig Ervine.

The first match match for instance might look like this:

1. Masakadza
2. Taylor
3. Chibhabha
4. Williams
5. Flower
6. Taibu
7. Chigumbura
8. Utseya
9. Cremer
10. Mpofu/ Rainsford
11 Shingi Masakadza

The headache also lies among the fast bowlers, because none really impressed though the younger Masakadza showed enough to suggest he has something in him.

Mpofu, like Coventry, is quickly writing himself out and they will all be looking over their shoulders for a certain Panyangara.

Ya you make a very good point Conant. I think I'd jiggle the batting order a bit though. My line up would be;
1. B.Taylor
2 H.Mazakadza
3. S.Williams
4. G.Flower
5. T.Taibu
6.C.Chibhaba
7.E.Chigumbura
8. G.Cremer
9. S.Mazakadza
10. P.Utsea
11. Ian Nicholson

12th man: Chris Mpofu

I like the fact that you mentioned Panyangara. Another fast bowler that should be looked at is Tendai Chitara. He bowled 143Kph against India in his only T20 international. And when Kyle Jarvis returns he too can bowl with some serious heat. But i have to say, pace isn't everything. If you've got pace but no control, it makes you vulnerable. Mpofu needs to sharpen up without a doubt