Focus ODIs: the 2023 World Cup

[Kriterion_BD]

I think we just need 2-3 proper batters guys, at least for the 2023 WCQ and subsequently the World Cup, if qualified. Raza, Willo and Ervine will be around until next years WC, and they all are better ODI players than T20 players. Same for Regis, Shumba and Kaia, they will do better in ODIs. Burl is a very handy ODI player too. Add Marumani and Madhevere in there, and we've already got a decent team.

With the T20 World Cup over for all practical purposes, the above quote from sam_ahm in the Netherlands match thread brings up an interesting but also critical point heading into the next several months with the ODI World Cup now less than a year away. The ongoing T20 world cup has shown a few things. Firstly, its given Zimbabwe an idea of where they stand relative to the top teams. Secondly, it gives an idea of modern trends and how think tanks around the world approach cricket in the present. Now T20s and ODIs are different formats, but they do share many commonalities, and I think teams naturally try to replicate their performance and strategies from one format to the other in a nearly identical manner. More so given the two world cups are separated by a mere 11 months.

My intention for this thread is basically monitor the team's and individual players' performance, and also to try and brainstorm the kinds of tactics and strategies we think could or should be employed.

Using sam_ahm's post, we get to the obvious starting point which is concerning the squad.

Who are the players that Zimbabwe should seriously consider for their WCQ campaign and beyond?

Tier 1 (World Class players) *All stats are since the 2019 World Cup

Sean Williams (Batting average 39.21, SR 84.72, Bowling average 73.00, Econ 5.71)
Sikandar Raza (Batting average 45.45, SR 91.65, Bowling average 77.72, Econ 5.21)
Blessing Muzarabani (Bowling average 22.96, Econ 4.71)

Tier 2

Craig Ervine (Batting average 29.81, SR 70.84)
Richard Ngarava (Bowling average 38.40, Econ 5.35)

Tier 3

Regis Chakabva (Batting average 28.04, SR 80.24)
Wessley Madhevere (Batting average 20.20, SR 74.73, Bowling average 57.22, Econ 5.08)
Ryan Burl (Batting average 21.07, SR 73.65, Bowling average 28.00, Econ 6.19)
Tendai Chatara (Bowling average 61.28, Econ 5.53)
Brad Evans (Bowling average 35.22, Econ 6.40, Batting average 16.20, SR 77.14
Innocent Kaia (Batting average 26.36, SR 64.73)
Victor Nyauchi (Bowling average 52.00, Econ 5.00)

Tier 4

Tadiwanashe Marumani (Batting average 15.44, SR 59.14)
Wellington Masakadza (Bowling average 52.50, Econ 4.56)
Luke Jongwe (Batting average 10.54, SR 84.67, Bowling average 40.23, Econ 6.37)

This is the best squad I could come up. There is only 1 specialist opener in Marumani, but Regis and Wessley can both open so that leaved 3 openers in the squad. Marumani can also function as back-up keeper. There are a total of 4 specialist seamers, plus 2 all-rounder seamers. There is only 1 specialist seamer, but there are total of 4 other part time spin options, bearing in mind the World Cup will be played in India. Overall a balanced side, that some might say picks itself.

The risk is that while there is a lot of potential in this squad, if they don't all pull their weight, there could also be a large number of passengers.

[TapsC2]

We are 1 quality batsman short. We haven't replaced BT yet. Ballance looks like a dream for now so working with what have for now I think the best 11 we have would be

Marumani
Kaia
Craig
Sean
Wes
Regis(wk)
Raza
Burl
Evans
Ngarava
Blessing

Subs
Chatara
Kaitano
Jongwe
Shumba

I think the players most vulnerable to be dropped from the T20 starting 11 are Jongwe, Shumba and Burl. Especially if Burl isn't bowling much. Chatara I think depends on the quality of the opposition.

Let's see how the Logan Cup goes as well. Maybe Ben Curran will come good. We need more stability up the order. I just hope and pray South Africa directly qualifies others it will basically be a brutal showdown for 1 spot

[Googly]

Hardly brutal, it will be euthanasia.

[sam_ahm]

Which two teams are in the qualifier will determine a lot of things. If South Africa come to the qualifiers, they bully everyone, beat them black and blue and qualify. So no one would want the Proteas to end up in the qualifier. Yet it is the most likely possibility.

It is between SL and RSA atm. WI will almost certainly play the qualifiers.

SL have got crucial 3 games against Afghanistan at the end of this month, their last 3 games are against NZ in NZ. So ideally SL want to beat Afg 3-0.

On Zimbabwe team selection, I think we will see some new selections, Dave is not going to let the players feel relaxed as if they have a free ticket in the team. No way. I think starting from the Afghanistan series we are going to see some players being tried out.

[Googly]

There's Kaia, Kaitano and Marumani that are the most obvious alternatives.

Yeah SA have really put a spanner in the works for us.

[sscricket]

Evans top tier 1.
Nyauchi tier 1.
Burl madhevere tier 2
Shumba will do just fine in odi's

[sscricket]

Ervine has failed too many times to count...

[secretzimbo]

Ervine walks into our ODI team easily. I don’t know how anyone could say otherwise tbh.

[Googly]

He remains one of the few guys that looks comfortable against an international attack. We're in for more frustration with the odd moment of rapture
It's almost not worth the stress

[Googly]

I'm doing some reading about these qualifiers and trying to wrap my head around a few things-
We're hosting 10 teams?
That's a massive undertaking. What grounds are we using?
What format will it be? Two groups presumably, round Robin amongst the groups?
Will it be televised?
DRS?
June July is dead winter, cold and unbelievably dry and shorter days.

I also read somewhere that there was a danger that one of the teams from the Super League teams could end up playing in the tier below. I now can't find that article, but it has alarmed me big time. We're on the back foot and playing for survival most times we take to the field.

From a quick skim we are likely to encounter
South Africa, Sri Lanka, West Indies, Ireland, Netherlands, Scotland, Namibia, UAE, Jersey.

This is going to be our toughest task yet.