Utseya: Our Best batsman!

[bayhaus]

I am very impressed with Utseya and how he has really improved his batting and enjoyed watching him take on the SA batsmen with two not outs and in his last 7 innings he has scored more than 20, two not outs and a half century which gave our score respectability. He has the most runs so far in the Bangla/Zim series 120, for Zimbabwe and second overall behind Shakib Al Hasan with 145!
Why cant other Bowlers and (embarrasingly our batsmen) learn from him?

Below is his development from the Tri Series, Ireland, SA and Finally the ongoing Bangladesh tour;

Triangular Series[/b]

1st Match - Zimbabwe v India
Bowling - 1/46 @ 4.60
Batting - Did not bat

3rd Match - Zimbabwe v Sri Lanka
Bowling - 0/21 @ 7.00
Batting - 0 off 3 balls

4th Match - Zimbabwe v India
Bowling - 1/41 @ 4.10
Batting - Did Not bat

6th Match - Zimbabwe v Sri Lanka
Bowling - 2/41 @ 4.10
Batting - Did Not bat

Final Match - Zimbabwe v Sri Lanka
Bowling - 0/44 @ 7.33
Batting - 10 off 15 Balls (Not Out)

India

1st T20
Bowling - 0/12 @ 6.00
Batting - 6 off 15 balls

Ireland

1st ODI
Bowling - 0/41 @ 4.10
Batting - 9 off 9 balls

2nd ODI
Bowling - 2/37 @ 3.70
Batting - 12 off 13

3rd ODI
Bowling - 1/26 @ 2.60
Batting - 14 off 21 balls

South Africa

1st T20
Bowling - 2 /41 @ 10.69
Batting - Did not bat

1st T20
Bowling - 2 /28 @ 7.00 (Opened)
Batting - Did not bat

1st ODI
Bowling - 10 0 48 0 4.80
Batting - 22 off 20 balls (Not Out)

2nd ODI
Bowling - 0/64 @ 7.11 (Opened)
Batting - 22 off 18

3rd ODI
Bowling - 10 0 58 1 5.80
Batting - 24 off 40 (Not Out)

Bangladesh

Tour Match - BCB X1 v Zimbabwe
Bowling - 0/34 @ 3.40
Batting - 26 off 40 balls

1st ODI - Bangladesh v Zimbabwe
Bowling - 1/35 @ 3.50
Batting 21 off 28 balls

2nd ODI - Bangladesh v Zimbabwe
Bowling - 0/50 @ 6.25 (Opened)
Batting - 32 off 27 balls

3rd ODI - Bangladesh v Zimbabwe
Bowling - 4/38 @ 3.80
Batting - 67 0ff 101

[maehara]

See, I would almost class Prosper as an all-rounder these days - he's had a number of very useful knocks in the lower order, he's not afraid of cutting loose when the situation requires it, and he looks good doing it. Fine, sometimes it doesn't pay off and he's out for 2 or 3 - but who cares, what he does with the ball usually more than makes up for it (although it has to be said that Bangladesh seem to have his bowling sussed now). He's as automatic a selection at the moment as Price is.

But. His improvement with both bat and ball has come since he gave up the captaincy. When he was captain, he had the same problems with form that Elton's having now, and while we all want to see a new skipper I don't think going back to Prosper would serve anyone's interests.

[bayhaus]

See, I would almost class Prosper as an all-rounder these days

Aye! Aye!

he's not afraid of cutting loose when the situation requires it, and he looks good doing it.

Thats what I also saw, in the last game against SA he was actually taking it to the batsmen.

I don't think going back to Prosper would serve anyone's interests.

Definitely not, This post was based on his merit as an allrounder, not as a campaign for captaincy. Check this post Why Prosper must Go! - viewtopic.php?f=3&t=1412.
I havent changed my stance on that.

[bayhaus]

Cricinfo Stats- Prosper Utseya's career-best figures of 4 for 38 in the third ODI was only his second four-wicket haul in 120 matches. Utseya is now Zimbabwe's fourth highest wicket-taker in ODIs and needs three more to catch up with Paul Strang.

[zimwon-olready]

Utseyaz tight

[zimwon-olready]

I thought he was going to loose his place in the side since he wasnt captain nomore. He fought & cemented his place, i think Nathan Hauritz learned a thing or two from Utseya (he jus scored 146). He wants in and hes fighting for his ashes place. Coz if u cant to it with the ball alone then try improving both bat & ball.

[Zimfanatic69]

See, I would almost class Prosper as an all-rounder these days - he's had a number of very useful knocks in the lower order, he's not afraid of cutting loose when the situation requires it, and he looks good doing it. Fine, sometimes it doesn't pay off and he's out for 2 or 3 - but who cares, what he does with the ball usually more than makes up for it (although it has to be said that Bangladesh seem to have his bowling sussed now). He's as automatic a selection at the moment as Price is.

But. His improvement with both bat and ball has come since he gave up the captaincy. When he was captain, he had the same problems with form that Elton's having now, and while we all want to see a new skipper I don't think going back to Prosper would serve anyone's interests.

He is not quite an allrounder yet but he is certainly getting there. He is also definately not a tailender. He has certainly improved his batting and appears to have worked on it.

[ZIMDOGGY]

the reason for this is apart from being a straight out brooklyn gangsta is that he is under no pressure with the bat.
he is a bowler, as long as he is bowling well (which he did last game) then he can go into the crease relaxing that if he fails he isnt failing the team because its not what he is picked for. The same with blignaut and a few others over the years.

someone like chibhabha however knows theres alot riding on what he does, this may impede confidence to go for his shots.

when a player is constantly under pressure for their position they eithr see it as a wake up call (mike hussey) or they buckle (sibanda etc)


mental thang yo.

[Detective RDS]

I was a big critics of Prosper Utseya last year or so. I didn't want him in the team as he didn't take wickets time to time and his economy rate was also getting higher in his captaincy period.

But when the captaincy is taken off from him, he has indeed bowled impressively and now he's improved his batting a great extent. Which gives him a guaranteed place in the side...

When he resigned from captaincy, I also thought that he was going to loss his place. But that doesn't seem to be the case now, it's totally opposite. It's really great for the player Utseya and Zimbabwe.

And Zimbabwe should now definitely try to send him up the order (at 6 for me) to build him as an allrounder and wait to see what the impact is provided by this move. If it works then Zimbabwe can get both bowling and batting from Utseya and that will also open up a slot to include either a batsman or a bowler...

[clikcspeed]

MOST importantly he has been CONSISTENT and an ability to perform over expectations. He's batting average for this year is now a touch below 30 at 29.33 and a strike rate 71.35. Bowling wise, he hasn't taken many wickets - (there was even an article about this on Cricinfo) but he's success is in the ability to suffocate runs particularly in the middle overs.