Which side was better
Posted: Tue Nov 28, 2017 12:06 am
Talking and comparing Zimbabwe's successful (relatively) under 19's sides from the 2002, 2004 & 2006 World Cups, after that Zimbabwe hasn't really had any success since then and at times the results have been embarrassing.
Not really looking at the results as much of these sides but more the quality of the sides then and now how they've turned out.
2002
Hamilton Masakadza
Charles Coventry
Tatenda Taibu
Brendan Taylor
Stuart Matsikenyeri
Sean Ervine
Matthew Brundle
Elton Chigumbura
Stanley Marisa
Waddington Mwayenga
Alfred Mbwembwe
Jerome Nicolle
Conan Brewer
Andrew Durham
Sharezad Omarshah
8 Internationals
2004
Brendan Taylor
James Cameron
Sean Williams
Tino Mawoyo
Craig Ervine
Colin DeGrandhomme
Elton Chigumbura
Graeme Cremer
Prosper Utseya
Tinashe Panyangara
Ed Rainsford
Stanley Marisa
Tinashe Ruswa
Tafadzwa Mufumbisi
11 Internationals
2006
Chamu Chibhabha
Kuda Samunderu
Gary Ballance
Sean Williams
Friday Kasteni
Keagan Meth
Roland Benade
Ryan Higgins
Glen Querl
Graeme Cremer
Tarisai Mahlunge
Prince Masvaure
Ian Nicholson
Tarisai Muzarabani
10 Internationals
For me it was quite clear the 2004 side was the best as it produced the most internationals and was a very well balanced side, solid top order two good spinners ( Although Utseya was probably chucking then too ) 2 good fast bowlers and a couple of good all round seamers.
The 2006 side I feel was potentially better but many of those players never fulfilled their potential as they left Zimbabwe early and cut short their careers, guys like Higgins, Kasteni, Samunderu, Benade and Nicholson seemingly disappeared from professional cricket whilst Meth took up body building in Canada and Ballance now plays for England. This side really was a 'bits and pieces side' as pretty much every player batted and bowled and uniquely the Keeper Mahlunge batted @ 10 or 11.
The 2002 side IMO was the strongest batting lineup but the weakest bowling a top order of Hami, Choppa, BT, Taibu, Matsi & Brundle was a great batting lineup but the bowling was fairly weak. Chigs has had success early in his career bowling and Waddington Mwayenga played a couple of ODI's and a Test but really nothing else to speak of.
Not really looking at the results as much of these sides but more the quality of the sides then and now how they've turned out.
2002
Hamilton Masakadza
Charles Coventry
Tatenda Taibu
Brendan Taylor
Stuart Matsikenyeri
Sean Ervine
Matthew Brundle
Elton Chigumbura
Stanley Marisa
Waddington Mwayenga
Alfred Mbwembwe
Jerome Nicolle
Conan Brewer
Andrew Durham
Sharezad Omarshah
8 Internationals
2004
Brendan Taylor
James Cameron
Sean Williams
Tino Mawoyo
Craig Ervine
Colin DeGrandhomme
Elton Chigumbura
Graeme Cremer
Prosper Utseya
Tinashe Panyangara
Ed Rainsford
Stanley Marisa
Tinashe Ruswa
Tafadzwa Mufumbisi
11 Internationals
2006
Chamu Chibhabha
Kuda Samunderu
Gary Ballance
Sean Williams
Friday Kasteni
Keagan Meth
Roland Benade
Ryan Higgins
Glen Querl
Graeme Cremer
Tarisai Mahlunge
Prince Masvaure
Ian Nicholson
Tarisai Muzarabani
10 Internationals
For me it was quite clear the 2004 side was the best as it produced the most internationals and was a very well balanced side, solid top order two good spinners ( Although Utseya was probably chucking then too ) 2 good fast bowlers and a couple of good all round seamers.
The 2006 side I feel was potentially better but many of those players never fulfilled their potential as they left Zimbabwe early and cut short their careers, guys like Higgins, Kasteni, Samunderu, Benade and Nicholson seemingly disappeared from professional cricket whilst Meth took up body building in Canada and Ballance now plays for England. This side really was a 'bits and pieces side' as pretty much every player batted and bowled and uniquely the Keeper Mahlunge batted @ 10 or 11.
The 2002 side IMO was the strongest batting lineup but the weakest bowling a top order of Hami, Choppa, BT, Taibu, Matsi & Brundle was a great batting lineup but the bowling was fairly weak. Chigs has had success early in his career bowling and Waddington Mwayenga played a couple of ODI's and a Test but really nothing else to speak of.
