Zimbabwe vs South Africa | 2nd Test | 6-10 July | Bulawayo

[CholeZimbo]

Bennet
Curran
Welch
Ervine
Williams
Raza
Madande/Marumani
Masakadza
Evans
Ngarava
Muzarabani

This is the only 11 that can save from embarrassment going forward

[ZIMDOGGY]

Wes is averaging 17, Kaitano 21, Welch 23, Tsiga 9. They have all played around the same number of matches. Bennett averages almost 40, Curran 29, Prince 25.

Tsiga is the obvious first drop. He has really disappointed. I think Raza will replace Wes. Curran and Bennett will hopefully be back and they will probably pick Prince as the back up. So I suspect that Kaitano will get axed. Welch I think has done just enough to keep his place. 3 half centuries now.

So I see Curran, Bennett and Raza coming in with Prince and Wes as the back up batsmen. If Campbell outperforms Wes in the T20s then he might actually replace Wes. I think his position is in real jeopardy. I also see Newman playing.

So you’re saying;
1. Curran
2. Bennett
3. Welch
4. Williams
5. Ervine
6. Raza
7. Newman

That’s a fair enough lineup. Could possibly be our best lineup.
The problem is the quota is 5 and that’s 6.
We all know someone will magically get injured or unavailable

[zimbot]

We needed this whooping. This is an excellent reflection of where Zimbabwean cricket is. It's hard for anyone to take us seriously when we are this bad.

Tsiga and Wes have to go and Craig has to step down as captain. Just to throw an eleven out there:

Bennett (c)
Curran
Nelch
Williams
Ervine
Raza
BT (wk)
Welly
Evans
Chivanga
Blessing

[zimbot]

Wes is averaging 17, Kaitano 21, Welch 23, Tsiga 9. They have all played around the same number of matches. Bennett averages almost 40, Curran 29, Prince 25.

Tsiga is the obvious first drop. He has really disappointed. I think Raza will replace Wes. Curran and Bennett will hopefully be back and they will probably pick Prince as the back up. So I suspect that Kaitano will get axed. Welch I think has done just enough to keep his place. 3 half centuries now.

So I see Curran, Bennett and Raza coming in with Prince and Wes as the back up batsmen. If Campbell outperforms Wes in the T20s then he might actually replace Wes. I think his position is in real jeopardy. I also see Newman playing.

So you’re saying;
1. Curran
2. Bennett
3. Welch
4. Williams
5. Ervine
6. Raza
7. Newman

That’s a fair enough lineup. Could possibly be our best lineup.
The problem is the quota is 5 and that’s 6.
We all know someone will magically get injured or unavailable

Keeper?

[Bulawayo Boy]

Bennett
Curran
Welch
Williams
Ervine
Raza
Campbell
Madande
Evans
Mazarabani
Chivanga

This would be a far more competitive outfit , 4 spin options and an extra batter.

Great team.

Madande has to come in now. They can't possibly play Tsiga again.

BT instead of madande as Wk / batter - when the ban ends

[Marshmallow]

Everyone asking too much from a 39 year old man who has not played the FC cricket for 4 years. Even in his last test he played as a pure batter.

[TapsC2]

I actually think they might have dropped Gumbie too quickly. Only got 3 tests. I'm not convinced by Madande's keeping. Gumbie was averaging 21 after 3 tests which is about the same as all these guys trying to break through.

Realistically if he can get his average to 30 whilst opening the batting and keeping at the same time I think that would actually be decent. I think this is achievable in the short term. They need to reconsider his selection. I would take a Gumbie 25 in 60 balls at the top of the order right now over a Tsiga 10. Madande played the same way Tsiga is playing in Ireland. A failed counter attack .

[secretzimbo]

Anyone know how bad Curran’s injury is?

[eugene]

Good to see Welch get some runs, that should extend his run. We all know the selectors won't give him a Madhevere-like run of opportunities.

[Googly]

Wes is averaging 17, Kaitano 21, Welch 23, Tsiga 9. They have all played around the same number of matches. Bennett averages almost 40, Curran 29, Prince 25.

Tsiga is the obvious first drop. He has really disappointed. I think Raza will replace Wes. Curran and Bennett will hopefully be back and they will probably pick Prince as the back up. So I suspect that Kaitano will get axed. Welch I think has done just enough to keep his place. 3 half centuries now.

So I see Curran, Bennett and Raza coming in with Prince and Wes as the back up batsmen. If Campbell outperforms Wes in the T20s then he might actually replace Wes. I think his position is in real jeopardy. I also see Newman playing.

Curran may well not be ready. If he's got any sense it will be a good one to sit out. Prince is a good player. I rate him. The beach ball look doesn't do him any favors.

In an ordinary world Ervine's captaincy would be under scrutiny.

Not sure why you'd use a T20 performance to decide whether Wes or Jonno play the next test, but we are in Zim.
Nyamhuri will definitely play. Clear as day from the ZC information being imparted to Rainsford and Mawoyo. They're practically selectors
Tough on Matigimu. I dont like the one test and out thing. Maybe it was the wake-up he needed to toughen up and improve quickly. I think he has what it takes.

In no world are Campbell, Madhevere, Myers, Madande or Maru better T20 players than Welch, its just ridiculous. I'm all for Campbell getting a start though. He's been overlooked a couple of times and deserves a shot. If it gets him a go in the tests thats good, also deserves a shot there as well.

Did u follow what started those verbals today?. Mulder bowled 3 bouncers and Welch sarcastically asked him and the umpire how many were allowed for the over. He then proceeded to bowl another and again it wasn't called and thats what triggered the sledge fest.
Its good. Its tough cricket and we dont have many guys up for it by the look of things. The game finally had an edge to it when it was over
Welch is averaging 23 because between the 50's he's getting nothing. Clearly susceptible early on, plus he has had about 3 jaffers as well which not many could have done much about, despite Tino's incessant critiques.
A 50 against every team he's played against is surely a good start? Who else has done that? If a black batter had that sort of ok start he'd be on a pedastel. Its a weird conversation to be having. Someone needs to ask Mawoyo what his beef is because a lot of the social media negativity is feeding off of him and Rainsford, theyre full of shit, frankly. Tino setting himself up for a big position in ZC and the only way to do that is sing from the same hymn sheet loud enuf that they make a spot for him. Two sets of rules. Disappointing (thought they were better than that, I didn't listen ) yet entirely understandable. Let's see how quickly they turn on Bennett and Curran because its cricket and they will have a shit time of it at some point. 5 shite innings and they'll be slating them. It would be laughable if it wasn't disgraceful.

Take a look at the deliveries that got our openers out, these bowlers were immaculate. Codi Yusuf is as accurate as Philander and 10kph faster, he's a serious international standard bowler. He's the real deal. That one delivery that got Kaitano ain't nobody surviving that. When Kaitano got a life and was on thirty something we were told this was possibly a career defining innings! I mean where's that from? Its just weird! And was it? Maybe it was, there are definitely two sets of rules in play. Personally I've always rated Kaitano and he had a decent outing this last innings, but he's been exposed at this level and he needs to fix a couple of things, in particular playing out in front of him and not being able to keep it down to mid wicket. If he plays against NZ he will know whats coming his way and better be ready. He's got so much to work with and has got plenty fight! Dion got a great ball as well, maybe could have covered it a bit better. Its not much fun in the front 3.

Let me tell u for free that Bennett and Curran would have struggled against that new ball as well. The pitch was decent but those bowlers were absolutely on point. Neither of them are comfortable at 140. As Pollock pointed out it was a new ball pitch, even on the more benign middle deck. Curran is also on a similar length rope as Welch. We'll see how they go against NZ, who are lethally quick. Of course ZC will play on the nasty end pitches and hope Jesus intervenes for us and it's a 50:50 pitch. Fantastic opportunity to make fuck all in the front 4. Same relentless attack as SA but at 150.
We are in the big pond with the big fish.