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

[eugene]

I've never seen Vitori in action. Just popped into HSC. Looks like he has good pace, but he's bowling too straight. he looks good though.

What sort of crowd is there?

[eugene]

Australia 246/0 with about 8 overs to go today. It is obviously unfair to judge our bowlers on one days work but this scenario I think is our worst fear about our attack. Many of us feared that our bowlers have no penetration and today that has certainly been the case. Statistically none of them have been hammered, although Chigumbura and Jarvis are too expensive, but clearly the batsmen have been on top for the most of the day. Does anyone know the nature of the pitch? Is it a batsman's paradise?

[Conant]

The nature of Harare Sports Club is such that it always seams a bit and assists the fast bowlers in the first hour or two of play, and then flattens out on days two and three such that captains may not mind batting second, if they can capitalise on the first days play.

So definatley days two and three are a boon for the batsmen, as the Aussies have shown today; but equally it has shown just how vitally weak our attack can be. Jarvis just made a strong case for Meth today, and he can bat. But more likely Prosper will come in for him leaving the team with three seamers, Chris, Brian and Elton

[takleg]

Okay, day two is out of the way and i know all of you want to know about what i observed at HSC. Vitori and Jarvis( to my surprise) took the new ball. I believe only a few people know about Vitori and from what i saw today i can say that he's gonna trouble many batsmen in international cricket. He runs in a looks to hit the deck hard at good pace ( approx 135-140 kph which was quicker than Jarvis in his first spell). I can say that he's almost like Wahab Riaz because he generates a lot of his pace from his wrist the only difference is that he's not as slingy as Riaz. He looked very good in his first spell beating the edges of both batters numerous times, but, unfortunately Jarvis was wayward on the other end. As for Jarvis the guy was not all that quick in his first spell, but got his pace up in his 2nd spell(approx 135-145 kph). Jarvis' definitely not ready for int.cricket imo. Mpofu didn't look threatening, but at least he had a decent eco rate. out of the bowlers only Vits looked threatening.

[jimbo]

I wonder if shingi will get into the bangladesh test through the back-door,If he impresses in the bangladesh warm up then both he and Vitori could make it, Masacadza has something that meth doesnt have.....a first class century and good pace

[takleg]

Sorry eugene, just saw your question now. The crowd wasn't that big we had about 250 people in. Guess who came in to join us in the stands? Utseya, Panyangara, Chatara and Chibhabha. I was fortunate enough to have a chat with Utseya about whether our team would be good enough to take 20 wickets, his reply was, 'if the selectors give me a chance we should be able to take 20 wickets'. He wasn't too happy about Jarvis' inclusion saying he came from nowhere and got a chance ahead of him. Chatara too wasn't happy about not being given another chance. they also spoke about the 'lack of proper a game plan' as they felt some of the field settings were not correct. They were all bitter about not being on the pitch and i tell what, Prosper wants to prove he can be successful in the longer format. too happy about Jarvis' inclusion saying he came from nowhere and got a chance ahead of him. Chatara too wasn't happy about not being given another chance. they also spoke about the 'lack of proper a game plan' as they felt some of the field settings were not correct. They were all bitter about not being on the pitch and i tell what, Prosper wants to prove he can be successful in the longer format.

[eugene]

Thanks for the info takleg. It is always good to get eyewitness accounts, particularly when there is no television coverage. It is hard to tell much at all from statistics, except that it was a tough day for the bowlers. Interesting to hear about players unrest with the selectors, although players sitting on the sidelines are never happy with the selectors I imagine. Sounds like Vitori could be a surprise inclusion in the test lineup, while Jarvis will be heading for domestic cricket.

[Boundary]

Interesting bit bit about Utseya there. I like a bit of defiance but as a spinner he should understand that we need seamers and we had no one but Mpofu a few months ago. So a lot of these guys will come from nowhere. Him and Cremer will have to fight it out for a slot besides Price.

[canvas]

Gee. Bad day at the office. Let's draw a line under it.

Chatara and Jarvis seem to have confirmed themselves as unready. Everyone seems to have been unsettled by the very large squad and no clear plan for the 3 or 4 test places up for grabs.

Glad Utseya is dirty about being left out. Hami had similar kinds of comments and he has come back firing.

Utseya made himself unavailable due to a court case so I don't know how he can feel dirty about being left out. Maybe he realise that there are others that have step up and are keen to take his place.

[hhm]

... we had no one but Mpofu a few months ago. So a lot of these guys will 'come from nowhere'...

Don't you just love this forum!