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Hi all, watermelon here.

One thing on this forum that always shocks me, and there is a lot of poor knowledge about cricket on this forum, is how many think Graeme Cremer is a worldclass spinner. He is no good at all and is probably only our fourth of fifth best spinner.

After 13 tests, over a ten year period Cremer has picked up 26 wickets at an average of 57.23!!! Only once has he picked up more than 3 wickets in an innings, and that was when he cleaned up a weak Bangladeshi tail in 2013 in the second innings when the game was already lost for the tourists. If you take out his outlying efforts against Bangladesh his average becomes an abominable 86.61 with just 13 wickets from 9 matches.

It is time to move on from crappy Cremer and give one of the young black spinners more chances. Nyumbu, Kamungozi, M'Shangwe, even Maruma are all better bowlers. We even saw how Guptill was more effective as a bowler than Cremer in the second test.

-watermelon.

a) Stop talking about colour.

b) Maruma hasn't been a regular bowler for years. Shows how much attention you've been paying.

c) Cremer isn't world class. Correct.

I would agree with you on this Watermelon . My issue is with Cremer is that he is not playing enough FC cricket. Just a quick look suggests he last played FC in 2013 a good 3 years without any cricket that lasts over 4 days. The flaw in our selection criteria is being exposed. how can someone who last played in 2013 be selected. Another flaw is how does Njabulo Ncube come in from the cold with no major cricket ahead of a much deserving Victor Nyauchui. Many questions in the postmortem review of our first test in 20 months.

have to agree on this that cremer actually needs to do more or maybe play more to get back in form. we mustnt forget this is a guy who broke 1 of his arms not too long ago and I'm sure this has had an effect. I personally feel Chisoro should play more. I honestly don't understand the selection process for this test series when it came to the bowlers. We have been working with Jongwe,Madziva,Welly and Chisoro for almost a year and then suddenly they just disappeared off the map. Nyauchi and Shingi played for the A team then suddenly they weren't up for selection but Mpofu was considered. leaves a lot more questions than answers if you ask me especially because its not like Mpofu Chinouya Ncube and Tiripano are any faster than the guys mentioned

I would strongly suggest that ZC look hard at having a defined selection criteria that is transparent and something players can use to push for higher honours. Currently its a lot wishy washy on who should get selected. Players like Welly, Chisoro , and Nyauchi should not be questiong what they need to do to be selected. One thing that has become clear is there is an issue of discipline and religious faith that has been driving selection. Chisoro did himself no favours after his shenanigans with Luke Jongwe, Madziva needs to prove fitness and desire to play the longer version.

gargamel wrote:One thing that has become clear is there is an issue of discipline and religious faith that has been driving selection.

Could you elaborate on your second point, faith as a factor in selections? Are you suggesting Taibu is only picking regular churchgoers?

This is very true ,

Wabaya Dhedhe nemukanwa

At least when Zhiel and Whatmore were in charge there weren't many head scratching selections, now Taibu and Ntini are picking the squad they've pulled some guys out of no where to be in contention.....

Cremer hasn't been great since he came back. its high time he proves he is worth the extended run he is getting. Selectors need to look at players who are producing the goods in FC cricket. Cause if players like Welly Chisoro are putting their hand surely they should be given a go.

one thing I can say is that it looks like leg spinner get much better with age..just look at how old Tahir and the sri lankan guy are.. cremer can easily play for another 10 years.