You'd also continue to open with Hami, despite all the overwhelming evidence against doing that. Fair enough, but my question to you regarding that is - what happens if Hami fails opening again. What then? Bear in mind, Hami is ZImbabwe's best ODI and T20 batsmen since January 2016 to date, and has been pretty much it's only Test batsman(Taylor included) who has been successful both home and away in Tests since Zimbabwe started playing Tests again*.
So you'd pick Williams at 5 over Burl and Malcolm right now? Ok. Between Chatara, Jarvis, Mumba and Cremer, who plays the role of containing and strike bowling, plus what kinds of totals do you think Zimbabwe will be chasing considering all Asian sides are bat heavy and they'll be up against this attack?
After all, Sri lanka did score runs for fun in Zimbabwe recently with that strategy in play - molesting Mumba, Cremer and those "part-timers". Tiripano and Hami played the containing role which spared Zimbabwe a lot of humiliation. Otherwise Cremer and Mumba were a father Christman double-act. Again, Zimbabwe tried the Jarvis+Vitori thing against Pakistan and it was ugly remember? The only time seam has worked for Zimbabwe was when Shingi, Panyangara and Utseya backed up Chatara, or when Chatara, Panyngara and Utseya backed up Vitori. If Zimbabwe plays that attack against a vastly improved Bangladesh or other Asian side, then it's draws or losses for Zimbabwe.
Shingi and Panyangara are still there. Why ignore them? Perhaps a choice between Vitori(if legal)/Jarvis/Chatara to partner then considering Cremer is already there to strike. Or pick Wellington to partner Chatara and convince him to contain(even though he's been arguably Zimbabwe's best Test seamer ), while Jarvis and Cremer strike.
At least you didn't put in a Test bowling attack that's limited to Jarvis, Chatara and Cremer. Even an SA with Elgar and Duminy - all excellent spinners (plus Faf on his day), would not field Maharaj, Philander and Morkel only. Who do Zimbabwean fans think Zimbabwe possesses - Warne, McGrath and Gillespie ? Would Australia even do that themselves?
*ZIMBABWE AWAY BATTING IN TEST
Code: Select all
Player Mat Inns Runs HS Ave BF SR 100 50
H Masakadza 7 14 431 158 30.78 915 47.10 1 2
RW Chakabva 6 12 422 101 38.36 1027 41.09 1 3
Sikandar Raza 4 8 406 127 50.75 631 64.34 1 3
CR Ervine 6 12 355 160 32.27 711 49.92 1 0
BRM Taylor 6 12 218 45* 19.81 422 51.65 0 0
MN Waller 5 10 180 68 18.00 297 60.60 0 1
AG Cremer 4 8 149 48 18.62 335 44.47 0 0
E Chigumbura 3 6 135 88 22.50 224 60.26 0 1
V Sibanda 3 6 114 35 19.00 173 65.89 0 0
SC Williams 2 4 81 31 20.25 171 47.36 0 0
TMK Mawoyo 3 6 71 50 11.83 155 45.80 0 1
PJ Moor 1 2 59 40 29.50 131 45.03 0 0