Countdown to Test cricket: Captain and wicket keeper

[brmtaylor.com admin]

The ZCF chosen first eleven is:

1. Taylor
2. H Masakadza
3. Williams
4. Sibanda
5. C Ervine
6. Taibu
7. Chigumbura
8. Cremer
9. Price
10. Rainsford
11. Mpofu

Who would you like the Test captain and wicket keeper to be?

[hhm]

Interesting poll. I must say that I didn't see this one coming. But then again it appears BRM doesn't want to leave a stone unturned. I assumed 7 was very much up for consideration as well.

I went with the Taibu(wk) and Taylor(c) - it's a forgone conclusion. The variety in the votes always intrigues me, so it wouldn't hurt to share your reasons as to how you voted.

Taibu distanced himself from captaincy, Elton was due the boot, Vusi wasn't regular enough before at international level. Those were the reasons we got for these guys not getting/accepting the captaincy, but I never heard anything about Price. I suspect he was considered too old to be a longterm captain, but, does anyone have any 'specific/quoted' information of note?

[bayhaus]

I am going for Vusi, cos of his record at Midwest and it seeems his problem is not whether he is captain material but his consistancy. If its Taylor then I am sure there are some boardroom trading going on. I am becoming more and more convinced about this.

[hhm]

If its Taylor then I am sure there are some boardroom trading going on

Care to elaborate

[bayhaus]

bayhaus wrote:If its Taylor then I am sure there are some boardroom trading going on
Care to elaborate

)

Its Just a conspiracy Theory, I havent got much work these days so I spend my time coming up with conspiracy theories about Zimbabwe Cricket:

Background: Because ZC know they will get a LOT of legitimacy by having Campbell in the set up they are willing make trade offs with him. And Campbell knows he is in a position of strength to bargain, goes all out.

Theory: The coming back of Alistair Campbell into the set up came with conditions (?) (ZC approached him) eg If you want me back then ;
(a) I need executive powers as the Convenor of selectors SO they trade off In order for him to come on board and give ZC legitimacy.
(b) I want Grant as part of the coaching set up (Of which grant came with his own condition to come back-I want to be Player coach)
(c) I dont want Prosper as the Captain he wants GF SO they trade off Elton becomes the captain (though AC doesn't want him)
(d) I want Coventary in the WC team cos he has lots of potential SO they trade off ZC throw in Panyangara and get him into the 11
(e) ZC wants Vusi in the team SO they trade off if we put in Vusi then Taylor becomes the captain of both ODIs & Tests. Thats why he comes from "nowhere" to be the captain.(Vusi is Taylors Captain at Midwest)
(f) Elton wanted to stay as captain and ZC wanted him to stay but Campbell didnt SO they trade off. E gets to stay in the team but lose his captaincy
(g) ZC want to add Makoni to the selectors AC says there will be too many SO they trade off. Dump John & David (blame THEM for dropping Ham at the world cup thereby jeopardising Zims chances and for the bad performance of the team at the WC) and You put in Makoni I put in Curran.

I have come to the conclusion of these conspiracy theories because of the weird decisions being made by ZC. It just looks like trading on the black market.

And in all this I have no problems with the players, they are just pawns on the board, thats why the players really dont have any voice

[eugene]

Interesting conspiracy theories there. I would imagine anyone who is approached to work for ZC (in this case Alistair Campbell) would make alot of demands as a means of self protection. ZC don't exactly have the best track record as employees.

[takleg]

hie guys! this is going to be my first post on this forum and i had to choose a good first topic to express my views. with Taylor as captain now I would pick Taibu as the wicket keeper, but what i have noticed about most test sides is that they usually have six specialist batsmen then the keeper comes in at seven. Zim don't have that luxury of six quality specialist batsmen, so my question is if Taibu takes up the keeping duties does he necessarily have to bat at six or seven and if so who will bat in the top five or six? if not, does it mean that he'll keep temporarily while a new specialist keeper is being looked for and when a keeper is found he can then move into the top five? i'm asking this because i've also noticed it's a rare thing to see a keeper batting in the top 5 eg McCullum dropped the gloves so that he could bat as an opener, A. Flower dropped his um move into the top four.looked for and when a keeper is found he can then move into the top five? i'm asking this because i've also noticed it's a rare thing to see a keeper batting in the top 5 eg McCullum dropped the gloves so that he could bat as an opener, A. Flower dropped his um move into the top four.

[brmtaylor.com admin]

Welcome to the forum takleg, that's a good observation. Maybe the inclusion of both Mutizwa and Chakabva right now is an indication that the selectors are thinking along these lines? At the rate things are going, Chigumbura may not be in the first eleven come the Test against Bangladesh so there might be a convenient opening at number seven.

Personally, I would prefer Taibu to take the gloves and bat at number four - and have experienced players fill out the rest of the middle order. Neither Chakabva or Mutizwa are experienced; Chakabva has had a couple of opportunities at international level and hasn't been overly impressive in my opinion. Mutizwa has a good First Class record but I would like to see evidence of this against top quality opposition (consistently) before he makes the Test team.

It is inevitable that the team will have quite a few players making their Test debut - and history demonstrates that they won't really make a mark. Wasn't Duffin only one of a handful of Zimbabweans to make 50 on their debut? So I think playing Chakabva or Mutizwa at this stage doesn't present a huge upside. I know many people would disagree with me, but I think if the selectors really did want a wicket keeper at seven (and not Taibu), then Coventry would be a more suitable option. For starters, he has a good record against Bangladesh and he has Test experience. He's unpredictable, but unlike Mutizwa or Chakabva has selection wouldn't be based on raw potential it would be based on sporadic past success.

Don't misinterpret this post as me calling for Coventry to make the Test team, his recent form doesn't warrant it. But if, as you pointed out, a wicket keeper batting at seven was the order of the day then I think Coventry at this point in time is a safer choice than Mutizwa and certainly Chakabva.

[hhm]

A warm welcome to you takleg

Personally, I would prefer Taibu to take the gloves and bat at number four - and have experienced players fill out the rest of the middle order....... I know many people would disagree with me, but I think if the selectors really did want a wicket keeper at seven (and not Taibu), then Coventry would be a more suitable option. For starters, he has a good record against Bangladesh and he has Test experience. He's unpredictable, but unlike Mutizwa or Chakabva has selection wouldn't be based on raw potential it would be based on sporadic past success.

Contrary to your fears BRM, I am one (of the many i hope), who totally agrees with that statement! Coventry is the practical solution to that endeavor if ever there was one. Like yourself, I'd go for Taibu, although I'd put him at seven: Duffin, Taylor, Hamilton, Williams, Vusi, Ervine, Taibu.

NB: Administrators, is there a problem with the site? My account keeps logging out on its own, immediately after I log in.

[brmtaylor.com admin]

There are 2 things you can try on your end hhm (nobody else has reported a problem with the login, so I think it may be a computer issue); make sure you are using the "www" before zimcricketforums.com. If you are already doing that, try clearing your cookies (or at least the cookies associated with zimcricketforums.com)