[Match Thread] New Zealand v Zimbabwe: 1st ODI

[FlowerPower]

Zimbabwe's Minister of Sport David Coltart on Twitter: "As in the Test not a bad bowling performance but we are being let down by our batting top order. Do we need to swallow some humble pie?"

The top order of Hami and Matsi is the problem. They get bogged down and put undue pressure on the rest. We dont need openers from Curran-Duffin era and we are seriously missing Coventry here

Can't agree more with the minister, and actually I think he is being diplomatic. I remember saying somewhere on this forum, we could have fined Vusi a percentage of his match fee or something, but not unsettle a fragile batting line up "just to prove a point"...result is we have taken a dozen step back, and people like Hami whose confidence was on an edge may never recover, and spare a thought for the likes of Matsi and Mutizwa and to an extent Chakabva, all their good work is now marred, and (conspiracy like) some of us are even jumping on these poor guys' backs...oblivious of the fact they have been set up to fail.

Aside: I seem to be totally convinced we are using Meth and Vittori wrongly, as I said in an earlier post, I think these lads are being played in the wrong formats, i.e. I think Meth is a longer form bowler and Vitori a limited overs bowler, just look at their records, domestically and internationally and you will see what I mean, very much like Matsi and Mutizwa. Matsi seemed to fail in Tests and Logan cup, but seems to do that much better in limited overs cricket, and inversely for Mutizwa, who hasn't done terribly in ODI and Pro50, but hardly amazing, but does markedly better in Logan Cup and hopefully if given a chance will do so in test. Unfortunately for them the selectors and ZC as a whole has sold them down the stream, by the insane decisions to send them up the order in the face of a very shaky and makeshift opening pair (in Matsi's case he has had to be that opener, and Mutizwa has virtually played this opening role in the Test!)

But yes, "humble pie anyone?"

[FlowerPower]

Interestingly for all of Vitori's bussle, there isn't much difference between them in pace. Or probably with N.Waller.

I think you are stretching it a tad, Jemisi, Vitori in his first spell (read first 5/6 overs) touched 137, hovered between 130-134, and averaged about 130, Meth was hardly there, its only his day 1 end spell that he(Vitori) was considerably slower that he was comparable to Meth. I strongly believe these two just need to swap formats, Meth is suited to the longer format and Vitori to limited overs check the stats and you will see what I mean.

[FlowerPower]

Interestingly for all of Vitori's bussle, there isn't much difference between them in pace. Or probably with N.Waller.

We saw though that Vitori can get it up to say 84Mph which Meth can't.

Tbh I can't comment on Waller i dont know what pace he bowls at

Agreed Sloan...

[FlowerPower]

Does everybody agree that Shingrai Mazakadza looks better than he did when he played against South Africa ( in terms of control )

Agreed again Sloan...two in a row...miracles happen! but I think he isnt the finished article yet. I now worry about control, I was convinced Meth was a perfect fit replacement for Mpofu, and this and the few in Zim against NZ seem to argue against that theory. We definitely need to find a Mpofu like bowler, thankfully Mpofu still has pleanty time on his side, and when fit, will fill this gap.

Chigs the bowler also delivered, like I said, ODI/T20 his the first name on the team sheet, not Test though, as neither bat nor ball is an outright guarantee of a place for him, i.e. he is not in the top 6 Test batsmen, nor top 3 pacemen, so it's a bit difficult to find him a place in the Test team, but in ODI, the number 7 slot is his undisputed!

[bayhaus]

Went next door to watch the cricket today and the bowling performance was cool and enjoyed watching my favourite Shingi bowling! He does need get some control but that low ball of his is wicked and well controlled each time he bowled it I think it was once I saw it stray for a wide. From 133kmh to 101 out the back of the hand. Wicked stuff! Meth gets some serious swing but I think he is only effective early on in the innings so he must bowl most of his overs early in the innings his second spell wasnt great at all. And as for call for him to replace Chigs as an allrounder, absolutely no ways, based on his batting performance today he didnt look like a batter at all has to come in solely as a bowler.

My worst fears were confirmed with our opening partnership, Bogged down. Setting the agenda for the rest of the innings.
Poor mats had to open, poor regy had to "open" and eventually Taylor opened.

[foreignfield]

Good to see Shingi strutting his stuff on the international stage ... for now he should probably be used exclusively during the middle overs batting powerplay and at the death. It's the toughest job, but he's best equipped for it with his slower balls.

Disappointing batting again, it seems as if everybody, except Taylor, is woefully out of form. But that's just based on the commentary and comments here ... anyone got a link for some highlights?

[hhm]

No body is insulting you. It's just that you tend to chose wrong time and wrong players with wrong judgement with lengthy and crafty essays. Peace and enjoy todays win

To think at that stage you still had a win in sight is astonishing! Sentiment totally overules reason!

But then Matsi and Regis would have come in, got bogged down, got out and we would have lost all momentum. Best to get the dead wood out of the way early so you still have time to save the game.

Clearly Waller really pushed on the innings. Came in during the 21st over, 2nd/3rd change bowlers, less pressure, but couldn't reverse the pressure, neither could he bat on for the rest of the innings and help us to anything but a 90run defeat!

Malcolm Waller had struck a match-winning unbeaten 99 in the sides' last encounter, in Bulawayo. But rarely seemed comfortable here, and though the tail added late runs and entertainment after his demise..............

Let's face it, he's spot is far from secure. All of Mutizwa, Matsi, Ewing, Craig still have it within reach. In competitive matches, he hasn't delivered. All his ODI half centuries coming in dead rubbers, when he should've been replaced(rested) to give another batsman a chance.

Bayhaus, this 'unwillingness' to open from Taylor, is what's affecting this team! Captain not leading from the front, he's leading from the middle! Him and Shakib are the same!

[takleg]

Really surprised Regis got in ahead of BT. I wouldn't go as far as calling Taylor a coward, but he better man up and move up to open until Vusi comes back.

[brmtaylor.com admin]

Matsikenyeri worked hard at domestic level - I'd say solid without setting the world on fire, but enough to not question his recall to the squad. He's opened before at international level and quite frankly he's lucky to be in the team; so it's up to him to make the most of his opportunities. He hasn't got off to a good start but who's surprised? I'm happy to give him until the end of the tour to try and turn things around but ultimately he's played over 100 ODIs for an average of barely 20 - it's going to be an uphill battle for him.

Good bowling performance from what I saw (the first 30 overs or so). I have to be honest, I have never seen in Meth what others have but I'm happy that he's getting opportunities because he's getting rewarded for fantastic domestic performances. He gets a lot of swing and it's very impressive, but I fear that he's just too slow for international cricket. The swing is almost negated by the amount of time the batsman has to prepare to play his shot. This is why I am more hopeful about Vitori and Jarvis when they bowl - they also get swing but it's at a pace where it's more threatening.

Jarvis bowled very well, he was hitting a lovely line and length during the spell I saw and beat the outside edge a number of times. At just 22 he is such an exciting prospect. The more he plays international cricket the better he is getting. I'd love to see him gain an extra 6-7 kmph, but I'm sure Streak and co are working on that.

S Masakadza is improving! He's still bowling the Harmison line at times but we expect that. Maybe it is a psychological thing? Because it happens so regularly, I wonder if he suffers the same problem at domestic level? I still rate him below Jarvis and Vitori because besides the slower ball (which is good) and the ball 5 ft outside off he lacks variation. If he can gain extra pace then this isn't so much of a problem. Nonetheless, if he can keep bowling at less than 5 to the over he'll hold on to his spot and deservedly so.

Taylor batted very well, but that's all that can be said of the batting. The problems with the batting won't be solved on this tour; I think the changes have unsettled the lineup too much.

Really surprised Regis got in ahead of BT. I wouldn't go as far as calling Taylor a coward, but he better man up and move up to open until Vusi comes back.

I'd like to see Taylor opening too, but I understand why he's not. He even said before the Bangladesh Test that he was looking forward to facing the first ball and that he likes opening. The decision to bat at four has come from within the change room, Taylor has publicly said that. Having said all that, I understand the reluctance of changing the one thing in Zimbabwe's batting lineup that is working - his move to four has resulted in a lot of runs being scored. Since this time last year he's averaged 107 at #4, 94 at #3 and 27 opening.

[jimbo]

Matsi didnt exactly set the world alight batting in the middle order either but i think he needs to play all 3 internationals as its only fair to him to gauge if he has come on since his international abscence