Our Test Top Order

[FlowerPower]

Our top order, namely 3,4,5, (see this about top order batsmen) has grown in stature as the season has unraveled. Taylor seems to get better where we think he’s reached dizzying peaks, Taibu anonymously goes about his duties, however Hami from a fighting 100 vs Bangladesh has fizzled out.

For our three matches this season, Taylor has led the way with a runs tally of 358(including 2 centuries, and 2 50s) at an average of 71.6, Taibu has been busy making 267 (including 3 50s)behind the openers and Taylor, at an ave of 44.5. Hami after the 100 vs Bangladesh has not made another hundred or 50, he has struggled to 169 (104, 22, 19,11, 8, 5) at a slightly worrying ave of 28.16. I tend to get the feeling he seems to be burdening himself with the need to prove himself, one gets the feeling he is uptight, and should just relax a tad. If anyone were in danger of losing a spot, he would, but who would we bring in or should we drop him in the first place? I say his fighting 100 counts for something, and experience can't be bought, but he can't live off history for ever (but then again, 100 v Bangladesh two months ago isn't history), anyways moving on...

Incumbents:

Masakadza [age 29] (95 FC matches, ave 41.87), Taylor [age 25] (68 FC matches, ave 39.99) and Taibu [age 28] (112 FC matches, ave 38.94)

These guys have formed a decent combination and like a good top order can face the new ball when needed, as would be the case if we don’t fold before 80 overs of an innings (Taibu to a lesser extent, but he comes in at 5). They also happen to be our most experienced of the lot (fittingly as number 3 and 4 must be your best batsmen). There has been talk of Vusi being most suited to this section of the batting, what do you guys think of swapping him with Hami who has opened before? Your thoughts please.

Challengers:

I seem to be recycling a few names here, is that how bare the cupboard is? :

Mutizwa [age 26] (48 FC matches, ave 43), Craig Ervine[age 26] (34 matches, ave 41.62), Ewing [age 30] (51 FC matches, ave 41), Matsikenyeri [age 28] (114 FC matches, ave 30.62) Vermeulen [age 32] (83 matches, ave 37.02)

I don’t think Mutizwa and Ervine have the requisite experience (I know I am walking into it vis avis Ewing!) but Ewing has only 51 FC matches under his belt and Taylor has 68, so if they qualify so should Mutizwa and Ervine, who have better averages. The problem for these guys is that the current top would have to fail spectacularly to fall out of favour (that’s the norm with most teams actually for top order batsmen, KP and Bell for England being examples). Top order tends to be a long residency job. Not too sure Vermeulen is really a contender here, but hey why not?

In the openers thread I had the group of up and comings. Not too sure who’d be in this category for the top order any ideas?

Others/Up and comming:

Moor [age 20] (8 FC matches, ave 19.26), Kaia [age 20] (8 FC matches, ave 28), Mbofana [age 23] (13 matches, ave 23.06), Kasuza [age 18] (5 matches, ave 41.62).

None really eye catching but they are young and have plenty of time to learn their trade. Any that have missed my eye? I also suspect we will see a few in the B league.

Fantasy team:

Again, here I am not asking for them to come back or begging them, etc, etc, and I am not intending to duplicate the numerous threads tha have been written about these guys, I am just putting out a "fantasy team" :

Sean Ervine (131 matches, ave 34.71), Sean Williams [age 25] (29 FC matches, ave 42.23), Goodwin (282 FC matches, ave 48.44) Not too sure Ervine would be that much better than what we currently have, but Goodwin even at 38 would greatly improve that top order Williams love him or hate him, you can’t ignore the talent at no. 3 and whats a ton of bonus is he is a lefty.

PS Next Post is The Middle Order (6 and 7) to be posted on Monday, unless my weekend miraculously clears up!

[Jemisi]

Happy with the incumbents.

My first three reserves would be Ervine, Mutizwa, Waller - who I'd promote from where he currently is and then add in the newcomer in the 6 slot.

[takleg]

If Taibu is going to continue keeping a specialist batter is needed at 5 imo.
I'd push Waller to bat 5 and Taibu down to 6. Taibu has better experience batting with the tail and I think Waller might perform better if given a chance to bat with the top order.
Otherwise, I'm happy with Hami at 3 and BT at 4.

[FlowerPower]

Happy with the incumbents.

My first three reserves would be Ervine, Mutizwa, Waller - who I'd promote from where he currently is and then add in the newcomer in the 6 slot.

I tend to agree almost perfectly!

[Jemisi]

Happy with the incumbents.

My first three reserves would be Ervine, Mutizwa, Waller - who I'd promote from where he currently is and then add in the newcomer in the 6 slot.

I tend to agree almost perfectly!

[masombocricketfan]

I believe Hami is a classy player. He has surely been putting himself under pressure off late tryng to prove himself a lot, he's just tryng a bit too hard but no-one can doubt his class and we all know what he can do once he gets set nowonder why thinking of dropping him might be out of thought for the selectors. Personal i think he should open the batting with Tino, then Taylor come 3, i think once Vusi starts batting at 4 we should be getting those tons coming in series and most importantly stabilizing the middle order. At 5, i would love to see Waller moving up the order, that way he will come in handy with his good rotating of strike..

[FlowerPower]

I tend to agree with most, that normally Taibu would be at 6 as a wicket-keeper batsman, Dhoni, Sangakara, Haddin, and Boucher all bat in the middle order, and eventually I think we will follow suite, but for now at least Taibu is that much better a batsman than the guys we have.

I like the idea of promoting Waller to 5 though, I really can see him being our own Hussey, someone to rescue us when in trouble or rebuild an innings, or sherpard the tail as he milks all the runs at the end of an innings. But for now at least I see him just below Taibu at 6, see the next instalment of the series where I discuss the middle order (6 and 7).

[andybligz93]

1.Sibanda
2.Mawoyo
3.Masakadza
4.Taylor
5.Wiliams
6.Waller
7.Taibu

thats what the top 7 should be !

[masombocricketfan]

andybligz93 Is it really time to think of Williams yet? I surely believe Vusi can still play for Zim. As for flower power, yes we are tryng to keep it safe and staff but take into consideration how Waller has played lately, i believe if not that in most of his innings his either given a tall order of a batting when there is a huge run rate or batting with the lower order, we could have seen a couple of tons from him. So i think he has played himself to that possition 5.

[Jemisi]

1.Sibanda
2.Mawoyo
3.Masakadza
4.Taylor
5.Wiliams
6.Waller
7.Taibu

thats what the top 7 should be !

It would be nice for Taibu to be our genuine No. 7 after the others have improved a bit more, but they aren't there yet. He has to play higher in this team.