[Match Thread] Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe (CWC Group A)

[brmtaylor.com admin]

Well there is the Zimbabwe Collapse™

[eugene]

Utseya would be batting at 11 for most other countries.

[pearl]

I wonder why Chigumbura is in the team after failing regularly?

[bayhaus]

So the team and coaching staff collectivly decided that it was for the good of the team and country 4 Utseya to bat at 4? There is something seriously wrong.

[Conant]

Is it me or are we consistently underperforming since Butcher has taken over as coach,.....

Pearl of the day

[brmtaylor.com admin]

Is it me or are we consistently underperforming since Butcher has taken over as coach,.....

Pearl of the day

I didn't hear anyone complaining when we belted India and Sri Lanka during the tri-series last year. Or when we scored wins over West Indies on that tour.

It doesn't matter what the coach says or does, when you're losing clusters of wickets in the space of 3 or 4 overs like Zimbabwe does it will always be difficult to compete. And Zimbabwe has been guilty of this long before Butcher came onboard. What he and Grant Flower need to work on is rectifying this.

[eugene]

I think it is tough to blame this on Butcher. Zimbabwe collapses are hardly a new thing. I would question the selectors however - Prosper at 4? Elton 'the walking wicket' Chigumbura still in the side? Coventry opening? Why not just fly out Dabengwa to open the batting?

[Conant]

Is it me or are we consistently underperforming since Butcher has taken over as coach,.....

Pearl of the day

I didn't hear anyone complaining when we belted India and Sri Lanka during the tri-series last year. Or when we scored wins over West Indies on that tour.

It doesn't matter what the coach says or does, when you're losing clusters of wickets in the space of 3 or 4 overs like Zimbabwe does it will always be difficult to compete. And Zimbabwe has been guilty of this long before Butcher came onboard. What he and Grant Flower need to work on is rectifying this.

It is curious. A few years ago in about 2005 when we were full of teenagers we stood head and shoulders with Bangladesh and a series was always delicately balanced. Now Bangla are overwhelming favourites. Admittedly it could be because Bangladesh may have made strides since so I’m just saying.

But more indicative: the general consensus is that Kevin Curran was our worst coach ever. However I distinctly remember Vusi and Hammy leading a chase of 320 against South Africa at Harare. Admittedly there some low performances, scores like 57 all out against Sri Lanka. So maybe he was.

But it’s been four years since. Players have improved because they are bound to with age and experience. How many though? Vusi has gone off the boil. Elty has gone off the boil. Sean Williams was averaging nearly 35 in 2007. Taibu was always consistent.

Butcher's wins have come in T20s. Chances for upsets are always bigger there. I bet you even Curran could win a few. Robin Brown won in a T20 against Australia. They have come against second string sides and a when they were defending a total of 100 runs and 150 against West Indies. What does that indicate? Is Butcher the spin bowlers’ coach? In short what strides have our batsmen made since Butcher took over, save for the excellence of Taylor? Is this the best batting lineup team we can put up in the park?

[aydee]

I didn't hear anyone complaining when we belted India and Sri Lanka during the tri-series last year. Or when we scored wins over West Indies on that tour.

It doesn't matter what the coach says or does, when you're losing clusters of wickets in the space of 3 or 4 overs like Zimbabwe does it will always be difficult to compete. And Zimbabwe has been guilty of this long before Butcher came onboard. What he and Grant Flower need to work on is rectifying this.

It is curious. A few years ago in about 2005 when we were full of teenagers we stood head and shoulders with Bangladesh and a series was always delicately balanced. Now Bangla are overwhelming favourites. Admittedly it could be because Bangladesh may have made strides since so I’m just saying.

But more indicative: the general consensus is that Kevin Curran was our worst coach ever. However I distinctly remember Vusi and Hammy leading a chase of 320 against South Africa at Harare. Admittedly there some low performances, scores like 57 all out against Sri Lanka. So maybe he was.

But it’s been four years since. Players have improved because they are bound to with age and experience. How many though? Vusi has gone off the boil. Elty has gone off the boil. Sean Williams was averaging nearly 35 in 2007. Taibu was always consistent.

Butcher's wins have come in T20s. Chances for upsets are always bigger there. I bet you even Curran could win a few. Robin Brown won in a T20 against Australia. They have come against second string sides and a when they were defending a total of 100 runs and 150 against West Indies. What does that indicate? Is Butcher the spin bowlers’ coach? In short what strides have our batsmen made since Butcher took over, save for the excellence of Taylor? Is this the best batting lineup team we can put up in the park?

It's down to the players, the buck has to stop with them. Basically, Zim has almost no match winners at international level, and sadly quite a few who look well out of their depth. That is down to them being not very good players. Not the coach. It doesn't matter who the coach is, Chakabva or Coventry are not going average 40 in ODI cricket, simple.

[sloandog]

Graet performance from Taylor, Kind of threw his wicket away though...
Chagabva impressed me, I think he's the perfect foil for Taylor, and when he got out to that stunner of a delivery to Murali, I really felt for him.
Taibu's wicket was just as good mind