[DRAFT 1] Kriterion_BD, eugene, CrimsonAvenger, jaybro

[Kriterion_BD]

I feel with some of your selections it shows you probably didn't start following Zim cricket till about 2010 ?

Closer to 2013. I know almost nothing about the pre 2004 guys with the exception of the big names. I still feel I have a decent squad. There is only one A Flower and one BRM Taylor...so I think I have a well balanced side, although its geared a bit towards Test cricket and less for ODIs.

[eugene]

With my final pick I am going out in a blaze of glory - Mark Vermeulen! This guy had tons of talent and I am selecting pre-head knock Vermeulen if that is allowed?

Kriterion_BD: (#1) Heath Streak, (#8) Guy Whittall, (#9) Alistair Campbell, (#16) Craig Ervine, (#17) Kyle Jarvis, (#24) Stuart Carlisle, (#25) Hamilton Masakadza, (#32) Tendai Chisoro, (#33) Ryan Murray, (#40) PJ Moor, (#41) Shingirai Masakadza

eugene: (#2) Andy Flower, (#7) Murray Goodwin, (#10) Andy Blignaut, (#15) Paul Strang, (#18) Tatenda Taibu, (#23) Duncan Fletcher, (#26) Tendai Chatara, (#31) Vusi Sibanda, (#34) Dougie Marillier, (#39) Ed Rainsford, (#42) Mark Vermeulen

CrimsonAvenger: (#3) Grant Flower, (#6) David Houghton, (#11) Eddo Brandes, (#14) Elton Chigumbura, (#19) Sean Williams, (#22) Ray Price, (#27) Peter Rawson, (#30) Charles Coventry, (#35) Wesley Madhevere, (#38) Solomon Mire

jaybro: (#4) Brendan Taylor, (#5) Neil Johnson, (#12) Sean Ervine, (#13) Graeme Cremer, (#20) Sikander Raza, (#21) Kevin Curran, (#28) Barney Rogers, (#29) Henry Olonga, (#36) Craig Wishart, (#37) Travis Friend

This has lead to some rejigging of my batting lineup, Marillier drops down the order as a late order power hitter and innovator. I am confident my lineup is the strongest. There are a few players I am surprised that have been overlooked - I will name my Leftover XI once everyone has chosen.

Team Eugene:
1. Vusi Sibanda
2. Mark Vermeulen
3. Murray Goodwin
4. Andy Flower
5. Tatenda Taibu (w)
6. Duncan Fletcher (c)
7. Dougie Marillier
8. Andy Blignaut
9. Paul Strang
10. Ed Rainsford
11. Tendai Chatara

[jaybro]

Closer to 2013. I know almost nothing about the pre 2004 guys with the exception of the big names. I still feel I have a decent squad. There is only one A Flower and one BRM Taylor...so I think I have a well balanced side, although its geared a bit towards Test cricket and less for ODIs.

Yes no doubt a great squad, I'd say the best opening partnership slightly better than mine and possibly the most solid top 5 again close to mine. You started your bowling attack well by picking the best player available in Heath Streak; but taking KJ over Chatara was an error IMO and to be fair there's probably still 3-4 guys available now who can lay claim to being better ODI bowlers than KJ & Shingi.

I felt Guy Whittall at No.8 was a big call; IMO Williams & Raza are better middle order ODI batsman; granted Whittall was a very useful ODI medium pacer, you left KC, Fletcher & Sean Ervine on the table.

Whittall is obviously your 5th bowler; which might be a stretch considering Hamilton is the only other bowling option you might struggle if one of your front line bowlers has an off day, which KJ & Shingi had plenty of. I feel you made an error by passing up on Taibu & Razor Price; although that enabled you to secure your top 5.

I feel you have 3-4 guys who have still yet to show their best in ODI cricket; I guess it will be shown whether the judges share your vision .....

[CrimsonAvenger]

Woah! Mark Vermeulen! Smokey selection there. But that line up looks good overall, although, I'd say my bowling line up is the strongest of the 4, with very good backups and variations.

So, adding further to the variation and to introduce a left-hander in the line up who can rotate strike decently, I'd go with another guy who has over 700 youth ODI runs and has leg spin in his armory and some six hitting power. Early in his career, but hoping he comes good on the promise, finally... Ryan Burl to complete my line up.

Kriterion_BD: (#1) Heath Streak, (#8) Guy Whittall, (#9) Alistair Campbell, (#16) Craig Ervine, (#17) Kyle Jarvis, (#24) Stuart Carlisle, (#25) Hamilton Masakadza, (#32) Tendai Chisoro, (#33) Ryan Murray, (#40) PJ Moor, (#41) Shingirai Masakadza

eugene: (#2) Andy Flower, (#7) Murray Goodwin, (#10) Andy Blignaut, (#15) Paul Strang, (#18) Tatenda Taibu, (#23) Duncan Fletcher, (#26) Tendai Chatara, (#31) Vusi Sibanda, (#34) Dougie Marillier, (#39) Ed Rainsford, (#42) Mark Vermeulen

CrimsonAvenger: (#3) Grant Flower, (#6) David Houghton, (#11) Eddo Brandes, (#14) Elton Chigumbura, (#19) Sean Williams, (#22) Ray Price, (#27) Peter Rawson, (#30) Charles Coventry, (#35) Wesley Madhevere, (#38) Solomon Mire, (#43) Ryan Burl

jaybro: (#4) Brendan Taylor, (#5) Neil Johnson, (#12) Sean Ervine, (#13) Graeme Cremer, (#20) Sikander Raza, (#21) Kevin Curran, (#28) Barney Rogers, (#29) Henry Olonga, (#36) Craig Wishart, (#37) Travis Friend

[CrimsonAvenger]

I'll make a separate detailed post describing my line up and the batting order, the logic behind some of the picks and how we would be beating the Aussies at HSC

[jaybro]

With my final pick I am going out in a blaze of glory - Mark Vermeulen! This guy had tons of talent and I am selecting pre-head knock Vermeulen if that is allowed?

I have based my selections on each player at the peak of their powers; Rex during the 2003 series v the Windies is certainly a great player; I really felt he was on the way to be a great International player before that head blow at the Gabba. Earlier that summer he performed really well in the Tests v Australia scoring a 60 odd and a really classy 40 odd at Sydney. He also scored a quick fire 40 against Aus A (same game Carlisle got 100*) he was treating all the Aus A bowlers with disdain that day until Carlisle ran him out. I remember that innings very clearly I was watching at my Aunty's holiday house in Sussex Inlet.

I feel this election is similar to my Travis Friend selection; a quality player who we never saw the best of sadly.


This has lead to some rejigging of my batting lineup, Marillier drops down the order as a late order power hitter and innovator. I am confident my lineup is the strongest. There are a few players I am surprised that have been overlooked - I will name my Leftover XI once everyone has chosen.

Team Eugene:
1. Vusi Sibanda
2. Mark Vermeulen
3. Murray Goodwin
4. Andy Flower
5. Tatenda Taibu (w)
6. Duncan Fletcher (c)
7. Dougie Marillier
8. Andy Blignaut
9. Paul Strang
10. Ed Rainsford
11. Tendai Chatara

Certainly a strong side which looks a lot better with Rex opening and Marillier down at No.7; the opening pair of Vusi & Doug had 2-0 written all over it. I feel Eugene has put together probably the best rounded side, although there might be a few frailties within it. The opening pair I've spoken about both average mid to low 20's but in peak form can produce against the best, from 3-6 this is a very strong side with Goodwin & Andy arguably the two best batsman available, the fact CA and I were too worried about securing keeper batsmen and all-rounders meant Goodwin fell into your lap at No.7 which was a steal.

The bowling attack is very strong with Chatara & Rainsford forming a very good opening pair; Blignaut adds something in all three facets of the game, although his career numbers show he wasn't always a consistent performer, a match winner no doubt on his day. Strang and Dougie add some spin whilst Fletcher was apparently a very useful bowler and indeed a very good- strategic captain.

Apart from the suspect opening partnership the lack of bowling options much like Kriterion's side could come back to hurt if one or two of the front liners have a bad day.

[jaybro]

Woah! Mark Vermeulen! Smokey selection there. But that line up looks good overall, although, I'd say my bowling line up is the strongest of the 4, with very good backups and variations.

So, adding further to the variation and to introduce a left-hander in the line up who can rotate strike decently, I'd go with another guy who has over 700 youth ODI runs and has leg spin in his armory and some six hitting power. Early in his career, but hoping he comes good on the promise, finally... Ryan Burl to complete my line up.

There you yan Burl; I did have him pencilled in for Kriterion, but he went for Peter Moor instead, I felt Kriterion's side needed another bowling option at No.6, he might have missed a trick there.

I didn't expect you to pick another batsman CA; although I assume the fact you have two of 'Mire, Coventry or Madhevere' concerned you so you got some insurance down the order with Burl. As I said with Eugene's top order like wise your top order has 3-1 written all over it as well. But with the talent pool thinning out towards the end we all had to make sacrifices here or there.

Your bowling attack is really good; although I feel you're short another seamer, as the 2015 WC showed Elton & Mire can't been relied on as change bowlers in every match. I thought you might go for Anthony Ireland or Tawanda Mupariwa as your third seamer instead of Burl. Rawson and Brandes are no doubt the best opening attack of the four sides and Razor Price, Grant and Williams are all great ODI bowlers; we could probably swap Williams for Raza which would give both of our attacks some variation, having 3 left arm spinners is a lot, although you still have Wes & Burl for some right arm variation.

I think if you had picked another seamer you would definitely had the best attack of the 4 sides, you still might considering the plethora of spin options you have. I assume Houghton as captain & Coventry keeping wicket?

[jaybro]

So the final pick of what has been a very enjoyable draft; being the last pick I always felt a step behind the rest and looking at my side I feel it might not be the best on paper, but I'd feel confident of being the best on the ground. For my Final pick I select John Traicos and marathon man of Zimbabwean cricket who again like KC & DF spent his best years playing domestically in South Africa.

A wise old spinner even at the age of 45 he still took a 5-for in the inaugural Test v India and played his part at three World Cups for Zimbabwe, speaking to those who had seen him play they rate him higher than anyone we've seen in recent times.

Kriterion_BD: (#1) Heath Streak, (#8) Guy Whittall, (#9) Alistair Campbell, (#16) Craig Ervine, (#17) Kyle Jarvis, (#24) Stuart Carlisle, (#25) Hamilton Masakadza, (#32) Tendai Chisoro, (#33) Ryan Murray, (#40) PJ Moor, (#41) Shingirai Masakadza

eugene: (#2) Andy Flower, (#7) Murray Goodwin, (#10) Andy Blignaut, (#15) Paul Strang, (#18) Tatenda Taibu, (#23) Duncan Fletcher, (#26) Tendai Chatara, (#31) Vusi Sibanda, (#34) Dougie Marillier, (#39) Ed Rainsford, (#42) Mark Vermeulen

CrimsonAvenger: (#3) Grant Flower, (#6) David Houghton, (#11) Eddo Brandes, (#14) Elton Chigumbura, (#19) Sean Williams, (#22) Ray Price, (#27) Peter Rawson, (#30) Charles Coventry, (#35) Wesley Madhevere, (#38) Solomon Mire, (#43) Ryan Burl

jaybro: (#4) Brendan Taylor, (#5) Neil Johnson, (#12) Sean Ervine, (#13) Graeme Cremer, (#20) Sikander Raza, (#21) Kevin Curran, (#28) Barney Rogers, (#29) Henry Olonga, (#36) Craig Wishart, (#37) Travis Friend, (#44) John Traicos

So that finalises my XI

Neil Johnson
Barney Rogers
Brendan Taylor wk
Craig Wishart
Sikander Raza
Sean Ervine
Kevin Curran
Travis Friend
Graeme Cremer c
John Traicos
Henry Olonga

I'm very happy with my side although I feel I lost my shape a touch when CA took Rawson I wouldn't have taken Olonga which meant I would also likely taken Vusi to bat 3 and I wouldn't of ended up with Wishart or Friend. But you can't have it all your own way in a draft so you must react and improvise.

I feel my batting order has the most depth and indeed the most international ODI hundreds with 21, with Neil Johnson I have the best ODI opener Zimbabwe has had IMO and Rogers was certainly on his way to a good career, BT speaks for himself whilst with Raza, Slug, KC and Friend coming in the middle to lower order my XI could set some seriously big totals if the top order sets a good platform.

With the ball much like CA I have made sure I have lots of options; Johnson & KC form a very good opening pair with Henry adding the X-factor, people probably don't know but Curran was extremely fast, so along with Olonga I can challenge CA with the battle of the speed gun. Un-like the other 3 side I have insurance if one of my front line seamers has an off day with Friend & Ervine also good seam bowlers, Ervine and Olonga will do the death bowling.

My XI also has two front line spinners in Cremer & Traicos along with Raza, plus with Cremer and Olonga I have 5 ODI 5-fors the most of all 4 sides.

[CrimsonAvenger]

I didn't expect you to pick another batsman CA; although I assume the fact you have two of 'Mire, Coventry or Madhevere' concerned you so you got some insurance down the order with Burl. As I said with Eugene's top order like wise your top order has 3-1 written all over it as well. But with the talent pool thinning out towards the end we all had to make sacrifices here or there.

I'll explain my batting order soon, so that will let you know how i'll never be 3-1

Your bowling attack is really good; although I feel you're short another seamer, as the 2015 WC showed Elton & Mire can't been relied on as change bowlers in every match.

As we are considering people at the top of their game, Elton before 2010 at the top of his game has even opened the bowling for us with good success. Especially being lethal against the left handed batsmen. And earned an overseas contract with a county side no less, something only the Flowers and Streak could do if I remember correctly.

[foreignfield]

For my Final pick I select John Traicos and marathon man of Zimbabwean cricket who again like KC & DF spent his best years playing domestically in South Africa.

A wise old spinner even at the age of 45 he still took a 5-for in the inaugural Test v India and played his part at three World Cups for Zimbabwe, speaking to those who had seen him play they rate him higher than anyone we've seen in recent times.

Ah, finally. Glad you picked one of my all-time favourites.