[Match Thread] West Indies v Zimbabwe (2nd ODI)

[jamthala]

Chanderpaul is a legend,so show your respect man.

[Conant]

As i said before get rid of Gayle and the rest of the Windies would be a shacky lot . Especially if that is done within the first few overs . He is their inpirations . So we get them on their strength first then start chipping away on their weakneses.We juss ned to be patient with their bowler and keep the scoreboard ticking . Key decisions such as planning for circumstances should be made, i commend the capatain for bringing Chigumbura early when we still had wickets

what about chanderpaul?

The most dangerous batsmen in limited overs matches are the ones who score very quickly: Sewhag, de Villiers, Gayle, Gilchrist in his prime, etc. The rest: Kallis (no disrespect), Chanderpaul, Vusi Sibanda, Ashraful, Collinwood, are not a problem because someone will always make runs in a team: we cannot expect to bowl out a team cheaply every time.

They will make runs, yes, but they won’t take you out of the game like Gilchrist and Sewhag would. Hence the emphasis on Chris Gayle.

I will answer your question Dr Situ as to why Coventry won’t get a game yet. Technique. He doesn’t have much of it, which is to say he isn't really much of a batsman. A few Zimbabweans will also be reminded as to why players like Piet Rinke and Gregory Strydom got ditched very early despite making a few runs in (a weak)domestic cricket. Sounds harsh to say the name Coventry and Strydom in one sentence but I do believe it is reality. They are found out very quickly; and even in that 194 knock Coventry did not look very fluent.

But let’s take for example a player like Forster Mtizwa: in about 11 balls in Twenty20 cricket he was able to get four boundaries, one of them a six. Yet he's punny, so how does he do it? Timing. It is everything and guess who else can time it as sweetly? Only Sean Williams comes to mind and both were left at home.

We are just fortunate to have Chigumbura to fall back on when things go awry

[auszim]

I think its great that we have players that are in the wings pushing for selection!! For Maruma and Coverntry to be missing is disappointing for them but it shows that we are building on that depth!! Glad to see lamb, shingi and vusi following on from some great form in the domestic season...i know there have been many flaws in zim domestic scene in the last decade but this new high level of first class cricket has meant players are coming into series such as this one with some solid and consistent cricket under their belt!!

I can only imagine the celebrations after the win the other day!!!!!!!

Come on guys for the rest of the series!!!!

[jamthala]

West indies making surprise,they have sarwan and dawayne bravo in team.big news.

[sloandog]

It's been 8 bloody days since i've posted on here. I've been unable to comment on the T20 and the first ODI. It's been torture !! But the lads have played very well. I've been very impressed with Greg Lambs off-breaks Jarvis must play today in place of the wayward Mazakadza !!

[Dr_Situ(ZimFanatic)]

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Hurt West Indies aim to bounce back by Siddhartha Talya

Big Picture

Ottis Gibson's tenure as West Indies coach could not have begun on a worse note. In his two internationals at the helm, his team has slumped to unprecedented lows - a defeat in the very first Twenty20 between the sides, and an ODI loss for the first time against Zimbabwe at home.

The series was meant as an opportunity to cast aside the memories of a winless tour of Australia and begin a fresh phase with a dose of success. But the performance in the first ODI in Providence, where three batsmen - Kieron Pollard, Denesh Ramdin and Dwayne Smith - played irresponsibly to bungle a winnable position presents the hosts with a renewed headache. The trio played poor shots to be dismissed, and poor running between the wickets cost Andre Fletcher and Narsingh Deonarine. It was the middle order that led the resistance, though inadequate, against Australia in the 0-4 loss, but the trend was reversed on Thursday, with the same personnel wilting under pressure on a sluggish track.

For starters, Chris Gayle's blunt description of the middle-order collapse as "crap" is a step in the right direction. He acknowledged Zimbabwe's competitiveness, but his own team's failure to measure up would have hit the confidence of a man who, not too long ago, had aimed at a 4-1 win against Australia.

Amid poor crowds and declining form, West Indies are battling for pride against an opposition which, with each successful outing, is shoring up the resolve and determination to return from self-imposed exile.

Form Guide (Last five completed matches)
West Indies: LLLLL
Zimbabwe: WLLLL

Watch out for

Greg Lamb was the best of Zimbabwe's bowlers, conceding just 35 in ten overs despite his lack of variation. His strategy was to angle the ball in towards off stump, leaving little room for the batsman to get him away. But Lamb, who decided to return to Zimbabwe after being released by Hampshire last year, is primarily a batsman and a fairly successful one at the domestic level. With an average of 55.68 in the Logan Cup, the first-class tournament, and 64 in the one-day competition, Lamb could prove a handful in the middle order.

Ruthless batting in the Champions League Twenty20 won Kieron Pollard a US$750,000 IPL contract with Mumbai Indians, and his successful stint with South Australia contributed towards him making scores of 31, 32, 62 and 45 in the ODI series in February. An average of 17.88 in ODIs - not befitting a player of his talent - and the lapse in the first ODI should spur him to make amends.

Team news

An unexpected defeat is likely to prompt a change in plans for the hosts. Though Dwayne Bravo has not been named in the squad for the first two ODIs, a call-up, given the urgency of a series-levelling win, cannot be ruled out. Bravo could take Dwayne Smith's place if he has recovered from an injured thumb; if not, Darren Sammy could be drafted in. Ramnaresh Sarwan, also not in the squad for the Providence fixtures, has warmed up nicely with a century for Guyana in the domestic four-day competition. The signs are that he has recovered well from his back injury and West Indies will be tempted to have him in the line-up, stepping in for Andre Fletcher.

West Indies (probable) - 1 Chris Gayle (capt), 2 Adrian Barath, 3 Shivnarine Chanderpaul, 4 Andre Fletcher/Ramnaresh Sarwan, 5 Narsingh Deonarine, 6 Kieron Pollard, 7 Denesh Ramdin (wk), 8 Darren Sammy/Dwayne Smith, 9 Nikita Miller, 10 Sulieman Benn, 11 Kemar Roach.

Zimbabwe will be keen to retain their four-pronged spin attack and are likely to field the same team. While Zimbabwe have so far opted for Brendan Taylor, who is an attacking batsman and also provides them with an additional spin option, the absence of Charles Coventry, the previous joint record-holder for the highest score in ODIs, remains a surprise.

Zimbabwe (probable) - 1 Hamilton Masakadza, 2 Vusi Sibanda, 3 Tatenda Taibu (wk), 4 Brendan Taylor/Charles Coventry, 5 Stuart Matsikenyeri, 6 Greg Lamb, 7 Elton Chigumbura, 8 Graeme Cremer, 9 Prosper Utseya (capt), 10 Shingirai Masakadza, 11 Ray Price.

...the absence of Charles Coventry, the previous joint record-holder for the highest score in ODIs, remains a surprise.
That surprises me too. We were lucky in snatching first ODI, i sincerely hope its not too late before we include him again.

Pitch and conditions

Spinners are likely to feature prominently in friendly conditions in Providence and the forecast points towards a mostly sunny but windy day. A sluggish track, spinners racing through their overs and a tempered run-rate were the features of the first game, and the second promises much the same.

Stats and trivia

Barath consumed 27 deliveries from Lamb for just 11 runs. Ray Price, too, troubled him, conceding just eight in 24 balls. In contrast, Shivnarine Chanderpaul took Lamb for 18 in 21 and Price for eight in as many. Taibu's innovativeness was evident in his scoring rates against West Indian spinners - he took Nikita Miller for 19 in 17 and Deonarine for 29 in 24.

Vusi Sibanda's 162-ball 95 is seventh in the list for the number of balls faced for a score of under 100. The list is led by the PCB's newly-appointed chairman of selectors Mohsin Khan, who ate up 176 balls for his 70 against West Indies in the second semi-final of the 1983 World Cup. Next is Sunil Gavaskar, with his infamous 174-ball 36 against England in the 1975 World Cup.

Quotes

"When you do crap, it's definitely crap and there is no excuse. Guys have to take responsibility out there in the middle. It is just sad and disappointing."
Chris Gayle is straightforward in his criticism of the dispiriting performance in the first ODI.

"West Indies are still a good side. We still respect them. For us to beat them, we need to make sure that we play hard, remain focussed, pay attention to the small things, and remain disciplined."
Prosper Utseya lays down the strategy to upset West Indies

[Dr_Situ(ZimFanatic)]

Posted by FlowerPower on (March 06 2010, 05:10 AM GMT) cricinfo page

Firstly that WI has problems is abundantly clear. But in your frustration with the WI team, you seem to forget to acknowledge the good work the Zim team has put in. They have exploited conditions, a sluggish pitch. Exposed the WI's inadequacies against spin. You (WI fans) seem to underate Price (2nd in the world) and Utseya (one of the best econ rates in ODIs). This is the same reason Bangladesh were able to defeat you (albeit a 2nd string). Trust me you will have more teams loading spin against you with similar results. Is it not possible to send some of your players to the subcontinent, or even Zim, to expose themselves to spin? But lest I become like you, credit where its due, Zim has done well, 3 wins on the tour cannot be a fluke, and a win in the 2nd ODI (which is not impossible) will only add pressure to WI and make a 1st away win in WI a rleal possibility.

Another post

more pace is not the answer. I personally would have brought Dabengwa, and extra spinner who opens the batting for his franchise. As for pace I think Chigumbura is sufficient if need be bring in Chibaba (who bats as well) for Matsikenyeri. Pace is not our strength so limit it to bare minimum as partnership break and variety purpose but use spin predominantly: 1. Sibanda, 2. Masakadza 3. Taylor 4. Taibu 5.Matsikenyeri/Chibaba 6.Lamb 7. Chigumbura 8. Dabengwa 9. Creamer 10. Utseya 11. Price PS I didnt understand why Utseya opted for Taylor instead of Matsikenyeri who is a better part time bowler. All the best, it can be done

I agree there was no point in using Taylor ahead of Matsi. Also Hamilton should have been used rather than Shingi in the final over. Thats why i am little apprehensive that this current team is not balanced and inclusion of Bravo amd Sarwan can tilt the balance until we tilt our balance in favour of Covy and Jarv

[jamthala]

Should be a great game of cricket.gael and chanderpaul are both key wickets.

[sloandog]

Okay, here's my time for todays game:

1. Hamilton Mazakadza.
2. Vusi Sibanda.
3. Tatenda Taibu.
4. Brandon Taylor.
5. Charles Coventry.
6. Gregory Lamb.
7. Elton Chigumbura.
8. Graeme Cremer.
9. Prosper Utsea. Captain.
10. Raymond Price.
11. Kyle Jarvis.

12th man: Stuart Matsikinyeri

I'd like to see Charles Coventry in the side. He could get things moving in the middle overs, and he's a superb athlete.
Jarvis makes todays side on the fact that he's got more pace than Mazakadza. I just think he posseses more potency with the ball. But i have to hand it to young Mazakadza, he looks to be a very promising fast bowler, a bowler with pace !!
Good Luck Zimbabwe, From Sloandog

[eugene]

Did I read just above someone suggesting that Keith Dabengwa should be in the squad. He used to the main target of this forum. We put up with him in the team for a couple of seasons at least before he was finally dropped for his all round lack of skills.