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Guys the game was great, test cricket is there to stay. Lets have a postmortem, our openers were great, our bowlers were great, especially the debutants, almost every1 was good and a great team effort. Lets particularly discuss the performance of Chigumbura, Price and Ervine.

-Does the statesman of the team have a future in the team to play upto 39 like Murali or Utseya, with his better batting is going to claim his spot in the team if we are to use
1 spinner, remember there is also Creamer?

-Ervine played well 2nd innings, has he done enough to justify he will remain in the team ahead of Chakabva and Forster Mtizwa?

-Former Captain Chigumbura, he didnt give us the runs we expected from him after he sold his wicket. good bowling in terms of economy and well done in getting the crucial
wickets of Ashraful, Shakib and Razzaq. we need him in the team as an allrounder. does he have good competion from Meth? Meth might nit have experiance but has better
figures in first class and ODI then Chigumbura, with both the bat and the ball.

Mawoyo = excellent debut i should say Raza will have to fight hard
Vusi = was great just need to get his stats ryt(centuries and half centuries)
Masakadza = century on second debut
Taylor = showed he deserves the captaincy
Taibu = could do with more runs but showed maturity in partnering Taylor to bulid the 2nd innings
Jarvis = was unlucky in the first inning but got his man in the 2nd, need to work on those no balls but excellent debut i should say
Vitori = well bowled and god entertainment with the bat, unlicky not to get a 5wkt on debut with Jarvis
Mpofu =wat a way to show Tamim tha action speaks louder than words.

Unless there's something very different about the Queens Sports Club pitch, I would go with an unchanged lineup into the Test against Pakistan.

The only reason Price didn't get that many overs was because the seamers were performing so well, I don't think any of the Bangladeshi partnerships got more than about 60 or 70 runs. Against a stronger batting unit he will be a very important option.

The only thing that would throw a bit of a spanner in the works (when selecting the lineup) would be if Cremer was available in my opinion. I reckon all good Test sides need a good legspinner.

Hats off to Alistair Campbell and the coaching staff for persevering with the search for seamers. Jarvis and Vitori repaid their faith with this impressive performance. Both bowled extremely well, some of their lines were impeccable and I was really impressed with how much swing they were getting.

-Does the statesman of the team have a future in the team to play upto 39 like Murali or Utseya, with his better batting is going to claim his spot in the team if we are to use
1 spinner, remember there is also Creamer?

I think he still has a role to play 2 more seasons, after that is a tussle between Prosper and Graem, both bat about the same level...we are spoilt. I see Utseya and Creamer playing a bigger role in the ODI scene

-Ervine played well 2nd innings, has he done enough to justify he will remain in the team ahead of Chakabva and Forster Mtizwa?

I think its all about form, Ervine not out of the woods yet, he is the incumbent, he had a decent seccond innings, I think the more competition the better, no one should own a position, so go on form. Having said that, he is a precious left hander, and with Williams not available, he becomes that much more precious.

-Former Captain Chigumbura, he didnt give us the runs we expected from him after he sold his wicket. good bowling in terms of economy and well done in getting the crucial
wickets of Ashraful, Shakib and Razzaq. we need him in the team as an allrounder. does he have good competion from Meth? Meth might nit have experiance but has better
figures in first class and ODI then Chigumbura, with both the bat and the ball.

Another incumbent who doesn't have competition. Chibaba would be the closest, but he is a reluctant bowler and hardly at the same level as Chigs in the bowling department. Chigs gives the extra bowler option. Importantly he seems to have turned a corner bowling wise, and batting isn't far off, bear in mind he did get a 100 vs the touring Aussies and did not bat second innings...for me he is still very useful and a crucial cogg of the machine, we do need to groom more to make it more competitive...if Meth can work on his batting he could fit the bill.

Mawoyo = exe debut i should say

Did his job well. Would only drop him for Ballance whom I understand is unavailable

Vusi = was great just need to get his stats ryt(centuries and half centuries)

He is the best opener we have and suits the role to the T the centuries and 50s will come. However we should not make the mistake of thinking he is an ODI player...

Masakadza = century on secont debu

Only highlights the misguidedness of denying him a WC appearance...


On the whole satisfied. Would tamper with the opening bowling Mpofu on one end and the youngsters sharing the otherend for shorter spells of say 6/7 overs each, but Mpofu must take the new ball...

I would go with an unchanged lineup for Bulawayo. Craig Ervine has done enough to keep his place in the side - he came in under great pressure and performed well playing some great shots at an impressive strike rate. When he doesn't allow himself to get bogged down he is a special player.

Ray Price will be invalubale against the stronger Pakistani batting lineup. When the wickets dry up and the runrate accelerates Price will be invaluable to bowl for long patches from one end and keep the runs down. I don't think Cremer is coming back from his injury anytime soon. You could bring in Meth for Chigumbura I guess but Chigs bowled well for the first time in a long time and Meth doesn't offer more than Chigs with the bat (even if Chigs is badly out of form at the moment).

I think eventually Mawoyo will be exposed as not being an international opener but for the moment he is proving me wrong so there is no reason to drop him. Duffin has been injured anyway.

eugene wrote: You could bring in Meth for Chigumbura I guess but Chigs bowled well for the first time in a long time and Meth doesn't offer more than Chigs with the bat (even if Chigs is badly out of form at the moment).

I'm self-declared biggest Meth fan, but I would not drop Chigs for Meth. Chigs as we all know (as is the case with Ervine) is explosive with the bat, and he is turning the corner, remember we are essentially a 4 man bowling attack and Chigs is basically a batter that can bowl, Meth is the opposite, a Bowler that can bat. I would say after Vitori and Jarvis impressed, his only chance would be a like for like replacement for Mpofu (who is currently our best and most experienced). Doesn't look too good

Report card:


1. Mawoyo [6/10]

Did well. Went out to an ugly shot in first innings, and cleaned in the second, but can't fault him...shared in good first wicket stands, what more can you ask? Would only drop him for Ballance.

2. Vusi [7/10]

Sound and stylish technique, and surprisingly positive. Impressed. Gave away a solid chance to get a 100 in the first innings, and played the same shot he'd not convinced with to go out...temper the excitement...

3. Hami [7/10]

Failed in the second, more due to team strategy to "shut shop"...I don't like this ploy...play cautiously but positively shutting shop only invites trouble...good century to set the tone for the match.

4. Taylor [8/10]

Fitting 105* in the second innings, under immense pressure, welldone skipper. Captaincy was interesting, can't say I agree with handling of his bowlers, but hey it worked out in the end...

5. Taibu [7.5/10]

May not have gotten a 100, but was gutsy, no silly shots, and a mature stand with Taylor in trying circumstances, unfortunate not to get a huge one, but his partnership with Brendan was crucial (with a brittle lower order)...

6. Ervine [6/10]

Form is temporary and class permanent lets hope the second innings is signs of the corner turned.

7. Chigs [7/10]

Had a great bowling game, and we now have an answer to any team with a left hander up the order, was very impressed with his control, no runs, but who cares if you can bowl like that! Hopefully the runs are just around the corner.

8. Price [5/10]

Not his fault he wasn't needed... But was vocal and key to keeping the enthusiasm.

9. Vitori [8/10]

Definitely did enough to warrant a back handed compliment from Tamim (who eventually won the battle vs Vitori, but in the process lost the war vs Zim). Needs to work on fitness to keep up the intensity, Captain could help with shorter intense spells...

10. Jarvis [8/10]

Another star. I confess I was very worried about this pick...not because he is terrible, but because of the lack of experience (compared to Meth), but pleasantly proved wrong, glad it worked out.

11. Mpofu [7.5/10]

Has become more mature and love his confidence to do things with the ball...would have liked the captain to open with him...

Overall impressed..."if it ain't broke don't fix it". Celebrate hard, then knuckle down for more hard work, it gets steeper, but you can do it...

I like the report card, very insightfull

FlowerPower wrote:Report card:


1. Mawoyo [6/10]

Did well. Went out to an ugly shot in first innings, and cleaned in the second, but can't fault him...shared in good first wicket stands, what more can you ask? Would only drop him for Ballance.

2. Vusi [7/10]

Sound and stylish technique, and surprisingly positive. Impressed. Gave away a solid chance to get a 100 in the first innings, and played the same shot he'd not convinced with to go out...temper the excitement...

3. Hami [7/10]

Failed in the second, more due to team strategy to "shut shop"...I don't like this ploy...play cautiously but positively shutting shop only invites trouble...good century to set the tone for the match.

4. Taylor [8/10]

Fitting 105* in the second innings, under immense pressure, welldone skipper. Captaincy was interesting, can't say I agree with handling of his bowlers, but hey it worked out in the end...

5. Taibu [7.5/10]

May not have gotten a 100, but was gutsy, no silly shots, and a mature stand with Taylor in trying circumstances, unfortunate not to get a huge one, but his partnership with Brendan was crucial (with a brittle lower order)...

6. Ervine [6/10]

Form is temporary and class permanent lets hope the second innings is signs of the corner turned.

7. Chigs [7/10]

Had a great bowling game, and we now have an answer to any team with a left hander up the order, was very impressed with his control, no runs, but who cares if you can bowl like that! Hopefully the runs are just around the corner.

8. Price [5/10]

Not his fault he wasn't needed... But was vocal and key to keeping the enthusiasm.

9. Vitori [8/10]

Definitely did enough to warrant a back handed compliment from Tamim (who eventually won the battle vs Vitori, but in the process lost the war vs Zim). Needs to work on fitness to keep up the intensity, Captain could help with shorter intense spells...

10. Jarvis [8/10]

Another star. I confess I was very worried about this pick...not because he is terrible, but because of the lack of experience (compared to Meth), but pleasantly proved wrong, glad it worked out.

11. Mpofu [7.5/10]

Has become more mature and love his confidence to do things with the ball...would have liked the captain to open with him...

Overall impressed..."if it ain't broke don't fix it". Celebrate hard, then knuckle down for more hard work, it gets steeper, but you can do it...

Good report card. Pricey did pick up a couple of wickets so he wasn't completely unused. Price's true value will be exhibited against stronger opposition. Taylor is my clear choice for man of the match while Jarvis picks up rookie of the match.

Curator - Doug Higgins (10 / 10)

Rolled the pitch nicely every time he walked on it , but seriously he prepared a pitch that was better suited to us than them. At last someone who knows what home advantage is about.

cock wrote:Curator - Doug Higgins (10 / 10)

Rolled the pitch nicely every time he walked on it , but seriously he prepared a pitch that was better suited to us than them. At last someone who knows what home advantage is about.

Good one! Agreed!