1st Test v Sri Lanka starting next week

[jaybro]

Obviously a false headline but since there isn't much going on apart from the trio playing t20's in South Africa why don't we look at a 'hypothetical' Test lineup if Zimbabwe were playing a Test match v Sri Lanka next week.

Here are the conditions and factors to go by -

Test being played at Harare Sports Club, the pitch is hard with a good covering of grass, will definitely have something in it for the seamers but will also reward good stroke play because of it's hardness, might take some spin as the match gets into the 5th day.

Looking at which players are not-available lets rule out -

Chatara because of his quad strain

Murray who is at Uni

Let's also presume Cremer is fit to play, but he is very underdone since he hasn't had a proper bowl since the CWCQ

Carl Mumba is also fit but again hasn't played for a long time

Lets see what you guys come up with .....

[Andybligzz]

I would kill to watch this 1.H.Masakadza (c) 2. B.Chari 3. R.Burl 4.B.Taylor ( wk ) 5. PJ 6. S.williams 7. S.Raza 8. D.Tirapano 9. G.Cremer 10. K.Jarvis 11. C.Mpofu

[eugene]

1. Hamilton Masakadza
2. Brian Chari
3. Brendan Taylor
4. Craig Ervine
5. Sean Williams
6. Peter Moor
7. Sikandar Raza
8. Donald Tiripano
9. Graeme Cremer
10. Kyle Jarvis
11. Christopher Mpofu

[jaybro]

1. Hamilton Masakadza
2. Brian Chari
3. Brendan Taylor
4. Craig Ervine
5. Sean Williams
6. Peter Moor
7. Sikandar Raza
8. Donald Tiripano
9. Graeme Cremer
10. Kyle Jarvis
11. Christopher Mpofu

I'm presuming BT is also keeping in this side ??

I don't they'd have him keep and bat 3, I also think they might shift him down a spot to 4 at home, I think the side we saw in Bangladesh was a 'sub-continent XI'

Maybe PJ could move up to bat at 3 allowing BT to bat at 4 or even 5 and keep wickets?

[Kriterion_BD]

Impossible for Test WK to bat any higher than 5. Even 5 is highly rare. 6-8 should be the ideal positions for WK with obviously the guys who can really bat well at 6 and the lesser ones at 8.