Should Grant Flower be playing?

[The Saint]

I'm interested in people's opinion on whether Grant Flower should be in the side. Personally i don't think he should be. Not so much because i don't think he is good enough, but is Zimbabwe's batting that bad that they need a near 40 year old in the side? How much batting wisdom can he impart when he is out in the middle and struggling for runs? Is'nt it just a waste of time and a little selfish having a guy with a limited shelf life denying younger players invaluble experience and exposure to international cricket? Zimbabwe need to pump games into younger players who could conceivable be good long term players, Flower is not one of those players, hence he should not be in the side.

[brmtaylor.com admin]

It was nice to see a Flower back on the field in Zimbabwe colours, I think we can safely say that we thought it was the end of an era in 2004. I enjoyed seeing Flower and Taylor bat together, it's one of those amazing links between past and present that we may not see for very long... this time 16 years ago it was a young Grant Flower carrying his bat through an innings.

In answer to your question, I think it is too early to call but I don't have a problem with the decision to play him - regarding it being selfish, I think it was Campbell's decision more than Flower's. If the Bangladesh series later this year goes ahead I'd like to see Flower play in that. Then there will have been half a dozen or more games to assess the situation.

At the moment he's keeping Craig Ervine out of the team. Ervine has to show that he deserves a place over Flower. Competition for places is not a bad thing.

Additionally (although not really relevant), Grant Flower is about 200 runs short of overtaking his brother as Zimbabwe's leading run scorer in ODIs.

[sloandog]

The more i think about it the more i like the idea.
He may not have batted well in yesterdays match, but he's capable of scoring runs big runs, and that's invaluable in a side as young as this. I don't think we can call our batters inexperienced anymore, they're far from that, but they are still very young and could learn a lot from Flower.
I'd like to see him play in the Bangladesh series too. I think he plays up to then, and if he;s doing well we can asses where we stand with him.
Ya I must agree with BRM on that one, it was a sight for sour eyes seeing Taylor and Flower batting together. Young and old facing the South Africans, i loved it !

[Dr_Situ(ZimFanatic)]

He should be very much in the playing XI till the end of World cup. He is not keeping any young blood out of the suqad, it's just that those waiting out are not capable to play top class teams. Vusi Sibanda, Zim's crowned best player struggles even with Ireland. Sean Williams single handedly spoiled yesterday's match. It was too late for Grant Flower or Chigumbura todo anything at that stage. Ckt fans all over the world have a very short memory. Do not forget the trademark Zimbabwe collapse. We have succumbed in past to 70 plus all out even in T20's which forced us to rely too heavy on T20-misfit Greg Lamb (sorry but my personal opinion).
A few good innings against Kenya, WI, Ireland, Bangladesh (where's Waller gone?) should not herald a player as world class. Our top future hopes Shingi, Rainsford came as a cropper against Proteas. I am never a fan of T20 but persisting with these mediocre players against good team will only bring embarassment. Thats where Grant Flower's enormous experience can help preventing this down slide.

I am aghast at some of the comments against Flower and Chigumbura. They are irreplaceable. If anyone has the guts prove it in ODI's for God's sake not in T20 or against lower teams.

Thumbs up to Flower, Chigumbura as well as Taibu. Taibu could have been ideal player at No.4 in yesterday's game bcoz of his ability to steal singles. We stuck with 'class' over 'necessity' and faced the obvious result.

[Dr_Situ(ZimFanatic)]

And yes, it was nostalgic to see that compact defence, same running b/w wkts as well as new hairs of Flower. It also reminded me of Dave Houghton's batsman-cum-coach stint way back in late '90's in SAF tri-series. He also showed young Flower's, Campbell's as how to hit towering 6 of white lightning Donald.

[Zimfanatic69]

I'm interested in people's opinion on whether Grant Flower should be in the side. Personally i don't think he should be. Not so much because i don't think he is good enough, but is Zimbabwe's batting that bad that they need a near 40 year old in the side? How much batting wisdom can he impart when he is out in the middle and struggling for runs? Is'nt it just a waste of time and a little selfish having a guy with a limited shelf life denying younger players invaluble experience and exposure to international cricket? Zimbabwe need to pump games into younger players who could conceivable be good long term players, Flower is not one of those players, hence he should not be in the side.

No. He is taking the place of a younger talent. Craig Ervine should be in the side in place of Flower.

[shumbat]

Age is just a number, if he deserves a spot let him play, in the long run he is our batting coach. Zim has a tendency of giving too many youngsters a chance and ignoring experienced players thats one of the reasons why we are down the bottom of the ladder. The only argument is that our batting is coming good. If Streak was to open the bowling very few would argue, as the bowling is awful because of inexperience.

[Mike]

Yes. Until after the world cup and then thats it I'd say

[sloandog]

Yes. Until after the world cup and then thats it I'd say

and then he can bog off

[Mike]

Yes. Until after the world cup and then thats it I'd say

and then he can bog off

Yeah!