20/20 squad announcement

[shumbat]

I hope Sibanda is only there for the 4 day matches, Chibhabha plays better T20 than Sibanda

[sloandog]

I hope Sibanda is only there for the 4 day matches, Chibhabha plays better T20 than Sibanda

Indeed

[ZIMDOGGY]

Strydom should get a hitout here i think.

Sibanda probably has the skills but lacks confidence to go for it.


Lambs the same. But i would include Lamb....for now.

[brmtaylor.com admin]

We'll be relying on spin a lot for this tournament. Maruma's inclusion is mystifying; he's the 5th spinner in line in this squad, and we know from the West Indies series that he's no number three batsman. Would have been much better off selecting another pace bowler.

But you can only work with what you've got, so for the ICC World Twenty20, I'd (somewhat realistically) like to see:

1. Vusi Sibanda
2. Brendan Taylor (wk)
3. Hamilton Masakadza
4. Tatenda Taibu
5. Elton Chigumbura
6. Andy Blignaut
7. Charles Coventry
8. Greg Lamb
9. Graeme Cremer
10. Prosper Utseya (c)
11. Ray Price

In the last couple of years, not a lot has worked for Zimbabwe so they need to bear in mind what has.

Point one; Zimbabwe look to be a much better side chasing down a score. I know there have been exceptions (vs West Indies, Harare 2007) but on the whole they seem to be more comfortable when they don't have to set the pace.

Point two; In 2007 during the ICC World Twenty20, Taylor was nominated wicket keeper and Taibu was used in the field. The reasoning behind this was that Taibu is more agile and quicker, so in Twenty20 you want those sort of guys in the field to stop runs - because every run counts. It worked then, it should be done again this year.

Point three; Sibanda, Taylor and Masakadza should all be in the top three. First dibs at opening should go to Sibanda and Taylor with the request that they replicate what they did vs Australia. Sibanda should attack from the outset and Taylor should anchor the innings. Masakadza at number three, he's played well in the top order over the last 12 months. The key is not to lose early wickets, it's where Zimbabwe always struggle. If we can get to 1/50 after 7 overs or 2/75 after 10 overs then odds are, that being a 20 over match (no matter how many wickets go down after that point) Zimbabwe will get to 140+.

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I don't think Taibu should be in the team, bar one score against Sri Lanka his T20I record is very ordinary. But I was trying to keep my lineup realistic

With three power hitters in the team (Coventry, Chigumbura, Blignaut) I also think there is a case for including one of them up the order to make the most of the powerplay overs, but I do think Sibanda should be given a chance to replicate what he did in South Africa.

It's very spin heavy, but I fear Mpofu would be bludgeoned around the ground by players like Ross Taylor. Lamb was economical in the previous series which is what you ask of a T20 bowler. Cremer and Chigumbura are wicket takers, and Utseya is selected as he is a specialist captain. In fairness to Prosper, he has a very good T20 record - he's not a wicket taker so if he can go for less than 6 an over and not forget to leave someone who is bowling well stranded on 3 overs, he has done his job.

I'm really looking forward to Zimbabwe playing, they exceeded all expectations in 2007 by beating Australia and running England close. As long as they get their basics right (partnerships is the key word) there is no reason why they can't have some success at this years tournament.

[zimfan1]

Allways good to hear from a ZCF legend

Due to the fact that we have explosive batsman such as Chigumbura, Blignaut and Coventry in the middle order i think there is a big case for Taylor opening the innings with Masakadza as he can play the anchor role from ball one aka 2007 T20 world cup against Austrlia and England.

I would go for an all spin attack plus Chigumbura and Blignaut (he has said in the press that he is fit to bowl. As with 4 spinners i think we can really sqaueeze the oppenents particulary New Zealand as long as we get Brendan Mac early.

[Conant]

Point two; In 2007 during the ICC World Twenty20, Taylor was nominated wicket keeper and Taibu was used in the field. The reasoning behind this was that Taibu is more agile and quicker, so in Twenty20 you want those sort of guys in the field to stop runs - because every run counts. It worked then, it should be done again this year.

I don't think Taibu should be in the team, bar one score against Sri Lanka his T20I record is very ordinary. But I was trying to keep my lineup realistic

The merits of Tatenda Taibu being in the team or not I will leave for now, and focus on Zimbabwe's wicket keeping. In all six matches on tour Taibu had at least one stumping (in the last match three) and I think this in itself was a minor record that went unnoticed by our (record) keepers.

Mind you all these were deliberate setups and I don’t know how many keepers would have managed that many.

At the time the West Indies series was taking place, Australia was playing New Zealand and I remember thinking how slow Brendon McCullum seemed in comparison. (Indeed there is an earlier post in our thread (with a source URL on cricinfo http://blogs.cricinfo.com/thelonghandle ... riller.php that looks at the merits of Taibu being the world's best keeper))

My point is relegate Taibu to the outfield in you are potentially missing out on a whole lot more wickets for our spinners. In any case I'm not sure there is a case for Brendan Taylor behind the stumps. He's missed out on a lot of chances at the wicket and his slow footwork behind is reflected in his batting.

If you ask Dave Houghton, he will tell you the key AND basics to good wicket keeping is EARLY foot movement, which Taylor doesn't have.

[sloandog]

If you ask Dave Houghton, he will tell you the key AND basics to good wicket keeping is EARLY foot movement, which Taylor doesn't have.

True Taylors foot movement is poor, at the beginning of his innings. When he has his eye in his feet move very well

[ZIMDOGGY]

Dont get your hopes up with Arnoldus Mauritius.

I'm as happy as anyone hes back. True story. However hes been out of the game for 5 years, was a bowler back in the day (NOT a batsman, although he can strike a ball as sweetly as everyone, but it wasnt his forte) and hes dropped his bowling routine by the looks of it.

Just that some people think hes all that. And just remember the few times he blinged and freaked out like an ice addict on crack like against Aus at the world cup etc etc and asume he did it every time.


Good memories though.

[CrimsonAvenger]

Dont get your hopes up with Arnoldus Mauritius.

I'm as happy as anyone hes back. True story. However hes been out of the game for 5 years, was a bowler back in the day (NOT a batsman, although he can strike a ball as sweetly as everyone, but it wasnt his forte) and hes dropped his bowling routine by the looks of it.

Just that some people think hes all that. And just remember the few times he blinged and freaked out like an ice addict on crack like against Aus at the world cup etc etc and asume he did it every time.


Good memories though.

We don't have the Andy Flowers and the Heath Streaks anymore, the sureshot match winners. We need to be content with the next best things, and Bliggie is one such guy.

I'm not too worried about Bliggie the bowler, if he bowls, let us see. But Bliggie the batsman looked far more matured in Stanbic T20 than ever before and was timing his shots beautifully. Our best chances of winning are when either Bliggie / Chiggs get to play majority of the overs (may be overs 8-20) with a solid foundation laid by Mazza / Chappie. Taibu being there to rotate strike with Bliggie / Chiggs would also help a great deal.

[Flower power]

Its good news as the openers do not have to worry about who will carry tyhru the batting . They need to keep the runs coming in steadily then , they will open the floodgates . I fancy our chances of claiming both the scalps of the Sri Lankans and the Black Caps . T20 WC here we come