[Match Thread] 2nd Match: Zimbabwe XI v Australia A

Participate in discussion with your fellow Zimbabwe cricket fans!
Conant
Posts: 1528
Joined: Tue Feb 03, 2009 9:46 am
Supports: Matabeleland Tuskers
Location: Benoni, South Africa
Contact:

Re: [Match Thread] 2nd Match: Zimbabwe XI v Australia A

Post by Conant »

hhm wrote:Hamilton & Taylor need to put in big partnership. Our senior have to make a statement! It'll do them(& us) a lot of good ahead of their Test against Bangladesh

quote]I think eugene hinted that I was going mad when I mentioned Ebrahim & Matsi, but trully speaking, his credentials do not equal those two. In both seasons they've played alongside Tino they've eclipsed him. Tino is 26 soon, and he's hardly set the scene alight locally, nor acheived what those two had in the same time. Not to mention that his fielding and ability to bowl doesn't come close.

foreingfield is right to feel Mutizwa was hard done by. Regis and Tino should be behind him. Perhaps Taylor should have kept wicket and Mutizwa in Chakabva's place. I like Taylor at four and I've mentioned that before, but he's been accustomed to opening for a while now and he likes it so we should keep him there. Particularly with Ballance & Duffin out of the frame.
Clearly you've not been here long enough to know how our forumers feel about Matsi :D . Hikhikhik. In these quarters the mere mention of the man elicits a knee jerk response, and perhaps with good reason. At least that makes the two of you now, together with zimfanatic :D.

Am disappointed Mtizwa is not playing: with hindsight Taibu lack of fitness may have played against him; but of course your suggestion of Taylor keeping is a perfect solution unless if the selectors are adamant that Regis Chakabva is Taibu's direct replacement, even in the short term.

So Jarvis gets a chance to prove his place implying the selectors have settled on Mpofu, Vitori, a third seamer and Chigumbura. Interesting therefore when Cremer comes back, add to the mix Utseya and no longer a spot available. What will be sacrificed, a third seaming slot and hoping Chigumbura carries his full load of overs and wickets. At least so far the signs are promising.

Either way a more balanced and stronger side even though one wishes Taibu had got at least one innings before Bangladesh.

The choice of Tino up seems to have been forced by the continued lack of options with your Duffin consistently ignored so far. But if he does get one big one or even a 70, I think he would have done his job amply!! I rather like Taylor at four indeed, for reasons I will explain below. The order might change once Williams mans up and steels up.
Jemisi wrote: They are seemingly intent on picking a specialist opener, whatever that means in a Zim context and Mawoyo continues to get support in the selection circle.

Didnt we have one like him before, if this turns out to be new Tino Mawoyo. Trevor Gripper?
hhm wrote: Vusi is a bad choice as an opener, and I thought the consensus in the ZCF was that he shouldn't be opening. What happened? His decent returns in that position shouldn't fool us (or the selectors).
I doubt that that the consensus was that Vusi should not be opening, per se; rather it seemed to have been one that was motivated by Vusi's succes at four for his club, and that of Brendan Taylor succes as opener at the World Cup and previous months before it. However I feel the spots 3, 4 and 5 are earned by your best batsmen such that they are not unduly exposed to the new ball; and Taylor, Masakadza and, uhm … Taibu therefore, are our best, now that Craig Ervine seems to be floundering.

So in this respect Taylor and Vusi have just directly swopped places and it should strengthen the team. Put it this way: you don’t want Taylor making a seven ball duck with the uncertain Vusi still to come; however if Vusi does make one, well we sigh and say well there Brandon still to come.

I hope one day Vusi can comfortably settle into one of that new role of premier batsmen without his credentials continually being questioned as Masakadza has now proven beyond doubt; but for now, let him do the donkey work (I kid you not!) and protect those who have earned and deserved it
Last edited by Conant on Thu Jul 21, 2011 11:56 am, edited 2 times in total.

User avatar
eugene
Posts: 7832
Joined: Wed Jan 02, 2008 11:31 pm
Supports: Matabeleland Tuskers

Re: [Match Thread] 2nd Match: Zimbabwe XI v Australia A

Post by eugene »

Sibanda always does well in A-level games and looks like he has finally figured it all out. Lets wait and see how good he looks in games that count. I think the unwavering belief in Vusi is still a bit premature.
Neil Johnson, Alistair Campbell, Murray Goodwin, Andy Flower (w), Grant Flower, Dave Houghton, Guy Whittall, Heath Streak (c), Andy Blignaut, Ray Price, Eddo Brandes

User avatar
Flower power
Posts: 934
Joined: Sun Feb 21, 2010 7:05 pm
Supports: Mountaineers
Location: Mutare

Re: [Match Thread] 2nd Match: Zimbabwe XI v Australia A

Post by Flower power »

I hope Hamilton & Taylor hold on for the rest of the day today .They have always been our winning partnership . I dont know why we tried snubbing Hamilton , yet we knew he was proven with Taylor . With Elton coming in with better form we should be good to go .

hhm
Posts: 1816
Joined: Thu Dec 16, 2010 3:05 pm
Supports: Matabeleland Tuskers
Location: Johannesburg, South Africa

Re: [Match Thread] 2nd Match: Zimbabwe XI v Australia A

Post by hhm »

Conant wrote:Didnt we have one like him before, if this turns out to be new Tino Mawoyo. Trevor Gripper?
Nope we did not! Gripper is Gripper; and Tino is Tino - a pretender of an opener at both domestic and international level!
Conant wrote:So Jarvis gets a chance to prove his place implying the selectors have settled on Mpofu, Vitori, a third seamer and Chigumbura. Interesting therefore when Cremer comes back, add to the mix Utseya and no longer a spot available. What will be sacrificed, a third seaming slot and hoping Chigumbura carries his full load of overs and wickets.
I sure hope not. Vitori cannot eclipse Meth. It should be Elton, Meth, Mpofu, Price and Utseya(or hopefully Jarvis) considering that Cremer is injured. Please Jarvis, don't disappoint me when you bowl.
Conant wrote:I doubt that that the consensus was that Vusi should not be opening, per se......I hope one day Vusi can comfortably settle into one of that new role of premier batsmen without his credentials continually being questioned as Masakadza has now proven beyond doubt; but for now, let him do the donkey work (I kid you not!) and protect those who have earned and deserved it
Trust me, most of the guys were very unambiguous in not wanting Vusi to open! Contrary to what you say about questioning Vusi's credentials, I remember stating clearly that, alongside Williams, I rate Vusi ahead of Hamilton&Taylor. I also said Taibu is our best dependable batsman, but let's be realistic, Taibu is not a proper bastman. He might regularly outperform this crop, but his technique does not fit the bill.
1Mawoyo 2Vusi 3Hami 4Taylor(c) 5Craig 6Matsi 7Taibu(wk) 8Elton 9Cremer 10Rainsford 11Mpofu 12Jarvis

foreignfield
Posts: 4944
Joined: Mon Jul 18, 2011 9:39 am
Supports: Mountaineers

Re: [Match Thread] 2nd Match: Zimbabwe XI v Australia A

Post by foreignfield »

So Jarvis gets a chance to prove his place implying the selectors have settled on Mpofu, Vitori, a third seamer and Chigumbura. Interesting therefore when Cremer comes back, add to the mix Utseya and no longer a spot available. What will be sacrificed, a third seaming slot and hoping Chigumbura carries his full load of overs and wickets. At least so far the signs are promising.
If Price is the premier spinner I can't see us go into a test match with three specialist seamers who can't bat; that would be the worst tail in test cricket (Price at 8?). Chigumbura will certainly bat at seven and bowl his share of overs as an all-rounder, so the the fourth bowler has to be able to bat at 8. Depending on conditions that means either a second spinner (Utseya or Cremer, who have scored runs there at international level) or Meth (who hasn't, yet).

(In my dreams we field six specialist batsmen like everyone else does, Taibu, Chigumbura at 8 and our three best bowlers - but at the moment you wouldn't trust Chigs with that much responsibility with the ball)

Boundary
Posts: 879
Joined: Thu Jul 16, 2009 5:29 pm
Supports: Matabeleland Tuskers

Re: [Match Thread] 2nd Match: Zimbabwe XI v Australia A

Post by Boundary »

If I remember correctly, except me and sloan everyone was against Vusi playing at all. In addition I used to say if you can't play him in the top 3 then don't pick him at all. It's too early to say I've been justified yet but I think we should settle the top order for now because I believe our problems lie with the middle order. Right now it's 196/3, yet another foundation laid that will most likely be thrown away by our meek middle order. That's why the debate about the top order seems redundant to me. I must admit though that the idea of Mawoyo and Taylor swapping positions had not occurred to me and I like it, provided both Vusi and Tino start to do more than just see off the new ball.

canvas
Posts: 28
Joined: Sun Jul 10, 2011 6:51 am
Supports: Mashonaland Eagles
Location: Harare , Zimbabwe

Re: [Match Thread] 2nd Match: Zimbabwe XI v Australia A

Post by canvas »

Jemisi wrote:think there is only 1 batting slot up for grabs, Sibanda, Masakadza, Taylor, Ervine, Taibu and Chigumbura should all be in the test lineup. Who joins them is not obvious at the moment.

There are then 2 bowling slots to partner Mpofu and Price. These two are not clear either. Vitori adds variety, Meth a bit of batting with control, Chatara/Jarvis some pace. Masakadza and Rainsford seem to have fallen away.
Ervine is not a definate and will only be selected to play against Bangladesh because he is left handed which will be useful against their left hand spin otherwise I think that Chikabva will get the nod ahead of him. I think Taylor will play at 4 so he is not dismissed to a good nut with the new ball but I think he will open the batting in the one dayers.

ZIMDOGGY
Posts: 7033
Joined: Sun Feb 28, 2010 11:40 pm
Supports: MidWest Rhinos

Re: [Match Thread] 2nd Match: Zimbabwe XI v Australia A

Post by ZIMDOGGY »

Sigh.....
So close
Taylor doing what Taylor does best,
Getting out in the 80s
Cricinfo profile of the 'James Bond' of cricket:

FULL NAME: Angus James Mackay
BORN: 13 June 1967, Harare
KNOWN AS: Gus Mackay

'The' Gus Mackay.

Hero.
Sportsman.
Artist.
Player.

**
Q. VUSI SIBANDA, WHERE DO YOU HOP?

A. UNDA DA ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE*

User avatar
eugene
Posts: 7832
Joined: Wed Jan 02, 2008 11:31 pm
Supports: Matabeleland Tuskers

Re: [Match Thread] 2nd Match: Zimbabwe XI v Australia A

Post by eugene »

Too bad to see Taylor dismissed short of his century. A great performance with the bat nonetheless. Lets hope Craig Ervine and night watchman Ray Price can see out the remaining couple of overs. Maybe Brendan Taylor at 4 is what the selectors are thinking. I still like him opening because of his agression, and he is a good match for any of other opening possibilities whether it be Mawoyo, Masakadza, or Sibanda.
Neil Johnson, Alistair Campbell, Murray Goodwin, Andy Flower (w), Grant Flower, Dave Houghton, Guy Whittall, Heath Streak (c), Andy Blignaut, Ray Price, Eddo Brandes

ZIMDOGGY
Posts: 7033
Joined: Sun Feb 28, 2010 11:40 pm
Supports: MidWest Rhinos

Re: [Match Thread] 2nd Match: Zimbabwe XI v Australia A

Post by ZIMDOGGY »

Has anyone thought about taylor at 3?

He always flipsbetween opener and 4, why no 3 ?
Cricinfo profile of the 'James Bond' of cricket:

FULL NAME: Angus James Mackay
BORN: 13 June 1967, Harare
KNOWN AS: Gus Mackay

'The' Gus Mackay.

Hero.
Sportsman.
Artist.
Player.

**
Q. VUSI SIBANDA, WHERE DO YOU HOP?

A. UNDA DA ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE*

Post Reply