Bangladesh tour Ratings
Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2020 3:03 am
Sorry peeps for the delay but I've been very busy of late, I know you've all been desperately awaiting my post tour player ratings, especially Black Mamba who just can't wait to see what I've come up with.
In what was a train wreck of a tour there were a few bright moments; Craig Ervine's 3rd Test ton, Donald Tiripano's 55 off 28 and of course the emergence of Wes Madhevere. Apart from that it really was quite bleak as the gap continues to grow between Zimbabwe and their old sparring partners Bangladesh; who seemed to use the limited overs series as more of a chance to try out some new combinations and players.
Craig Ervine - 7.5: The only player to make a ton on tour; Ervine finishes with the highest rating of his peers, captaining his country for the 1st time he didn't disappoint scoring 107 in the 1st innings. After a torrid time in the field he came out all guns blazing in the 2nd innings; before he was run-out by Raza in the forties. As is sadly been the case in his career when ever he finds form he usually finds injury or sickness; this was again the case as he missed the entire ODI series with the flu (Covid-19 perhaps), before returning for the t2o series where he had limited success.
Wes Madhevere - 7: The young star Zimbabwe has been waiting for finally arrived in the form of Madhevere; after a promising few months for the U19's side he made the step up to the seniors with ease. Despite his success opening the batting; and his supposed weakness v the spinners, he made a successful entry into the middle order looking at home @No.5. His bowling was also useful and with the fact he will only get better; the future for Zimbabwe looks a bit brighter knowing he will be leading the way.
Sikander Raza - 5: Not the best tour for Raza especially with the ball; but he did make a couple of fifties in the ODI series. He came into the tour as the leading spinner; yet he failed to make an impact taking just two wickets on tour. He was apparently carrying a shoulder injury; yet there was no confirmation from ZC or Raza about the injury. I feel Raza the bowler is similar to England's Mooen Ali in that he bowls better without the burden of being 'the No.1 Spinner, with the current plight Zimbabwe faces spin wise it's hard to see who will take this mantle from Raza.
Prince Masuavre - 5: Just the one match for Prince on tour; that being the Test match where he made a streaky 64 in the 1st innings. Although he got a few lives along the way; Prince still put the runs on the board so kudos for that. His duck in the 2nd dig in the 1st over then set the tone for a disaster innings for Zimbabwe, his dismissal prompted the arrival of Tiripano as night watchman who then got out 1st ball to really take the air out of the fight.
Carl Mumba - 5: The leading wicket taker on tour Big Carl Mumba showed glimpses of being a quality bowler; yet his inability to bowl six good balls in an over was really shown up on this tour. After being left out of the Test side Mumba played all of the limited overs matches, taking six wickets in three ODIs would normally seem like a good return, but his failure to take any wickets with the new ball really hurt Zimbabwe. In comparison he was able to do the damage at the death; bowling a few really good yorkers. I feel he is one player who may have benefited from this shithouse tour.
Tinashe Kamunhukamwe - 5: A mixed tour for K-Long who made his 1st international half century in the 2nd ODI, this was after making a 1st over duck in the opening ODI. A quick fire 28 in his T20 debut was his only other contribution on tour; but in all a small positive for Zimbabwe after the retirements of openers Solomon Mire & Hamilton. Whilst he definitely is not a text book batsman; he does have great power in his shots, and can most certainly become a useful short form opener. I would suggest though he needs to simplify his game; he plays way too many improvised shots, he needs to stick to what he's good at, that's stand and deliver from the crease.
Chris Mpofu - 4: Not selected for the Test and injured after the 1st ODI it was a disappointing tour overall for Bobby, after finding some real form at home for the Tuskers we were excited to see him bowl in the Test; but he was overlooked for ex-teammate and lookalike Tshuma. He got a few wickets in the 1st ODI; but he got taken to town in the final over by Saifuddin which undid a lot of good work he had done earlier. Not sure how many more times we will see the veteran seamer in the national colours.
Tymcen Maruma - 3.5: Yet another chance for the great survivor of Zimbabwean cricket, despite over a decade of sporadic failures he keeps getting picked. A nervy a 1st innings in the Test match where successfully overturned a lbw decision before getting out straight after was followed by his best ever innings for his country. In the 2nd innings where he made 40 odd we finally got to see him play some nice shots and finally got a visual of what he can do with the bat, in saying this the heat had been taken out of the match and he threw his wicket away getting caught at mid off, but it was good to see none the less. Originally named in the ODI squad he was replaced by Regis which seemed odd at the time, although I presume it has something to do with him being arrested for rape back in Zimbabwe.
Victor Nyuachi - 3: After an impressive debut against Sri Lanka; Nyauchi has disappointed in his next two outings, granted he hasn't had good seam bowling conditions but you're not going to get things handed to you on a platter on the international stage. I still feel he's a decent bowler who could improve with more exposure; although he looks like a longer version bowler which means his chances will always be limited.
Charlton Tshuma - 3: A tough tour for Tshuma who made his debut in all three formats; at age 26 and with limited 1st class experience, he really was an unknown quantity. He bowled well at times during the Test with his lovely action; you would think on more bowler friendly decks he will be much more effective. With the returns of front line seamers Jarvis & Chatara; plus the impending return of prodigal son Blessing Muzarabani, Tshuma might find his opportunities limited in the near future.
Donald Tiripano - 3: Again hard to rate the Don so low due to his effort; but quite simply his output doesn't match his input. Once again he bowled a tight line and length in the Test match; where again he took just the one wicket, his bowling was feasted upon in the ODI series, where his only real positive performance of the tour came with the bat with his 28 ball 55. It was quite an outstanding innings; one not often produced by a Zimbabwean batsman, let alone a bowler. Sadly a rough umpiring decision to allow a clear wide on the penultimate ball of the innings stopped the Don just short of pulling off a miraculous victory.
Regis Chakabva - 3: A dismal tour with the bat in the ODI series for Regis where once again he was chosen to open despite nearly a decade of failures doing so, it's really hard to comprehend why he continues to be used in that role. His Test performance was ok-ish as he was fairly tidy behind the stumps and made a few runs; awful dismissal in the 1st innings though, surely he's running out of chances?
Tinotenda Mutombodzi - 3: Mutombodzi was given another chance to show he's an international cricketer; and whilst he still looks like a club bowler he showed some nice skill with the bat in the 2nd ODI. I would suggest batting is most definitely his strong suite; but his good numbers with the ball this Logan Cup season is what has gotten him into the side, sadly bowling to international batsman isn't quite as easy as bowling to Logan Cup batsman.
Brendan Taylor - 2: What a shit-show this tour was for BT, he barely looked interested and got himself out every innings playing dumb shots or with stupid running. At no point did the bowlers have it over him; yet he gave away his wicket every chance he got, he really needs to have a sit down and think if he wants to play for Zimbabwe anymore because he certainly didn't look like he cared. His last innings on tour where he got 50 odd unbeaten in the 2nd T20 saved some face, although he could have easily been out numerous times in that innings as well.
Sean Williams - 2: Missed the Test due to the birth of his 1st child; missed the 1st ODI because he was late getting to Bangladesh, it's hard to be too critical but this didn't help. The fact he stunk it up as well once he finally arrived again didn't help matters, ineffective with the bat, nonthreatening with the ball and listless captaincy capped off a poor tour he probably didn't want to be on.
Ainsley Ndlovu - 2: Given another chance after his underwhelming Test debut against Sri Lanka; he still struggled throughout and never really looked threatening. It's hard to see what type of bowler he is; or is trying to be? He doesn't seem to be an attacking type bowler; yet he can't keep the runs down either, he also seems to have no idea how to combat the batsman apart from darting the ball in quickly, which again he hasn't mastered. Two points for Ndlovu; one for each wicket.
Richmond Mutumbami - 2: Another disappointing player on tour who failed to make an impression despite coming into the tour with some good domestic form. With BT not keeping Mutumbami looks like he will have the gloves for a while in the limited overs stuff; lets hope he starts producing some runs and taking catches, otherwise it'll be back to Regis again. He did hit some nice shots to the boundary but got out soon after.
Kevin Kasuza - 1: Kasuza was only part of the Test squad so he only got the two innings, sadly after scoring 100 runs through his 1st two innings he wasn't able to replicate that home form abroad. Hard to be too critical I guess for an inexperienced player playing in foreign conditions; although it was disappointing he wasn't able to see off the new ball in the 1st Test; a skill that really should be his bread and butter. Plus side he got through without being hit in the head.
Chamu Chibhabha n/a: Awful decision as captain for the limited overs format and I guess luckily for Zimbabwe his injury restricted him to just the one outing. The bloke has been in terrible form for years and during his brief stay at the crease he didn't look like he was finding form, looked much bigger than last I saw him, not sure if he's bulked up or just got on the KFC diet?
In what was a train wreck of a tour there were a few bright moments; Craig Ervine's 3rd Test ton, Donald Tiripano's 55 off 28 and of course the emergence of Wes Madhevere. Apart from that it really was quite bleak as the gap continues to grow between Zimbabwe and their old sparring partners Bangladesh; who seemed to use the limited overs series as more of a chance to try out some new combinations and players.
Craig Ervine - 7.5: The only player to make a ton on tour; Ervine finishes with the highest rating of his peers, captaining his country for the 1st time he didn't disappoint scoring 107 in the 1st innings. After a torrid time in the field he came out all guns blazing in the 2nd innings; before he was run-out by Raza in the forties. As is sadly been the case in his career when ever he finds form he usually finds injury or sickness; this was again the case as he missed the entire ODI series with the flu (Covid-19 perhaps), before returning for the t2o series where he had limited success.
Wes Madhevere - 7: The young star Zimbabwe has been waiting for finally arrived in the form of Madhevere; after a promising few months for the U19's side he made the step up to the seniors with ease. Despite his success opening the batting; and his supposed weakness v the spinners, he made a successful entry into the middle order looking at home @No.5. His bowling was also useful and with the fact he will only get better; the future for Zimbabwe looks a bit brighter knowing he will be leading the way.
Sikander Raza - 5: Not the best tour for Raza especially with the ball; but he did make a couple of fifties in the ODI series. He came into the tour as the leading spinner; yet he failed to make an impact taking just two wickets on tour. He was apparently carrying a shoulder injury; yet there was no confirmation from ZC or Raza about the injury. I feel Raza the bowler is similar to England's Mooen Ali in that he bowls better without the burden of being 'the No.1 Spinner, with the current plight Zimbabwe faces spin wise it's hard to see who will take this mantle from Raza.
Prince Masuavre - 5: Just the one match for Prince on tour; that being the Test match where he made a streaky 64 in the 1st innings. Although he got a few lives along the way; Prince still put the runs on the board so kudos for that. His duck in the 2nd dig in the 1st over then set the tone for a disaster innings for Zimbabwe, his dismissal prompted the arrival of Tiripano as night watchman who then got out 1st ball to really take the air out of the fight.
Carl Mumba - 5: The leading wicket taker on tour Big Carl Mumba showed glimpses of being a quality bowler; yet his inability to bowl six good balls in an over was really shown up on this tour. After being left out of the Test side Mumba played all of the limited overs matches, taking six wickets in three ODIs would normally seem like a good return, but his failure to take any wickets with the new ball really hurt Zimbabwe. In comparison he was able to do the damage at the death; bowling a few really good yorkers. I feel he is one player who may have benefited from this shithouse tour.
Tinashe Kamunhukamwe - 5: A mixed tour for K-Long who made his 1st international half century in the 2nd ODI, this was after making a 1st over duck in the opening ODI. A quick fire 28 in his T20 debut was his only other contribution on tour; but in all a small positive for Zimbabwe after the retirements of openers Solomon Mire & Hamilton. Whilst he definitely is not a text book batsman; he does have great power in his shots, and can most certainly become a useful short form opener. I would suggest though he needs to simplify his game; he plays way too many improvised shots, he needs to stick to what he's good at, that's stand and deliver from the crease.
Chris Mpofu - 4: Not selected for the Test and injured after the 1st ODI it was a disappointing tour overall for Bobby, after finding some real form at home for the Tuskers we were excited to see him bowl in the Test; but he was overlooked for ex-teammate and lookalike Tshuma. He got a few wickets in the 1st ODI; but he got taken to town in the final over by Saifuddin which undid a lot of good work he had done earlier. Not sure how many more times we will see the veteran seamer in the national colours.
Tymcen Maruma - 3.5: Yet another chance for the great survivor of Zimbabwean cricket, despite over a decade of sporadic failures he keeps getting picked. A nervy a 1st innings in the Test match where successfully overturned a lbw decision before getting out straight after was followed by his best ever innings for his country. In the 2nd innings where he made 40 odd we finally got to see him play some nice shots and finally got a visual of what he can do with the bat, in saying this the heat had been taken out of the match and he threw his wicket away getting caught at mid off, but it was good to see none the less. Originally named in the ODI squad he was replaced by Regis which seemed odd at the time, although I presume it has something to do with him being arrested for rape back in Zimbabwe.
Victor Nyuachi - 3: After an impressive debut against Sri Lanka; Nyauchi has disappointed in his next two outings, granted he hasn't had good seam bowling conditions but you're not going to get things handed to you on a platter on the international stage. I still feel he's a decent bowler who could improve with more exposure; although he looks like a longer version bowler which means his chances will always be limited.
Charlton Tshuma - 3: A tough tour for Tshuma who made his debut in all three formats; at age 26 and with limited 1st class experience, he really was an unknown quantity. He bowled well at times during the Test with his lovely action; you would think on more bowler friendly decks he will be much more effective. With the returns of front line seamers Jarvis & Chatara; plus the impending return of prodigal son Blessing Muzarabani, Tshuma might find his opportunities limited in the near future.
Donald Tiripano - 3: Again hard to rate the Don so low due to his effort; but quite simply his output doesn't match his input. Once again he bowled a tight line and length in the Test match; where again he took just the one wicket, his bowling was feasted upon in the ODI series, where his only real positive performance of the tour came with the bat with his 28 ball 55. It was quite an outstanding innings; one not often produced by a Zimbabwean batsman, let alone a bowler. Sadly a rough umpiring decision to allow a clear wide on the penultimate ball of the innings stopped the Don just short of pulling off a miraculous victory.
Regis Chakabva - 3: A dismal tour with the bat in the ODI series for Regis where once again he was chosen to open despite nearly a decade of failures doing so, it's really hard to comprehend why he continues to be used in that role. His Test performance was ok-ish as he was fairly tidy behind the stumps and made a few runs; awful dismissal in the 1st innings though, surely he's running out of chances?
Tinotenda Mutombodzi - 3: Mutombodzi was given another chance to show he's an international cricketer; and whilst he still looks like a club bowler he showed some nice skill with the bat in the 2nd ODI. I would suggest batting is most definitely his strong suite; but his good numbers with the ball this Logan Cup season is what has gotten him into the side, sadly bowling to international batsman isn't quite as easy as bowling to Logan Cup batsman.
Brendan Taylor - 2: What a shit-show this tour was for BT, he barely looked interested and got himself out every innings playing dumb shots or with stupid running. At no point did the bowlers have it over him; yet he gave away his wicket every chance he got, he really needs to have a sit down and think if he wants to play for Zimbabwe anymore because he certainly didn't look like he cared. His last innings on tour where he got 50 odd unbeaten in the 2nd T20 saved some face, although he could have easily been out numerous times in that innings as well.
Sean Williams - 2: Missed the Test due to the birth of his 1st child; missed the 1st ODI because he was late getting to Bangladesh, it's hard to be too critical but this didn't help. The fact he stunk it up as well once he finally arrived again didn't help matters, ineffective with the bat, nonthreatening with the ball and listless captaincy capped off a poor tour he probably didn't want to be on.
Ainsley Ndlovu - 2: Given another chance after his underwhelming Test debut against Sri Lanka; he still struggled throughout and never really looked threatening. It's hard to see what type of bowler he is; or is trying to be? He doesn't seem to be an attacking type bowler; yet he can't keep the runs down either, he also seems to have no idea how to combat the batsman apart from darting the ball in quickly, which again he hasn't mastered. Two points for Ndlovu; one for each wicket.
Richmond Mutumbami - 2: Another disappointing player on tour who failed to make an impression despite coming into the tour with some good domestic form. With BT not keeping Mutumbami looks like he will have the gloves for a while in the limited overs stuff; lets hope he starts producing some runs and taking catches, otherwise it'll be back to Regis again. He did hit some nice shots to the boundary but got out soon after.
Kevin Kasuza - 1: Kasuza was only part of the Test squad so he only got the two innings, sadly after scoring 100 runs through his 1st two innings he wasn't able to replicate that home form abroad. Hard to be too critical I guess for an inexperienced player playing in foreign conditions; although it was disappointing he wasn't able to see off the new ball in the 1st Test; a skill that really should be his bread and butter. Plus side he got through without being hit in the head.
Chamu Chibhabha n/a: Awful decision as captain for the limited overs format and I guess luckily for Zimbabwe his injury restricted him to just the one outing. The bloke has been in terrible form for years and during his brief stay at the crease he didn't look like he was finding form, looked much bigger than last I saw him, not sure if he's bulked up or just got on the KFC diet?