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This is the second in my series of underperforming players who have represented Zimbabwe for many years. A couple of weeks ago I analysed Stuart Matsikenyeri and his struggles with international cricket, now it is Vusi Sibanda's turn.

His overall ODI record for Zimbabwe is as follows:
Span 2003-2010
Matches: 82
Runs: 1716
HS: 116
Avg: 21.72
100s: 1
50s: 12

It should be noted that the century came against Bermuda and 5 of his 50's came against Kenya, Bangladesh X2, Ireland and Bermuda.

His innings against test-match playing countries that contributed to a Zimbabwe victory are:
46 v Bangladesh at Harare - 2006
93* v Bangladesh at Harare - 2007
95 v West Indies at Providence - 2010

Sibanda has rarely hit matchwinning innings but has played a few nice knocks in losing causes. These are listed below:
58 v West Indies at Bulawayo - 2003
57 v Pakistan at Multan - 2004
52 v West Indies at Georgetown - 2006
64 v Bangladesh at Harare - 2007
96 v West Indies at Bulawayo - 2007
59 v Pakistan at Karachi - 2007

In a seven year career Sibanda has played a total of nine significant innings in ODI cricket against major cricketing countries (i.e. test match countries). The only series where he has scored back-to-back fifties is against Bangladesh in 2007. He did also score a century and fifty in succession against Bermuda but who cares when you are playing Bermuda. His SR is also a lowly 59.60 which is unacceptable for ODI cricket.

Like Matsikenyeri (although I believe Sibanda to be more talented), Sibanda is completely inconcsistent and cannot be relied upon. I believe with the emergence of younger players Sibanda has surplused to requirements. I believe 82 ODIs is a big enough sample to know if a player can cut it at international level and Vusi Sibanda clearly can't. An average of 21.72 speaks for itself.

eugene wrote:

Like Matsikenyeri (although I believe Sibanda to be more talented), Sibanda is completely inconcsistent and cannot be relied upon. I believe with the emergence of younger players Sibanda has surplused to requirements. I believe 82 ODIs is a big enough sample to know if a player can cut it at international level and Vusi Sibanda clearly can't. An average of 21.72 speaks for itself.

You have a point there.

eugene wrote:This is the second in my series of underperforming players who have represented Zimbabwe for many years. A couple of weeks ago I analysed Stuart Matsikenyeri and his struggles with international cricket, now it is Vusi Sibanda's turn.

Sibanda has rarely hit matchwinning innings but has played a few nice knocks in losing causes. These are listed below:
58 v West Indies at Bulawayo - 2003
57 v Pakistan at Multan - 2004
52 v West Indies at Georgetown - 2006
64 v Bangladesh at Harare - 2007
96 v West Indies at Bulawayo - 2007
59 v Pakistan at Karachi - 2007

He did also score a century and fifty in succession against Bermuda but who cares when you are playing Bermuda.

eugene wrote:Many of his wins have been against Kenya which I don't care about because Kenya are a second rate team. He has played four significant innings in his career that have won us games against major opposition.

I'm sorry Eugene but I believe your analysis, while clearly correct and factual, is also highly prejudicial. That Vusi has played some of his good knocks in a loosing cause does not lessen his few admittedly few achievements.

And nobody deserves to be called second rate. After all Zim has been there before.

To my knowledge you are supposed to put the bare facts to light and the rest will judge and debate

Vusi Sibanda has a very impressive technique, and I'm sure most of you (Bar a few) would agree that he would be a welcomed addition to our test squad. His solidity with the bat would be invaluable opening the batting possibly with Terry Duffin or maybe even Craig Ervine. (Mark Vermuelan could even get a look in when it comes to opening in tests too)
But I just don't think Vusi is cut for ODI cricket. His scoring rate is much too slow and he struggles to find the gaps. But I must say, having whatched some highlights of a match against Pakistan in 2008, he looks a very solid and classy timer of the cricket ball.

Conant, I understand your points. My point about Kenya is that performing against them does not secure ones place in cricketing greatness. Vusi Sibanda has played some good knocks in losing causes, particular in Pakistan, but I believe he has had a fair chance to prove himself and he has come up short of the standard required.

I don't feel I need to present analysis in a prejudicial manner. The statistics of both Vusi Sibanda and Stuart Matsikenyeri to an even greater degree, clearly show that theser players have been largely underwhelming in their careers.

eugene wrote:Conant, I understand your points. My point about Kenya is that performing against them does not secure ones place in cricketing greatness. Vusi Sibanda has played some good knocks in losing causes, particular in Pakistan, but I believe he has had a fair chance to prove himself and he has come up short of the standard required.

I don't feel I need to present analysis in a prejudicial manner. The statistics of both Vusi Sibanda and Stuart Matsikenyeri to an even greater degree, clearly show that theser players have been largely underwhelming in their careers.

The lad is only 26 or 27 yrs old.... If you look at top class cricketers around the world players ( particularly batsmen) peak in their thirties.... All the players in our side are still VERY, VERY young in cricketing terms. .. They will get better with experience and practice... look at Sachin Tendulkar, he is playing the best cricket of his life at 38

This obsession with age and only looking to young players will only see us going backwards and we will never achieve the heights we are capable of as a test side.. Youth only applies to sports like football

Xlife wrote: look at Sachin Tendulkar, he is playing the best cricket of his life at 38

But then he started at 16....and Vusi started at 20 add 22 yrs...it comes out to 42 yrs

Okay here's where i stand. Don't play him in the ODI's unless an injury occurs to one of our openers. Keep him in the squad though, It'll be good to have a specialist opening batsmen waiting in the wings...