Here's a crazy idea... let's play 4 specialist bowlers!

[brmtaylor.com admin]

Today's bowlers:

Code: Select all

Bowling 	O 	M 	R 	W 	Econ 	
	 E Chigumbura 	10 	2 	36 	1 	3.60 	
	 GB Brent 	9 	3 	33 	1 	3.66 	(3w)
	 T Mupariwa 	10 	0 	46 	4 	4.60 	(1w)
	 RW Price 	10 	0 	50 	0 	5.00 	(2w)
	 CJ Chibhabha 	3 	0 	32 	1 	10.66 	(2w)
	 KM Dabengwa 	4 	0 	35 	0 	8.75 	(2w)
	 H Masakadza 	1 	0 	15 	0 	15.00 	
	 SC Williams 	3 	0 	24 	1 	8.00 	

Masakadza made a bad mistake, only giving Brent 9 overs. He miscalculated that badly.

Today, Dabengwa came into the team in place of Utseya, and sadly he again didn't do all that much. 4 overs for 35 and a two ball duck.

We are in the fortunate situation of having a quality bowling allrounder in Elton Chigumbura. This means he can play at number 7 and we can play 4 specialist bowlers. Why don't we? Why do we have Chibhabha, Dabengwa, Masakadza and Williams all chipping in as well?

7. Chigumbura
8. Utseya (should have been Maruma today)
9. Price
10. Brent
11. Mupariwa

5 quality bowlers who can bowl 10 overs each.

It seems too simple.

[jimbo]

Spot on..We've seen that zimbabwe's willingeness to play the extra batsman has backfired on them badly, In the first two ODI'S it was matsikenyeri who scored a grand total of 5 runs i think. now the extra batsman in the third ODI dabengwa goes for a duck.
Also the extra batsman being played has meant that thay have to use a part-time bowler..What Happned? Chibhabha and Dabengwa have been simply blown away by the pakistan batsmen.

[eugene]

Playing 4 specialist bowlers is too logical for the Zimbabwean selectors. Why would they ever choose the team that has the best chance of winning?

I may be wrong, but I seem to recall when the player strike first occured and Zimbabwe had to field a weakened side, the bowling was actually the strongest facet of the side and the batting the weakest. Things seem to have reversed themselves. I guess we have seen vast improvements in the batting whereas the bowlers havent improved to the same extent.

I am not sure what the solution is. There seems to be a lack of consistency in the bowling outside of Price and Brent. Players like Utseya, Mupawira, Mpofu, and Chigumbura will play really well in one match and then drop of badly the next game. Utseya used to be very consistent but I feel his form has by-in-large dropped off ever since he took over the captaincy. He is regularly outbowled by Ray Price these days.

[zulu]

Zimbabwe are definatly alot better batting than a bowling side so they should play 4 specialist bowlers and at least 3 decent seamers.
7.Chigumbura
8.Utseya
9.Brent
10.Price
11.Rainsford

[brmtaylor.com admin]

Zimbabwe are definatly alot better batting than a bowling side so they should play 4 specialist bowlers and at least 3 decent seamers.
7.Chigumbura
8.Utseya
9.Brent
10.Price
11.Rainsford

For a one-day team, I like that attack. Either Rainsford or Brent could take the new ball, depending on if they want to take wickets or slow the run rate.