First unofficial Test : ZimbabweA vs South africaA

[sloandog]

This has been an excellent introduction to a few of these boys

[CholeZimbo]

I can understand the criticism of someone meandering along to a 20 out of 95 deliveries and getting out in a test match. The guy did not help the team after getting his eye in. But criticizing a 20 year old who scored 75 out of 250 or whatever is illogical. He is finding his feet - has got an opportunity to show his worth against the best opposition he has ever faced all his life, and hangs in there and grinds out and plays a perfectly normal "test" innings that was more than acceptable for anyone even 15 years ago. There are still old school players who play the role perfectly well for their teams - Pujara for example, Chanderpaul and Cowan not too long ago. It shouldn't even matter what surface he is playing on. It is how the rest of the team plays around that individual is what matters. A 20 year old playing pretty much the whole day facing a decent attack and scoring well can only mean one thing - confidence for his own future, which is the most important thing in such a match.

For me it could have been 140 of 250 balls if he played some of the dot balls for singles and two's

Or gotten out playing those shots.

Only because there are world class players out there who make milking Test bowling look easy doesn't mean it is. The same people who always moan about our slow batting are usually also the to first to cast a stone when someone gets out to a ball "he easily could have left".

The criticism directed at Shumba here is incredulous as Crimson has already pointed out. It's been obvious to me during the Pakistan series that the lad at this stage of his career does not have a clear strategy how to score against bowling that is better than anything he has faced before. Not really surprising after only a handful of FC games. This A series is the perfect opportunity to further find his feet, and hopefully work with the coaches on the areas where he can score runs against decent fast bowling.

If Shumba plays the same way in 2026 when Sa A again visit Zim, I'd be worried. Not now after a harsh introduction into the rigours of Test cricket and one innings top-scoring against an attack with four bowlers who have played for SA if I'm counting correctly.

Not disputing that he will improve. But maybe emphasis on what he needs to improve on and that is rotating strike. Surely he faced 190 or so dot balls if i am not mistaken and surely not all of them were unplayable that his shot at them would be risky. Bottomline it was a 6/10 performance. And hopefully himself and the coaches have identified where he needs to improve and will focus on that. Ironically he went out off the last ball of the day playing a loose stroke that he could played all along the ground for a single or 2.

[Jemisi]

This innings looks more like what we're used to

[slcricfan1]

This innings looks more like what we're used to

yeah haha honestly reckon marumani would do better than half the batsman in this side.

[Donald]

So myers and shumba are a cut above the lacklustre seniors judging by the second innings

[sam_ahm]

Oh! dear, that ended quickly.

[TapsC2]

Shumba is 20 years old with maybe 10 FC games in his short career. Up against some real quality. People are being very harsh here

[sloandog]

Ridiculously harsh. The bloke is going to be an excellent player. He's a handy spinner as well.
People need to realise how young he is and how little FC experience he has. When Taylor played that first ODI against Sri Lanka in 2004, he had 2 years of FC cricket behind him at least. I know it was a different generation, a different system and very much a different era, but he had the experience around him. Shumba hasn't and yet he's still scoring runs. People need to chill, the bloke is going to be a gun

[Donald]

Nyauchi should be selected next match. Gets some good swing and bounce.
Stick in ngarava too.
Chatara isn't really match fit for 4 day let alone 5 day matches. He is no longer a 22 over a day bowler. You would have to use him short and sharp which is why he should remain in one day side

[Donald]

Burl with his (alleged) damaged finger can bat better than this lot