NZ Warm Up Match Thread

[Conant]

Well, there goes Mtizwa's spot. I must say his form in that last three or four innings leading up to this game have been umimpressive, and he does seem to choke on the big occassion as well. Back to the drawing board for him, and back to Chakabva I guess for the selectors. So probably Taylor will have to bat at three for this match, and two bowlers still have to give way...

[betterdays]

Well, there goes Mtizwa's spot. I must say his form in that last three or four innings leading up to this game have been umimpressive, and he does seem to choke on the big occassion as well. Back to the drawing board for him, and back to Chakabva I guess for the selectors. So probably Taylor will have to bat at three for this match, and two bowlers still have to give way...

Hard to see how you figure that? ... I suppose - at a stretch - we can say that Chaks has never choked - his performances/averages are not good enough becasue he isn't good enough, while Mutizwa has choked becasue his performances/averages don't always live up to his FC promise. Still, when it comes to big occasions arguably his two biggest occasions have been 1) his return to the side vs BD (27*) a few failures against BD ensued, and he was dropped for PK but 2) he was given a scond chance to prove he's up to it vs NZ and strode out in the first ODI with Zim in disarray and scored 69. I don't think choking is his problem, he may need a persistent run (the likes that were afforded Vusi, Matsi, Coventry, Taylor himself and a few other slow starters) but we may be beyond those days ... some A team tours are probably best for both these guys but without Vusi we have to choose one and as there's unlikely to be a second innnings Chaks has made it less of a no-brainer than it was ... and good on him (he doesn't have much support here)

[FlowerPower]

Well, there goes Mtizwa's spot. I must say his form in that last three or four innings leading up to this game have been umimpressive, and he does seem to choke on the big occassion as well. Back to the drawing board for him, and back to Chakabva I guess for the selectors. So probably Taylor will have to bat at three for this match, and two bowlers still have to give way...

I now see and understand what we mean about yoyo mentality of fans...Chakabva was the source of anguish, and one decent knock (a fine effort at that) and he is the flavor of the match and yes you guessed it he is first on our team sheet....

[Zombi]

Judging by what im reading, it seems like a lot of you guys would have been happy had Chakabva got the duck and Mutizwa 87*. This is not the case though, and we should look at this issue broadly. Foster is no Brandon Taylor and regardless of how well he has done at domestic level- his failure to peak at crucial times has just lost him a place in the side.

As it is, the figures show that Shingi is way ahead of Meth and deserves to get the third seamer spot. Unless Meth gets a fiver or somthing close to that. Logan cup scores is what got these guys in the 15 men party but warm ups are what decides who is better prepared for real tests. I have seen England use warm ups to decide between Tremlett and Bresnan, Auz on Khawaja and Marsh etc.

Who knows maybe NZ wickets suit Regis' batting and Shingi's all round ability. As far as im concerned only a few Zimbos can walk into this team based on experience and past perfomance- Taylor, Mawoyo, Mpofu, jarvis, Tiba to a less extent. The rest of the places are up for grabs. We may debate all we want but come thursday Shingi and Regis will be in the team and rightfully so.

[Zimfanatic69]

This match proves Matsi must play in the test.

[eugene]

This match proves Matsi must play in the test.

Matsi does tend to make more of an impression from the bench than he does on the field.

[Jemisi]

[Zombi]

I was shocked to hear that Stuart was selected. I think the selectors spend a lot of time on this forum than they do analysing the player coz that dude cant play.

[CrimsonAvenger]

Match over with NZ XI getting 274 / 5 in second innings. But we took only 1 wicket and the other 4 were retired outs. Wicket going ot Cremer, and Price did not bowl at all. Hopefully its just resting him ahead of the test.

All the faster men struggling in the second dig, with Vitori and Shingi also having no-ball issues. But figures of Vitori better than others in terms of economy despite the no-balls.

[hhm]

Grand total of two wickets in two innings from our fearsome opening bowling pair. NZ must be creaking in their knees. The wicket won't hide Cremer's medicrity!

All of Jarvis, Vitori, Meth & Shingi have shown that they are still too raw for this level. Whether you believe I'm defensive or not, this second innings highlights just how much Rainsford, Mpofu & Panyangara are still the top bowlers in Zim at this level. These NZ batsmen batted and retired out at will. No pressure at all! Expect worse in the Test! Elton may be ridiculed but he delivers just as much with the ball, and can bat better than these guys.