[Logan Cup 2017 Round 1] Rhinos v Rising Stars

[sloandog]

Even though the rising stars are slightly thin on the batting front, there's some encouraging signs from the top order. Yes there's been no scores yet (except Burl), but that attack they're facing have all played international Cricket, except Bruce (although that may change with a good domestic season).

They certainly bowled very well and young Taffy Mupariwa looks to be digging in with Burl.
Bur's strike rate is the impressive thing here. If they were slow, boring runs, then he would be confined to that status of being longer format specialist' but he's scored 10 boundaries. The more I think/type it, the more I think he could do a very good job in opening the batting in ODI cricket with Mire. Left/right hand combination as well.

If there's any such thing, this is a good headache for the selectors to deal with!

[CrimsonAvenger]

There seems to be an unwritten rule to get more practice and game time into national team folks and fringe players. Why would they not bowl Bruce for more than 5 overs in both the digs otherwise? Lot of bowling by Cremer and Chisoro, and Raza too, in the other match.

[pariah]

Burl giving the selectors a headache for that middle order slot come the west indies test matches.

Hhm, what's your view on Burl being a potential opener? You're usually keen for the in form players to face the music

Yes I want them thrown into the deepend at franchise level, and I think I made Burl open for Rising Stars. But I'm not really a fan of youngsters batting above seniors at the highest level. Unfortunately Burl is not a Brathwaite, Ahmed Shehzad, Monimul Haque or even a Matt Renshaw. None of the ZIM youngsters are(yet?).

In his own right as a batsman, Burl can arguably get into the Test side ahead of Malcolm, Sean and Moor. But he must also drop this nonsense of wanting to bowl. The likes of Burl, Musakanda etc are still young and will have pleny of time on their hands to make a case for themselves. Test cricket is extremely hard. Players like Theunis de Bruyn don't fail because they are inept. It's Test cricket.

Right now ZIM have very good Test batsmen in Hami and Taylor, plus lately Craig has thrown his name into the hat (time will tell if he can sustain it). They will most probably bat 3-5, so like everyone admits, that middle order is packed. Opening has vacancies yes, but only Raza can fill half of that but he won't, and I'm afraid they'll be forced to turn back to Tino (just like they'll be forced to turn back to a number of players eventually) and someone else.

That number 6 position is one I'd like to see reserved to try out new young deserving batsmen. If Streak and Co decide to do that then maybe Burl should go for it, and likewise Tari and Kasuza, plus Chari too.

The reality is that If Hami is forced to open, and fails again, he will be dropped. Simple as that! Burl might get in that way. But personally I don't think any of the ZIM youngsters are better Test bats than Mawoyo, Vusi and Hami.

NB: SL and PAK scored 400+, then both battled to get to 100. AUS and SA have bowled each other out for next to nothing. In all these instances great world class bowlers were the reason. In Zimbabwe's case even average bowlers on 3rd gear can make a difference. Question to ask is can Burl or Musakanda compete against IND A/AUS A/ENG Lions/SA A bowlers, or even their Emerging(u23) sides' bowlers? I'm not convinced.

[pariah]

Or would he be one of those domestic bullies we have gotten used to over the years?

The way I look at it is the Logan Cup has bullies - both bowling and batting. The good batsmen hide way too low, so plenty new ball seamers are assured on average at least 2-4 easy wickets per match, then the tail to top it off. At the end of the season the stats look great. Conversely those top batsmen literally face more balls from change bowlers and part-timers. It's like Aiden Markram vs Bangladesh . Malcolm Waller averages what like 40 in FC, but man he makes you cringe at time in the middle. Similarly Cuthbert Musoko has such great stats you'd throw him the new ball in a Test tomorrow, but like Carl Mumba, he would've been hammered by SL. Too many bullies in Logan Cup and they are not bothered about it.

EDIT: As we speak, 4 left handers batting right now across the two matches. With such a dearth of left handers in our system at the moment, this is a nice thing to notice

That's why Nkosana Mpofu should be playing.

[pariah]

There seems to be an unwritten rule to get more practice and game time into national team folks and fringe players.

Are you referring to the Logan Cup? I think you're speaking about bowlers because this has never been the case for batsmen. The situation is such that in the end, the top batsmen in the Logan Cup won't get to bat much because a big team score can give rise to an easy victory, with a batsman getting just one innings of easy runs in part.

Traditionally, on tour in a warm ups, they always try and get some batsmen to bat as high as possible. I almost never see that where Zimbabwe is concerned. Recently Mire got a century and was rested against Netherlands(List A though). Nothing was changed in the order.

Rising Stars batted just 53 overs in the first innings. That's nothing! It makes sense to give Cremer more overs compared to Bruce. What doesn't make sense is Raza a smuch as and ahead of Jongwe(while Mboyi got the new ball ahead of Jongwe). Again if Nathan was picked to go to Sri Lanka, why is he bowling 3rd change for Eagles(behind Garwe and Taurai Muzarabani)???

[jaybro]

Burl is showing why his FC stats are that good. I think people were right when they said he is a better FC prospect than Tari. He just needs that one big international knock to get his career going and prove doubters like myself wrong. The only slot available is the openers slot tho.

*like

[TapsC]

Cremer clearly too good for the kids.. Besides the obvious guys it looks like Mashinge might be a genuine all round prospect

[jaybro]

10 wickets for Cremer

[tawac]

10 wickets Cremer and a 49 batting contribution. He could easy batting at 7 in the national team.

[CrimsonAvenger]

Moor has pretty much sealed his fate there.

A very creditable performance on debut for the Rising Stars. Onwards and upwards then.

If Chakabva fails for the second time in the other match, Richie should get an opportunity for Zim A vs the WI in my book.