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Why is it that Malcolm Waller has consistantly performed this year including a fifty in the pro 40 semis and 68 (top scorer) in the final but yet Alistair Campbell fails to regconise his sucesses and yet again Waller has not been included as one of the top 30 contract for this season. Something does not add up.

I'm impressed with the guy, and I have duly put him alongside Mutizwa & hopefylly (Ballance) as our main backup batsmen in the Test side. However for ODIs there's a long list of guys who have enough quality to edge him unfortunately, and locally he doesnt have a List A century plus his average is low, so you can't really begrudge Campbell&co or pronounce disdain at them for leaving him out. His ability in the longer version of the game shows great qualities, and considering he would come in lower down the order but doesn't have that 100+ strike rate expected of international players in his position, he might be our very own version of a Bevan if you like. Considering our batting frailities, if one of Hammy or Taylor is there towards the end, you don't really need a Chigumbura or Coventry down there. A Quickfire 28 and all out for 220 in the 42nd over, or a patient 68no and 270/7 in the 50th over - you take your pick. I'll personally go with either. Anyway, he has proven his case, and at 28 has the relative maturity required so he should be there ahead of a Chakabva/Mawoyo anytime!

Whilst his overall list A average is not great he has scored the most runs in this years local competition at a strike rate of 82%. You tell me this is not good enough to be award one of the top 30 contracts for the coming season. Contracts continue getting given to dead wood that play on their past sucessses. If Zimbabwe is to go forward we need to keep the up and coming players by rewarding them otherwise they end up going to greener pastures leaving the dead wood here that can not even perform at local level let alone international level

cock wrote: You tell me this is not good enough to be award one of the top 30 contracts for the coming season. Contracts continue getting given to dead wood that play on their past sucessses.

cock, I don't think anyone has or will say that he shouldn't have a contract. He should have had it initially. Remember, not every batsmen could be fitted in the WC squad but like I said, better him than Chakabva or Mawoyo, and definitely Chigumbura. Although, with taibu(wk-bat), taylor(shouldn't keep just bat&improve fielding), williams, hamilton, vusi, duffin, ewing(allrounder), ervine & mutizwa(wk-bat) at your disposal - plus taking many many other factors into consideration - you have to rate them ahead of him! So he misses out of the WC squad in that sense, there's better options than him, but if they fail he should be next in line. In that light, you'd be hard pressed to argue your case for him to Campbell & Co. All in all, no one would really complain too much if they put him ahead of one of the 'dead wood that play on their past sucessses' as you describe them (by that I suspect you're referring to hamilton, coventry & chigumbura etc). Just bear in mind that he's a not an opener but a middle order batsmen, and competition is justifiably stiff in that department, while he's neither a power hitter nor a qualified all-rounder.

Waller vs Greg Lamb
Batting Waller triumps., bowling not god enough.

Waller vs Prosper Utseya
Again batting triumphs, but bowlin nt good enough.

Waller vs Tymcen Maruma, - tight one

So I guess we are looking in the essence of pure and genuine allrounder. Which suggests he shld be competing wth Mssr Chigumbura, et al. Unfortunately he,s not a fast bowler

I think Alistair is going to let the lad mature in his own time.
Let him play first class cricket first, and then see how he fairs in a couple of years.
I think we should consider somebody like Marrilliar before you Waller

I note all your points why Waller will struggle to make it into the one day side this year but what I am saying is with his performances this season he should have been award one of the 30 Zimbabwe contracts for this coming season. Surely he is in our top thirty. If he isn't then Zim have nothing to worry about in our batting department - but that did not show at recent W C

cock wrote:I note all your points why Waller will struggle to make it into the one day side this year but what I am saying is with his performances this season he should have been award one of the 30 Zimbabwe contracts for this coming season. Surely he is in our top thirty. If he isn't then Zim have nothing to worry about in our batting department - but that did not show at recent W C

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Jah well, I guess we are a little guilty of misqouting you. But of course the greater the numbers (as in the 30)the higher the margin of error, while making the more obvious some omissions?

cock wrote:I note all your points why Waller will struggle to make it into the one day side this year but what I am saying is with his performances this season he should have been award one of the 30 Zimbabwe contracts for this coming season. Surely he is in our top thirty. If he isn't then Zim have nothing to worry about in our batting department - but that did not show at recent W C

Fair enough mate