[Match Thread] Zimbabwe A v South Africa A: 1st 'A' Test

[foreignfield]

I don't want to take anything away from Chari, but one knock is not enough to convince me. He's young, so there's scope for improvement, but when he first played international cricket he looked way out of his depth at the top of the order both technically and mentally. An away tour to BD wasn't the easiest place to start, for sure, but after that he even moved down the order when playing for Tuskers. His Logan Cup record last season was also not pointing in the right direction.

I know Tino's domestic season was even worse, but with him we at least know he's been there and done it before.

[Detective RDS]

Good to see Tino Mawoyo scoring. I reckon Mawoyo-Chari opening combo should get another match to nail down the opening slots.

Prince Masvaure whose selection I criticized heavily indeed played a gritty innings. Chigumbura has a rival in the making. Competition is healthy.

[rupeni]

How quick is Mumba and Musoko?

Mumba is 135 consistently
Musoko is 130-135
Nyauchi 127-135
Shingi 127-135
Madziva 127-135
Chatara 124-130
Muzarabani 130-136
Tiripano 132-136
Vitori 135-142 (playing the next 4 day game)
Njabulo Ncube 128-135 (He's playing the next 4 day game)
Garwe 135-140 (He's playing the next 4 day game)
Aliseni 140-150
Tino Mafusire 135-140
Tatenda Chikuni 135-140
Luke Jongwe 123-128 (lost pace due to weight gain)
Mike Chinouya 125-130

These are the speeds that these players have been measured in the last 2 weeks! (Apart from Mumba who's overseas and Musoko who's nowhere to be seen)

In the last 4 day game Magala, Viljoen and Aliseni were about even..

The wicket was dead flat. Nothing for the bowlers.. Mawoyo and Masvaure batted well though.. They both didn't give chances..

[grant]

How quick is Mumba and Musoko?

Mumba is 135 consistently
Musoko is 130-135
Nyauchi 127-135
Shingi 127-135
Madziva 127-135
Chatara 124-130
Muzarabani 130-136
Tiripano 132-136
Vitori 135-142 (playing the next 4 day game)
Njabulo Ncube 128-135 (He's playing the next 4 day game)
Garwe 135-140 (He's playing the next 4 day game)
Aliseni 140-150
Tino Mafusire 135-140
Tatenda Chikuni 135-140
Luke Jongwe 123-128 (lost pace due to weight gain)
Mike Chinouya 125-130

These are the speeds that these players have been measured in the last 2 weeks! (Apart from Mumba who's overseas and Musoko who's nowhere to be seen)

In the last 4 day game Magala, Viljoen and Aliseni were about even..

The wicket was dead flat. Nothing for the bowlers.. Mawoyo and Masvaure batted well though.. They both didn't give chances..

Wow. I have usually heard good stuff about Garwe; will be interesting to see how he fares in the next 4 day game.
If I remember correctly, Njabulo Ncube's last FC game was back in 2013....
I hope Aliseni improves too. Bowling 140+ kph consistently is no mean feat!
Why has Mumba never been picked in the A team btw?

[rupeni]

How quick is Mumba and Musoko?

Mumba is 135 consistently
Musoko is 130-135
Nyauchi 127-135
Shingi 127-135
Madziva 127-135
Chatara 124-130
Muzarabani 130-136
Tiripano 132-136
Vitori 135-142 (playing the next 4 day game)
Njabulo Ncube 128-135 (He's playing the next 4 day game)
Garwe 135-140 (He's playing the next 4 day game)
Aliseni 140-150
Tino Mafusire 135-140
Tatenda Chikuni 135-140
Luke Jongwe 123-128 (lost pace due to weight gain)
Mike Chinouya 125-130

These are the speeds that these players have been measured in the last 2 weeks! (Apart from Mumba who's overseas and Musoko who's nowhere to be seen)

In the last 4 day game Magala, Viljoen and Aliseni were about even..

The wicket was dead flat. Nothing for the bowlers.. Mawoyo and Masvaure batted well though.. They both didn't give chances..

Wow. I have usually heard good stuff about Garwe; will be interesting to see how he fares in the next 4 day game.
If I remember correctly, Njabulo Ncube's last FC game was back in 2013....
I hope Aliseni improves too. Bowling 140+ kph consistently is no mean feat!
Why has Mumba never been picked in the A team btw?

He's chosen to play club cricket in the UK

[zimfan1]

Zimbabwe A squad
Regis Chakabva, Brian Chari, Craig Ervine, Trevor Garwe, Joylord Gumbie, Timycen Maruma, Shingirai Masakadza, Prince Masvaure, Tinotenda Mawoyo, Tarisai Musakanda, Natsai M'shangwe, Tinotenda Mutombodzi, Njabulo Ncube, Victor Nyauchi, Brian Vitori, Sean Williams

[foreignfield]

Ncube walks straight into the A side for a four day match after not playing Fc cricket for three years. I suppose he played club cricket in SA, but what a message to everyone toiling away in the Logan Cup.

Interesting speeds, and it confirms that Larry has indeed lost his pace -- for now, I hope. The measurements are not far off what we saw some of the guys bowl recently in match situations, at least as far as their top speeds are concerned. On average both Tiripano and Muzarabani bowled slower, and I don't mean slower balls but 128-130 kph stock deliveries.

Could it be that knowing there's a speed gun around and with Tests berths up for grabs, some guys put in some extra effort?
Trevor Garwe 140 kph??? I don't recall anyone ever referring to him as a quick bowler.
Vitori, with a new action, 142 kph? -- sounds almost too good. He was once capable of bowling this quickly, but he has struggled to replicate those speeds for a number of years now, and he wasn't anywhere close when we last saw him and he was still chucking it.

[Kriterion_BD]

Is Garwe a white bowler? 135-140 is sufficient pace at international level, provided of course the bowler is smart, accurate, and has an extra skill like swing, cutters, slower ball, yorkers on demand, etc. Without control and extra skill a bowler could be 170 and will just be a bowling machine.

Its the guys who's stock ball is 130 and under that really can't make it at international level even with above average extra skills. If you are a 125 bowler, you will have to either have McGrath like accuracy or Anderson like swing to be a threat.

[Kriterion_BD]

There's quite a few 135-140 bowlers there in Rupeni's post, and a 150 guy as well. Add in the U-19 pacer (Matigumu) was it who also bowls 140 and can probably get to 145 or even 150, and thats adequate pace stocks in terms of pure pace. Its just that the national team is full of 125 k trundlers like Panyangara and Jongwe.

[ZIMDOGGY]

Sorry but I dont believe this.

All those bowlers are in the 120's fromn the time they have been measured when I have observed them.

Havent seen Aliseni, but im really struggling to believe he's in the top ten fastest bowlers in the world,which 150 would make him.