[Match Thread] Zimbabwe v Bangladesh: 2nd Test

[Jemisi]

You are right Dogg. The game is not gone. The team has to fight from behind rather than fight from ahead like we had to on Day 2 last game.

On the opening issue, without Tino who is now the only guy who has extensive FC opening background, I feel that we have to go back to a position of picking the best keeper and the best six batsmen in the country. If we don't have specialist openers to choose from, then we have to just pick our best players and be patient and flexible, perhaps resting Vusi or Hami down the order and experimenting with others (although I would personally leave them there).

Our best batsmen - Taylor, Hami, Vusi, Williams, Ervine, Waller, Mawoyo, Chigs,

Our keeper options with Mutizwa in retched form - Richmond and Regis.

That is 10 guys to fill 7 spots. There really aren't too many other options. Raza just doesn't have the FC numbers and the youngsters Eugene suggests shouldn't be damaged yet in sink or swim experiments.

The only realistic improvement for this game was Williams in place of Regis. Other than that there were no sensible options to give us a qualitative improvement.

Vusi and Hami may be getting low scores, but we know the breakthrough innings can come, throwing blokes in who we know will fail isn't fair to anyone. The problem is we have one or two guys capable of averaging 40 in Tests. Then we have the rest who may be capable of 30+. Averaging 30 means a lot of low scores, and 25 means even more. The things we want to avoid is guys that we know will average 13.

[brmtaylor.com admin]

Guys don't lose faith here. The beauty of this lineup we have is there is still plenty of batting, unreliable sure, but still plenty of batting ahead. If these boys can put on another 59 runs together - and one of them to kick on beyond that, then you only need need to hope mutambami comes to the party with at least one of the bowling all rounders to chip in. We may not get their 390 but 300+ is very achievable. Then we just need to demolish them in the second innings for under 200 and set 250 to win thereabouts. Doable. Just requires some fight.

Remember this is only Bangladesh we are dealing with... Not Australia

And we have Taylor

Yesterday I wasn't feeling too good about our chances. But after reading this post I have hope again. Good post ZIMDOGGY
Hoping now for one of Chigumbura or Waller (or both!) to score their first Test hundred. Time for someone other than Taylor to stand up and produce a gem of an innings.

[FlowerPower]

Jemisi you Jimmy are a voice of reason. I agree almost 100% with all you say. Well maybe the Chogs part...but actually thinking about it he would be in the mix.

This knee jerk stuff that people are clamouring for is nonsense. Test is not T20 people. Agreed with was it betterdays or foreignfield...openning is a perenial problem and the Grant example clearly illustrates what perservering with a player does. Mawoyo is the best opener after AC we will make do with what we have until we find a suitable partner for him. Those clamouring for Taylor are not being honest.

Vusi has sacrificed personal glory to do this. Taylor would suffer a similar fate. Aus bats Clarke at 5 because thats where he is most productive. I would never sacrifice the runs Taylor makes lower down so that he can open. I would have loved Duffin spending 20 overs softening the ball with Mawoyo giving us 35-0 in the 25th...bonus if they kick on. But Vusi Hami and Taylor coming on after the openning bowlers are off and the ball is soft...that is mouthwatering...then Ervine/Williams to come with a batting keeper (read a form Mutizwa but currently Mutambami).

Bowlingwise we have interesting problems. My theory still stands the current attack will always be great when all comes together but attrocious when it falls apart. For me its

Rainsford
+a container (Meth/Mpofu on a seaming surface or Utsteya/Price on a spin surface)
+attacker/strike bowler(Jarvis/Shingi/Chatara/Vitori)
+ attacking leggie (Cremer for now but the two Ms should be natured to take over)

Basically my signature.

[Ming]

Someone's definitely a reader of this forum: http://www.espncricinfo.com/zimbabwe-v- ... 32514.html

[Jemisi]

Aww shucks FlowerPower

Chigs is there because of his hitting. He can do things that almost no one else in the country can do - his weaknesses aside.

[brmtaylor.com admin]

I see three targets for this session:

1. See off Robiul
2. Knock off the remaining 31 or so to avoid the follow on
3. Don't lose any wickets in the session

Chigumbura using his feet to the spinners, good to see... He moves to 47.

[Jemisi]

Yes, especially goal number 3.

[betterdays]

Guys don't lose faith here.

true, and believe me i haven't. I always imagine the possible with zim ... just as long as heads don't roll when the possible isn't realised.
I am too stupid to give up on them...

[brmtaylor.com admin]

Time for Mutumbami to stand up. Just one century stand will give us a sniff of at least drawing this game.

[betterdays]

That's a shame, always tough the next day (ask straussy)