Who should bat at 6 in the upcoming Test?

[eugene]

I will be very disappointed in this forum if anyone votes for Matsi.

[hhm]

BRM that's very mischievous of you. How could you make me choose between Ewing and Matsi!
The Test XI that will be capable of drawing or winning this match is as follows:
Duffin, Taylor, Hamilton, Vusi, Matsi, Ewing, Taibu, Elton, Price, Jarvis, Mpofu
You'd hate to admit it guys, but this lineup gives you more confidence than having a Tino, Waller, Craig & Forster somewhere in there!

If they can pluck Mushangwe and Nucbe out of nowhere wwhen none of you least expected it - we shouldn't be surprised to see Duffin opening the innings, with Matsi & Ewing in the middle order.

eugene, with what lies ahead for us, you'll soon be one of those are most vocal for his return

[brmtaylor.com admin]

Jarvis got 24-4-79-1 (3.29) and 5-0-17-1 (3.40) at Queens; I would persist. Price will be the key, he'll have to bowl a lot of overs and take a lot of wickets for Zimbabwe to have any hope of bowling New Zealand out once let alone twice. He'll have to rediscover some of that 2003-04 form.

I would like Vitori in as well but if he is injured then that creates a bit of a problem. Lamb is also injured apparently; I thought he did quite nicely in the Test against Pakistan with both bat and ball. I guess we can assume Chigumbura will slot back in.

So if Vitori is unavailable and Ervine is given one more chance:

1. Mawoyo
2. Sibanda
3. Masakadza
4. Taylor
5. Taibu
6. Ervine
7. Chigumbura
8. Utseya
9. Price
10. Jarvis
11. Mpofu

12. Waller

The number six battle is a tough one. Ervine I think does deserve another chance as he has done some very good things at First Class level and has performed reasonably in the Test matches he has played. But Waller is in fine form so I think nobody would question his inclusion.

The wicket keeping question?

If Taibu's finger is still too sore to allow him to keep wicket; should Taylor or Mawoyo take the gloves? It would have to be Taylor I'd think.
Surely Mutizwa or Chakabva would not be drafted in as a specialist wicket keeper when there are already three wicket keepers in the team?

[FlowerPower]

The number six battle is a tough one. Ervine I think does deserve another chance as he has done some very good things at First Class level and has performed reasonably in the Test matches he has played. But Waller is in fine form so I think nobody would question his inclusion.

The others have done even better! If purely that he needs ANOTHER chance then maybe I'd indulge you but he's done well? So have the others...

The wicket keeping question?

If Taibu's finger is still too sore to allow him to keep wicket; should Taylor or Mawoyo take the gloves? It would have to be Taylor I'd think.
Surely Mutizwa or Chakabva would not be drafted in as a specialist wicket keeper when there are already three wicket keepers in the team?

On the contrary you definitely need a specialist in the longer form, part timers are for T20 and if pushed for it ODI...

[Boundary]

This is not my ultimate team but this will be the team and I have no problems with it.
1. Sibanda
2. Mawoyo
3. Masakadza
4. Taylor (c)
5. Taibu (wkt)
6. Waller
7. Chigumbura
8. Lamb
9. Price
10. Jarvis
11. Mpofu

Ervine and Mutizwa lose out because Waller is on fire, Meth loses out because of Lamb, Lamb gets in because of the last Test at Queens, Chiggs gets in just because, Vitori is injured. Everyone else is a shoe in.

[eugene]

BRM that's very mischievous of you. How could you make me choose between Ewing and Matsi!
The Test XI that will be capable of drawing or winning this match is as follows:
Duffin, Taylor, Hamilton, Vusi, Matsi, Ewing, Taibu, Elton, Price, Jarvis, Mpofu
You'd hate to admit it guys, but this lineup gives you more confidence than having a Tino, Waller, Craig & Forster somewhere in there!

If they can pluck Mushangwe and Nucbe out of nowhere wwhen none of you least expected it - we shouldn't be surprised to see Duffin opening the innings, with Matsi & Ewing in the middle order.

eugene, with what lies ahead for us, you'll soon be one of those are most vocal for his return

Hmm lets see here. Matsi inspires more confidence than Craig Ervine? Really? What has Matsi ever done? Ewing instead of Waller? Waller just destroyed New Zealand. Duffin instead of Mawoyo? Does Mawoyo have to score a triple century for you to back him?

[brmtaylor.com admin]

The wicket keeping question?

If Taibu's finger is still too sore to allow him to keep wicket; should Taylor or Mawoyo take the gloves? It would have to be Taylor I'd think.
Surely Mutizwa or Chakabva would not be drafted in as a specialist wicket keeper when there are already three wicket keepers in the team?

On the contrary you definitely need a specialist in the longer form, part timers are for T20 and if pushed for it ODI...

I think that's a bit harsh on Taylor. It's not like Dilshan or Dravid taking the gloves for the odd match; it would be more like Sangakarra taking the gloves off Prasanna Jayawardene in a Test match (despite how it sounds, do you know what I mean?) - both are proven wicket keepers. Taylor was Zimbabwe's specialist wicket keeper for a number of years while Taibu was in exile. I'll concede Mawoyo; I don't think he's kept wicket for a long time.

But if you're talking specialist as in keeps every match; then that counts out Mutizwa as well as Taylor. I think Mutizwa has only been keeping regularly for his franchise for the last few weeks (because of Chakabva)? Because if you needed to play a specialist wicket keeper you would have to go all the way down to Chakabva and I think we can agree there are a number of middle order candidates ahead of Chakabva. Especially given there are a number of wicket keepers, one of whom is vastly experienced at international level anyway, in the team.

The others have done even better! If purely that he needs ANOTHER chance then maybe I'd indulge you but he's done well? So have the others...

I meant career wise, like those big Intercontinental Cup centuries. Obviously Waller and Mutizwa have done better than Ervine at First Class level recently but I reckon Ervine could be a mainstay at Test level once he finds his feet. Now he doesn't have unlimited time to find his feet but I would give him one more opportunity. It's very hard to overlook form though; I wouldn't bat an eyelid if Waller got the nod.

[Shasha]

I'd love to see Duffin and Ewing in the Test squad maybe next year on our tour to NZ. Matsi is still finding his rythm at Mash eagles so lets give him more time..i'd go with: Tino,Vusi,Hammy,BRM cap,Tatenda keeping,Malcom,Elton,Keegan,Price,Kyle,Brian if fit/mpofu. Utseya is not doing us any good at the moment.

[Jemisi]

I hadn't posted a lineup yet, Flower Power.

My team for the test would be

1. Tino Mawoyo
2. Vusi Sibanda
3. Hamilton Masakadza
4. Brendan Taylor
5. Craig Ervine
6. Malcolm Waller
7. Tatenda Taibu
8. Keegan Meth
9. Prosper Utseya (Cremer if he was fit)
10. Ray Price
11. Kyle Jarvis (I could also see Mpofu here if Jarvis is unfit)

I'd go with this team, except I'd include Chigumbura instead of Utseya. Waller can be the 5th bowling option.

[brmtaylor.com admin]

I hadn't posted a lineup yet, Flower Power.

My team for the test would be

1. Tino Mawoyo
2. Vusi Sibanda
3. Hamilton Masakadza
4. Brendan Taylor
5. Craig Ervine
6. Malcolm Waller
7. Tatenda Taibu
8. Keegan Meth
9. Prosper Utseya (Cremer if he was fit)
10. Ray Price
11. Kyle Jarvis (I could also see Mpofu here if Jarvis is unfit)

I'd go with this team, except I'd include Chigumbura instead of Utseya. Waller can be the 5th bowling option.

I reckon the allrounder needs to be at seven. Taibu is too good to play so low in the order. So either Chigumbura or Lamb for mine. I don't know if Meth is ready for a Test spot just yet; but if he plays in the warm-up and gets a 4 or 5 wicket haul I'd definitely think about changing my stance on that.

I still think Lamb, Price, Vitori, Jarvis, Mpofu is the ideal lineup but the Queens pitch and obviously injuries need to be taken into account. So it's almost guaranteed that one or two of Utseya, Chigumbura, Meth and maybe a dark horse like Ncube will play on Tuesday.