2015 CWC squad announced

[grant]

I know Vusi can't complain with the form he has been in, but at the end of the tournament people will be longing for his return. Dav Whatmore would have been the man to turn him around confidence-wise!

Vitori should have been in the squad -- we surely are not going to bowl two slow arm bowlers who do not spin the ball in Australian/NZ conditions??? With Kamungozi and Utseya in the squad it looks as if we are covering for an expected failure.

Vusi is one of the non-travelling reserves. And I agree, I'd have selected one more seamer. Otherwise, it's a pretty good selection.

[grant]

My squad :

1.Chibhabha
2.Raza
3.Masakadza
4.Chigumbura(c)
5.Taylor(wk)
6.Williams
7.Mire
8.Utseya/Kamungozi
9.Mupariwa
10.Panyangara
11.Chatara

Bowling attack :
1.Three frontline seamers + Chigumbura + Mire. (35-40 overs)
2.One specialist spinner + Williams. (10-15 overs)
3.Hami's golden arm

I get the feeling they're looking to pick only 3 specialist bowlers(because there are 10 batsmen in the squad). Not a bad idea, but I'm not sure about Chigumbura's consistency in bowling.

[grant]

Utseya's inclusion may strike as surprising because he will not be able to offer his main discipline - restrict opposition with offspin - but he has been working on other skills. He was recently on a tour to Uganda with Takashinga Cricket Club, coached by sacked Zimbabwe coach Stephen Mangongo, and resurrected his career as a medium-pacer. Peter Kirsten, who is in charge of Uganda and was at that series, said Utseya's prospects of becoming a threatening medium-pacer are "promising" because of his ability to bowl cutters, which is what Zimbabwe hope he will do at the tournament. "He is our mystery spinner, bowling mediums and cutters and his experience will be vital for us," Givemore Makoni, Zimbabwe's selection convener said.

Although Zimbabwe will miss Utseya's spin, they have given themselves plenty of choice in that department. Legspinner Tafadzwa Kamungozi will be their attacking spinner while Sikandar Raza and Matsikenyeri will bowl offspin and Williams, left-arm spin. Given the conditions, their seam bowlers could prove more important to their chances of bowling teams out but Zimbabwe left out the man often referred to as their most threatening wicket-taker, Vitori.

The left-armer has bounced in and out of the national squad as he battled injuries and interruptions in form and Zimbabwe decided his inconsistency was too risky for a major tournament. "The bowlers we have gone with have done better than him," Makoni said when explaining why Tinashe Panyangara and Tendai Chatara will be asked to lead the attack.

[zimbos_05]

My starting eleven would be:

1. Masakadza
2. Raza
3. Taylor
4. Chigumbura
5. Ervine
6. Williams
7. Mire
8. Chakabva/Kamungozi
9. Panyangara
10. Mupariwa
11. Chatara


Personally dont think Matsi is up to the task. Also looking at the non travelling guys is a bit not sure. I dont think Vusi was unlucky, he is just in shocking form. To make the back up list suggests you are in form but just not in form enough.

[foreignfield]

I get the feeling they're looking to pick only 3 specialist bowlers(because there are 10 batsmen in the squad). Not a bad idea, but I'm not sure about Chigumbura's consistency in bowling.

It's looks like that, and there is also a strong indication that playing all three of Tinashe, Larry and Mupariwa together is not very high on the minds of the people in charge: If one of the seamers gets injured in the lead up to a match, there is no ready replacement available. How long does it take from Harare to Hobart? Or will any of the non-travellers still travel with the squad? (I read somewhere that Ireland are taking all their back-up seamers not only to the UAE but also down under.)

[eugene]

Picking Chibhabha and Matsi is sheer lunacy. Both of them are proven failures and I don't see how being away from international cricket for so many years will have suddenly improved their abilities. I would take Vusi any day over either of them. Not sure what to make of the Utseya decision, he is such an unknown entity at the moment.

[GregorPJ]

How can you pick a player on the back of one score??

Especially when they have failed before at international cricket.

Ludicrous

[grant]

Cut them some slack (the selectors). There are hardly any players in form and none of the youngsters have done well enough to earn a place.
But I do think we are one seamer short.
Vusi could have been a good pick, but he is out of form too.
We don't have many choices and I'm sure Chibhabha and Matsi are way better than Maruma, who has finally been dropped.
Guys like Moor, Burl, Chari, Kasuza, etc. are not ready yet. Chibhabha and Matsi have a lot of experience and some good knocks to their name, so I'm not really disappointed with their selection.

[zimfan1]

Very happy with the squad, although Craig Ervine is a very lucky boy. only slight concern is that it's rather an old squad which highlights the lack of young talent coming through.

[sloandog]

Squad looks solid. When I came on the other day and saw that Dav was looking at contacting the likes of Cremer, Coventry etc, I was pleased but at the same time a part of me felt pretty bad on those who have been playing the past 2 years. Pleased to see Mupariwa back in, as he evidently has a knack of taking wickets.
(will he be found out due to this lack of pace? maybe, maybe not, we'll have to wait and see, but it's good that he is in as it reflects selection by merit).

Pleased to see Williams back in and as you said Zimfan, Ervine can count himself lucky, yet he is without doubt one of the best batters we have right now and to drop him would be silly, especially at an event like the world cup.

The selfish side of me would have liked to have seen Ryan Burl there, but i know i know he hasn't done anything to warrant a spot. I would still have him as a none-travelling reserve mind