2nd test Zim Vs NZ

[ZIMDOGGY]

I saw Charis first class stats courtesy of a picture post on facebook yesterday.

He averages 20 in List A.
20.

If he can only muster an average of 20 against extremely weak bowling attacks in the Logan Cup. And I mean WEAK as in the gulf between the domestic scene and the international scene is the biggest in the world, with our best paceman not being good enough to make any other test nation+ Afghan if they were eligible, how can we expect anything more than an average of I am guessing, 12?

This would make him a solid number ten batsman in any other test country, and we want him as an opener?

Whos idea was it to select him in the first place?

Is he the worst batsman to ever play for Zimbabwe factually speaking?

[Kriterion_BD]

Hamilton is not "out of form"...career average of 25 in all formats against decent sides and thats about what he scored in the first test on a belter of a wicket. If Hamilton is out of form, so then is Vusi, a far more elegant batsmen to begin with.


Older statesman like Vusi & Hami should concentrate on the short format games..Leave promising youngsters to play tests & some ODIs ...

The thing with Vusi, and I know a week ago I was thinking "gosh, how was I ever a Vusi fan"...but after watching Chari, you realize how much better Vusi is. Vusi can genuinely play good shots against good bowlers. Very few ZIM batters can say that. If he can just curb his hook/pull shot, he could score some useful runs.

Hamilton, sadly, that 25 average means he should be in the team. But he's well below what most posters here rate him at.

[ZIMDOGGY]

The thing with Hammy is,
He is one of three,maybe four people, in the country whom i believe is capable of producing an international test century.

He, Craig and perhaps Ervine and at a stretch, Regis.

Only Hammy and Sean have hit test centuries, this time last week that would have been one.

Thats the case FOR Hammy.

Brian Chari cannot get a test century against a good attack, but Hammy can. His talent ceiling is higher.

[TapsC]

Hami should honestly not be playing anymore but unfortunately we just don't have the talent to replace..as much as he has his days some of his dismissals are appalling. a good example is that caught and bowled in his first innings. ye is the kind of guy who needs to be dropped for at least year to work on his game..being dropped for 1 tour helped him a lot. I would honestly replace him with Vusi who is one batsman who has the skill set to bat long if he gets in but the biggest fear is that he won't be able to resist that pull shot which is a guaranteed dismissal in test cricket. chari is definitely way out of his depth but he is young and should spend a few more years improving his game.

I think our biggest challenge is finding a top order who can hold their nerves for the first 30 or so overs because that's when NZ are the most threatening. I would go for Mawoyo who can leave the ball all day, Raza who can release the pressure with his counter attacking play and Craig Ervine at 3 because he can also leave the ball and take body blows well. I would then play Hami Vusi And Williams in the middle order as they are the guys who have gotten big scores at this level. PJ would be my keeper and I believe that he could surprise many if he gets to play his natural game when the NZ bowlers are 70 or so overs into their bowling innings. don't really have an opinion on the bowlers.

[foreignfield]

I think our biggest challenge is finding a top order who can hold their nerves for the first 30 or so overs because that's when NZ are the most threatening. I would go for Mawoyo who can leave the ball all day, Raza who can release the pressure with his counter attacking play and Craig Ervine at 3 because he can also leave the ball and take body blows well. I would then play Hami Vusi And Williams in the middle order as they are the guys who have gotten big scores at this level. PJ would be my keeper and I believe that he could surprise many if he gets to play his natural game when the NZ bowlers are 70 or so overs into their bowling innings.

Sounds reasonable to me. I'd be inclined to switch Ervine and Vusi, though, because I believe Vusi is one of the better equipped batsmen when it comes to facing the new ball (better in a 'less bad than others' sort of way). I see more value in Ervine in the middle order, but maybe you're right and it's the time and place to see if he can handle the crucial no. 3 position

[watermelon]

Watermelon 2nd test 11.

Prince
Mawoyo
Vusi
Hammy
Ervine
Chakabva
Mutumbami
Cremer c
Donald tiripano
Chisoro
Chinouya

My reasoning:
Prince played fantastic and is a natural selection
Mawoyo good enough to replace chari
Vusi- one of the best
Chakabva sverages 38 in fist class so should concentrate on batting
Mutumbami- one of the best keepers in world today
Ervine- borderline selection, but he is growing On me, I kind of like him, he reminds me of jemisi
Raza, dropped for indifferent form. The Indian will need to have a curry and go back in the nets and he will be back
Williams- way too hot and cold, controversial drop but I guarantee he will not back up with another big score, he needs time to recover from illness.
Chisoro, best spinner in the country
Cremer- deserves another go due to his fighting quality with the bat

[Kriterion_BD]

The thing with Hammy is,
He is one of three,maybe four people, in the country whom i believe is capable of producing an international test century.

He, Craig and perhaps Ervine and at a stretch, Regis.

Only Hammy and Sean have hit test centuries, this time last week that would have been one.

Thats the case FOR Hammy.

Brian Chari cannot get a test century against a good attack, but Hammy can. His talent ceiling is higher.

I would have agreed had Hami been an under 25 batter with fewer than 100 caps. But he's pushing 33 (my age) has been around for 15 years (more than a career for many players) and has around 200 caps across formats. Regardless of the conditions, he hasn't scored a single century against a decent attack in all this time/experience. What are the chances he will in another 200 caps? At the very least, a decent player ought to hit 10 tons from 200 caps. Guys like Vaas, Harbhajan, even Kumble I think have tons to their name.

In that regard, Vusi is just as likely to hit a Test ton against a good attack as Hamilton...which is to say they each have a 1% chance.

Williams we saw just did it in his 3rd Test. Which means he can at least do it once from 200 odd caps.

Chakabva is out of form, but I like his grit and his technique. I back him, for now at least.

Ervine too I think has the class, although he may not be quite as talented as Williams, or even Vusi (Vusi's problem is not a lack of a talent, but a lack of grey matter between the ears).

I will never understand this forum's fascination with Hamilton, Elton (back when he was the shit up till about 2014), Prosper (till 2015), and now Jongwe. Likewise I don't understand the hate that Mutumbami gets on this forum. His numbers are hardly worse than Jongwe's with the bat and may even be better. Sure he's a crappy WK, but pick him as a specialist bat. He ain't worse than Chari.

[Conant]

. Likewise I don't understand the hate that Mutumbami gets on this forum. His numbers are hardly worse than Jongwe's with the bat and may even be better. Sure he's a crappy WK, but pick him as a specialist bat. He ain't worse than Chari.

Word.

[watermelon]

Watermelon 2nd test 11.

Prince
Mawoyo
Vusi
Hammy
Ervine
Chakabva
Mutumbami
Cremer c
Donald tiripano
Chisoro
Chinouya

My reasoning:
Prince played fantastic and is a natural selection
Mawoyo good enough to replace chari
Vusi- one of the best
Chakabva sverages 38 in fist class so should concentrate on batting
Mutumbami- one of the best keepers in world today
Ervine- borderline selection, but he is growing On me, I kind of like him, he reminds me of jemisi
Raza, dropped for indifferent form. The Indian will need to have a curry and go back in the nets and he will be back
Williams- way too hot and cold, controversial drop but I guarantee he will not back up with another big score, he needs time to recover from illness.
Chisoro, best spinner in the country
Cremer- deserves another go due to his fighting quality with the bat

Another masterstroke from watermelon. Williams was indeed useless in this test and Mawoyo was a shining light. My special feeling about Ervine also turned out to be true. I bet flakeman and co were happy to see I was right once again. I better give Taibu another call and give him my thoughts, we always have good chats.

-watermelon.

[watermelon]

Guys!
Tell me,
Did you like my prerdiction about Williams?

I was on point as usual, i said he wouldnt do anything this test and i was right!