[Match Thread ] Tri Series Game 4 | ZIM VS BD

[encore]

Richard Levi is a decent Twenty20 batsman in domestic cricket. That doesn't mean he will be capable in international cricket, as was gradually proven. Sikandar Raza Butt, a low order T20 finisher, has only 8-sixes in 384 balls faced in T20Is. That's extremely pathetic. His average of 13.53 and Strike Rate of just 105, is therefore very relevant. Why? Because as a finisher, he has never been Not Out in 30 innings and his figures suggest a person who failed at the job every single time, and fell frustrated at not being able to connect the ball!

I honestly do not understand how figures are translated herein these parts, but they can't be ignored, and our preferences or hopes will never rewrite them. We ned to try others.

At most Taylor & Raza can probably play just one role in the T20 XI - anchors - by being the other opener next to a Mire/Zhuwao, or at first drop if you have a big-hitting Hami/Mire partnership(anchors can cut loose too). I do believe Taylor & Raza are better than many options ZIM have for this role in T20s( eg Craig), but it's useless if they are misused, and they have been. They will never be better options as big hitters than the likes of Elton(plus Zhuwao, Malcolm and the retired pair of Hami and Mire), or busy strike-rotaters in the Malik/Hodge/Taibu mould like Williams and Musakanda promise(d) to be(I like Musakanda but Zimbabwe needs big hitters not nurdlers and nudgers). Even then, you cannot have more than one of these kinds of players - just one anchor or one efficient runner/strike-rotating batsman can be accomodated in a T20 batting order. The other 4 batsmen simply have to be big hitters - and that 5 must include the wicket-keeper. The rest are specialist bowlers(3) and genuine allrounders(3).

We lost to India because we tried to fit both Reeza and Bavuma among those 5 batsmen. Period!

It's interesting Taps because you do draw accurate comparisons with Bangladesh who have efficient batsmen who can't win T20s because of their unsuitability, and they lose because they have too many of them in the XI, but somehow still pick the same for Zimbabwe.

Obviously ZIM doesn't have the right personal for the 5-3-3 combination, but in T20s, the way I see it, an older trio of Elton, Zhuwao and Malcolm will give you more than Taylor, Craig and Williams. Moor is like Raza - a proven dead end - on the face of facts, they remain myths as sustained big hitter or busy player respectively. Moor, like Mutombodzi does not even have a single 50+ T20 score at any level - how can one ignore that at the end of the day? I'll be happy if Burl(and Mutumbami) proves me wrong, but I say just forget him in T20s - same with Regis. England dropepd Root! I'm guessing with Kamhunhukamwe, but I have zero doubt about Chari in this format(like Sauramba), and long term I have a lot of faith that Kasuza will be Zimbabwe's best T20 batsman(and among the top in other formats for that matter). Maruma has earned a sustained trial across formats, plus he's a genuine big hitter who will replace any of the failing or unavailable older players.

Many of course see it differently, but it would be helpful if fair reasons are given as to why they should pick or continue to pick certain players beyond 'we don't have much else'.

XI: Zhuwao, Kamunhukamwe, Chari, Kasuza, Malcolm Waller, Chigumbura(c), Murray(wk), Jongwe, Mashinge, Chisoro, Chatara
RESERVES: Maruma, Mavuta, Ngarava, Sauramba(wk)

NZ can get away with both Williamson and Ross Taylor because Taylor is arguably a big hitter in his own right, and generally he gets pushed down the order for crazy bigger hitters if Williamson has done a good job anchoring. ENG, IND, AUS and WI have big hitters all the way. Kohli and Babar might not be big six hitters, but they hit a mountain of fours which qualifies them as big hitters.

AFG, IRE and NED are trying to adapt accordingly, and to a lesser extent SCO, but unless SL, ZIM and BD adapt, they will continue suffer in this format.

[encore]

Gous, Second and du Plooy will like Hamza play for the Proteas at some point, but ZIM batsmen have really done ZIM proud before, outbatting some real top talent.

https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/179 ... up-2018-19
https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/179 ... up-2018-19
https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/179 ... up-2018-19

In parts, Iwatched Musakanda impressing in those games(Murray too), and yet I've still left him out of my T20 squad(while picking lesser performing TK & BC in these instances) because he would have to excel the same way in the top 3 like they have been doing in ZIM. So I really don't see why there should be a reluctance to ignore favourites like Burl/Moor/Williams/Raza/Craig. ZIM needs results! Taylor has a decent record but he won't bat lower ahead of the big hitters, and age is clearly against him in the top order sincehe doesn't have the natural hand-eye coordination of a Zhuwao.

[Kriterion_BD]

Why is the west indies a dangerous t20 team but struggles in other formats? Its because almost all of their top 7 or 8 in that format can hit a clean 6. Once you are chasing 180+ guys who score 25 ball 30s actually slow you down.

This is an overly simplistic explanation. Hitting big 6s cannot ever be a liability in any format of the game. Thats like saying team xyz sucks because their bowlers take too many wickets clean bowled.

Teams like the West Indies and Afghanistan are good in T20 because they can hit clean 6s. That is true (Afghanistan also have perfect spinners for the format).

However, Afghanistan and West Indies struggle in the other formats because they lack the fundamentals of good batsmanship which is strike rotation, finding the gaps for 1s, 2s, and 3s, and batting out the tougher phases of a good bowling spell. Not because they are "clean 6 hitters".

West Indies seem to be making a bit of a resurgence for the following reasons: 1) finally making seam friendly pitches again for the likes of Roach, Gabriel, and Holder to succeed on 2) emergence of a true batting talent like Hetmyer 3) decent supporting cast from guys like Chase, Bravo Jr, etc

Afghanistan's Test win in Bangladesh was impressive, but there are few "hidden" problems. Firstly, the BD bowlers were unable to extract much from the pitch (Nayeem got a bit of bounce and turn as I've mentioned already), yet Afghanistan could put up only 340 and 260 run totals. Thats slightly under par, and largely composed on the basis of 2-3 big innings. As flat as the BD bowlers looked, Afghanistan should have scored around 750 runs instead of 600 in the Test. Afghan spinners will win them some games, but their batting and pace bowling will need to improve considerably.

Bangladesh are a [much] better side than they've been playing for the past couple of months. They will bounce back eventually, and then again endure another similar dip in the future. That being said, Bangladesh at their best, are still a better side than Afghanistan in every format except T20s. Of course, Bangladesh at their worst, are scarcely better than Canada or Bermuda.

For Zimbabwe, the harsh realities of inept management has meant that the team is a shell of its former self. Barring Taylor and Jarvis, none of the other players including Raza and Ervine (two of my fave ZIMs) or even Williams, is quite good enough for the highest level, either technically or mentally. Even Taylor and Jarvis have had lapses in clutch situations. The root cause is having a tiny player pool to choose from. Asian nations can compete simply because they have massive player pools. Teams like NZ, WI will always struggle to compete with England or Australia for that very reason. Same for Zimbabwe plus the added problems of ZC ineptitude.

[TapsC]

Why is the west indies a dangerous t20 team but struggles in other formats? Its because almost all of their top 7 or 8 in that format can hit a clean 6. Once you are chasing 180+ guys who score 25 ball 30s actually slow you down.

This is an overly simplistic explanation. Hitting big 6s cannot ever be a liability in any format of the game. Thats like saying team xyz sucks because their bowlers take too many wickets clean bowled.

Teams like the West Indies and Afghanistan are good in T20 because they can hit clean 6s. That is true (Afghanistan also have perfect spinners for the format).

However, Afghanistan and West Indies struggle in the other formats because they lack the fundamentals of good batsmanship which is strike rotation, finding the gaps for 1s, 2s, and 3s, and batting out the tougher phases of a good bowling spell. Not because they are "clean 6 hitters".

West Indies seem to be making a bit of a resurgence for the following reasons: 1) finally making seam friendly pitches again for the likes of Roach, Gabriel, and Holder to succeed on 2) emergence of a true batting talent like Hetmyer 3) decent supporting cast from guys like Chase, Bravo Jr, etc

Afghanistan's Test win in Bangladesh was impressive, but there are few "hidden" problems. Firstly, the BD bowlers were unable to extract much from the pitch (Nayeem got a bit of bounce and turn as I've mentioned already), yet Afghanistan could put up only 340 and 260 run totals. Thats slightly under par, and largely composed on the basis of 2-3 big innings. As flat as the BD bowlers looked, Afghanistan should have scored around 750 runs instead of 600 in the Test. Afghan spinners will win them some games, but their batting and pace bowling will need to improve considerably.

Bangladesh are a [much] better side than they've been playing for the past couple of months. They will bounce back eventually, and then again endure another similar dip in the future. That being said, Bangladesh at their best, are still a better side than Afghanistan in every format except T20s. Of course, Bangladesh at their worst, are scarcely better than Canada or Bermuda.

For Zimbabwe, the harsh realities of inept management has meant that the team is a shell of its former self. Barring Taylor and Jarvis, none of the other players including Raza and Ervine (two of my fave ZIMs) or even Williams, is quite good enough for the highest level, either technically or mentally. Even Taylor and Jarvis have had lapses in clutch situations. The root cause is having a tiny player pool to choose from. Asian nations can compete simply because they have massive player pools. Teams like NZ, WI will always struggle to compete with England or Australia for that very reason. Same for Zimbabwe plus the added problems of ZC ineptitude.

I agree with you. I think its just that a lot of times the clean hitters dont necessarily have the fundamentals to bat long

[chesterton]

Why not this guy Zhuwao play?

is it cash ?