[Match Thread] Zimbabwe v New Zealand: 2nd Test

[rupeni]

So we must drop a guy who averages mid 30s and replace him with someone who averages in the 20s or less because no one else in the current setup has stats that match his!! Form is temporary but class is permanent! We do not have the player pool to be making such decisions.. Who replaces him?? Chari?? Hami??? Vusi??? Who????

BT went through a similar phase a few years ago if I remember well. With Zimbo fans you're only as good as your last game lmao

[Kriterion_BD]

Last we will see of Raza in the whites. Straight swap for Hammy imo

Raza is out of form. Don't rate the guy, and while he's not much better than Hammy, he certainly isn't any worse. Raza scored more in the 2nd innings of the first Test than Hammy did in the entire match.

Raza averages 35/36 in Test cricket. That's the 3rd best average only behind Andy Flower and Dave Houghton. Now let that sink in.. He's had two bad games and people are calling for his head.. Lmao

Like I said I don't think Raza is that good. he's got the talent to be a 35 Test bat but he lacks the Temperament. He's got aggressiveness that goes for him and he plays with a lot of heart. Those are rare comodities.

But honestly, I think if he plays enough games Raza will be a guy that averages in the high 20s, possibly around 30. I think Chakabva, Mawoyo will have similar averages. I can see Hammy finishing with a sub 25 average if he plays another 10+ Tests. Guys like Elton and Vusi will average 20 at best. Chibabha I see averaging 25 maybe in the high 20s.

Williams and Ervine will average 35+ and if they do really well can even top 40 and if they do that they will be about as good as Taylor ever was. They're close but have a bit to go before they can get that accolade.

Chakabva and Mawoyo have outside shots of averaging 35+, but I think they will probably be in the 30-35 range.

Everyone else apart from those 4 will be under 30.

Not sure about Moor though...didn't think he had the technique, and it from reading the comments seems he had a streaky 71 in the first innings but a score is a score. Shakib al Hasan has crap technique and edges a lot but still averages 40.

[rupeni]

Well Williams and Mawoyo have a similar average, about 30/31.. BT averaged 34 but everyone was so shìt he looked like Sachin in that team.. You can say all you want about what you'll think so and so will average in the future but it stays just that, your opinion!! I'm stating FACTS! Raza averages 38.60 (I just checked).. Before this series Craig had played 7 tests and scored less than 300 runs at an average of 24.. Raza had scored 350 in 5.. You can say all you want mate but numbers don't lie.. BT and William's numbers don't even come close to Raza's and that's a FACT! Coming into this Test match Ervine had played more Tests than Raza but had scored fewer runs. Must I remind you only Andy Flower and Dave Houghton have better stats than Raza in Test cricket But none had a better start to Test cricket than him. Now he's out off form but those stats are pretty impressive!

[Kriterion_BD]

I've never said numbers lie, but once everyone plays 15-20 Tests you can get an idea about where they stand relative to one another. Only Hammy has that many so far. You're right its just my opinon on Raza, but from what I have seen, he doesn't seem to me to be a player who can really bat big consistently.

[Jemisi]

Raza's test stats are fine, the only reason he is under threat is his limited overs stats throughout the year.

[ZIMDOGGY]

So we must drop a guy who averages mid 30s and replace him with someone who averages in the 20s or less because no one else in the current setup has stats that match his!! Form is temporary but class is permanent! We do not have the player pool to be making such decisions.. Who replaces him?? Chari?? Hami??? Vusi??? Who????

BT went through a similar phase a few years ago if I remember well. With Zimbo fans you're only as good as your last game lmao

There is some truth to what you say,but...

In the space of one test, Erv and Razas average has pretty much flipped over, just like that, that easy.

Why?

Small sample size.

We cant gauge any form of worthwhile statistical analysis with less than ten tests.

What we do know is form and confidence. Raza isnt himself at the moment, i know for a fact.

Ervine though is absolutely oozing class.

If he managed to put away a few more stray balls that came his way, id say that was as good an innings that ive seen from any test batsman the last few years. Never once did he look like getting out, except his little slog out at the end. Even when the mid 90s pressure was starting to affect him, evidenced by the run rate at the time. Now he has done it, i doubt it will happen again.

[foreignfield]

Ervine though is absolutely oozing class.

If he managed to put away a few more stray balls that came his way, id say that was as good an innings that ive seen from any test batsman the last few years. Never once did he look like getting out, except his little slog out at the end. Even when the mid 90s pressure was starting to affect him, evidenced by the run rate at the time. Now he has done it, i doubt it will happen again.

50.6 Southee to Ervine, 2 runs, oh my. Taylor has spilled a sitter.

In all fairness he had his usual nervous start and was lucky to survive his first few overs (he was on one when he was dropped) -- but Brian Lara for one was an equally circumspect starter, and if Craig can do half of what Lara could do once he got in ... yummy. After that I agree Craig was sublime.

Overall, f**** the last three balls. One down we might have had half a chance, but I just don't see us survive the whole day now.

[SpitfiresKent]

Required run rate is 4.something. Go for it lads!

[Dr_Situ(ZimFanatic)]

Why send in Tiripano with one over to go, when Raza is facing! That's stupidity surely!
Send in Ervine, but don't run anything in this final over surely!

Ah bugger, and now Raza's gone. In the space of 5 minutes we've gone from having some hope tomorrow to an inevitable loss. Disappointing.

Today's first hour explained why Dony was sent last night. he has already played 50 plus balls. Only 2 and half sessions to survive.

[tawac]

Tiripano has held his own with the bat here good effort from him indeed.