are we up to test standard or do we have the potential

[andybligz]

I am curious to see who believes honoustly we can compete and even defeat some test nations? I know we all love zim cricket but in all seriousness do u believe we can rise to the top again with tthe young crop of youngsters coming through and current players and coaches . with the likes of taylor,williams,price,masakadza,taibu,cremer and the ervines hopefully , these are all genuine world class cricketers . with coaches like streak and G flower things look really positive .With youngsters like chittara,the wallers,Higgins,S masakadza,rainsford, ballance and cameron maybe even coming back not to mention ireland we actualy look threating, but can we put all of it togther with match winners like coventry chiggs and bligz my favourites! If you believe we are good enough what would ur starting team be including 12th man with a full squad available , here is mine.
bat
1.masakadza'
2.Ballance
3.taylor
4.S.ervine
5.S.Williams
6.Taibu (wk)
7.Chigumbura
8.Bligz
9.Cremer
10.price
11.Chittara
Bowl
1.Chittara
2.Bligz
3.S.ervine
4.Price
5.Cremer
6.chigumbura

[eugene]

I think we are a long way away from even being competitive against the top test nations such as South Africa or Australia. I think the best we can hope for at the moment is trying to compete with Bangladesh. Keep in mind that even when we had our strongest test team we still struggled to foot it with the big boys, particularly overseas.

[Mike]

If we always include Sean Ervine is our fantasy team even though he hasn't committed to Zimbabwe Cricket then I'd say no.

[auszim]

I have a lot to say on this topic but it could go on forever! Maybe we could get a skype conference going haha!!

One point i would like to make is that we need to ensure that there is a minimal gap between a good performance and a bad performance. Ie creating consistancy!!! Below is a very general outline of what i mean

Good match
Zim Bat first = 300 - 350 runs and then bowl and have at least a first innings lead
Zim bowl first = Restrict team to under 300 and then follow up with 350

Bad Match
Zim Bat first = All out for 100-150 and opposition makes 400 in two days
Zim Bowl first = Team makes 400 and we lose by an innings

We want to minimise bad matches and have average to good matches...sounds simple enough haha

A team of potential is great, such as the current Pakistan and Windies teams but if that potential is only ever reached once every ten matches then its wasted and the results will be poor.

[andybligz]

ya i agree about the sean ervine argument but i feel he will return if his brother is in the team and with former players like bligz,price and taibu back , ervine played a lot of cricket with these boys. also he came back to play some domestic cricket and did really well and was impressed with the improvement in the domestic scene.Also with out test status back he would have the chance to play a test level again. yes he might be doing well in county cricket but he will never play for england and classed as there most imprortant player unlike with us.i just pray he comes back because he is such a great player who could really help us challenge the test cricketing nations .

[sloandog]

Well I must say that I agree with Eugene here. We're a long long long long long way off from beating the bigger sides, we're still feeling our way back into the international game. However that does NOT mean that the future isn't bright.
Like you rightfully pointed out mate, the current crop of youngsters are very exciting prospects and now things are better, they have the coaches to back them up. Guys like Heath Streak and Grant Flower will only quicken the success of the youth.
If I'm going to single out the better younger players they would have to be:

. Sean Williams
. Tendai Chitara
. Kyle Jarvis
. Gary Ballance
. Foster Mutizwa
. Nathan Waller
. Malcolm Waller
. Keegan Meth
. Regis Chachava (My apologies for the poor spelling)
. Timcen Maruma

[Zimfanatic69]

We are a long way off being competitive however in a few years time, at test level, we could give Bangladesh and the Windies a run for their money.

[ZIMDOGGY]

pretty sure we have seen the end of sean williams.

[brmtaylor.com admin]

When we return to Test cricket, should we exclusively look to players with previous Test experience to avoid mistakes that could be put down to nerves on debut?

Maybe exclusively is the wrong term, as someone like Craig Ervine is probably an automatic selection given his First Class form... "primarily" is probably a better word. For instance, given similar form would Mpofu get the nod over Rainsford due to past experience alone? I'm probably missing a few names (feel free to add any I've missed) but these are the guys with Test experience who played domestic cricket last season... given the situation over the past 5 years it's a surprisingly large pool of players.

Ebrahim (29 Tests)
Taibu (24)
Blignaut (19)
Price (18)
Masakadza (15)
Taylor (10)
Nkala (10)
Mahwire (10)
Hondo (9)
Vermeulen (8)
Matsikenyeri (8)
Chigumbura (6)
Cremer (6)
Mpofu (6)
Sean Ervine (5)
Rogers (4)
Sibanda (3)
Ewing (3)
Dabengwa (3)
Duffin (2)
Coventry (2)
Mupariwa (1)
Utseya (1)

[Zimfanatic69]

When we return to Test cricket, should we exclusively look to players with previous Test experience to avoid mistakes that could be put down to nerves on debut?

Maybe exclusively is the wrong term, as someone like Craig Ervine is probably an automatic selection given his First Class form... "primarily" is probably a better word. For instance, given similar form would Mpofu get the nod over Rainsford due to past experience alone? I'm probably missing a few names (feel free to add any I've missed) but these are the guys with Test experience who played domestic cricket last season... given the situation over the past 5 years it's a surprisingly large pool of players.

Ebrahim (29 Tests)
Taibu (24)
Blignaut (19)
Price (18)
Masakadza (15)
Taylor (10)
Nkala (10)
Mahwire (10)
Hondo (9)
Vermeulen (8)
Matsikenyeri (8)
Chigumbura (6)
Cremer (6)
Mpofu (6)
Sean Ervine (5)
Rogers (4)
Sibanda (3)
Ewing (3)
Dabengwa (3)
Duffin (2)
Coventry (2)
Mupariwa (1)
Utseya (1)

i would play rainsford over Mpofu but it is a good point. we need some players with test experience. taibu, taylor, hammy and matsi should be certs for the batting. chigs and bligz for allrounders.

however we have to remember since we last played a test there is a new generation and they need to be blooded.

ebrahim i would consider having in the side only if hammy and brendan were injured. duffin, however, could come back into the side as he has alot to offer.