zimcricketforums.com

The Cricinfo article that quotes Brendan Taylor saying "I think this can be the best period of Zimbabwe cricket" has got me thinking.

If Zimbabwe were able to field all players that are, or could be, eligible for us, would it be the strongest Zimbabwe squad in history?

So let's have some fun, tinged with sadness, and select our possible Zimbabwe test squads!

I'd go with:

1. Hamilton Masakadza
2. Brendan Taylor
3. Gary Ballance
4. Craig Ervine
5. Hilton Cartwright
6. Tatenda Taibu (he's only 34! easily young enough to be playing tests in a perfect world)
7. Sam Curran
8. Tom Curran
9. Graeme Cremer
10. Kyle Jarvis
11. Tendai Chatara

12. Sikandar Raza
13. Colin De Grandhomme
14. Ed Byrom
15. Solomon Mire
16. Sean Ervine

Imagine if we could lure them all back

If it were tests I'd have 1. Byrom 2. Ballance 3 . H.Masakadza 4 . C.Ervine 5. Taylor ( wk ) 6. Cartwright 7. S. Curren 8. De grandhomme 9. Cremer ( c) 10. Jarvis 11. Chatara . One can only dream , this side would be very very handy

Both excellent lineups, if only we could see this happen in real life.

You best me to this topic! I was going to post something similar. Amazing coincidence!

I have one variance though, let's do the same but restrict it to just ELIGIBlE players, tinge it with realism and exclude the guys who aren't playing for zim.

Maybe category A and B?

Ok so here's my contemporary starting XI:

Age
1. Gary Balance (27)
2. Nick Welch (19)
3. Craig Ervine (32)
4. Brendan Taylor (Wkt/Cpt) (31)
5. Sean Williams (31)
6. Sean Ervine (34)
7. Colin De Grandhome (31)
8. Sam Curran (19)
9. Graeme Cremer (31)
10. Tom Curran (22)
11. Kyle Jarvis (28)

12. Tendai Chatara
13. Hamilton Mazakadza
14. Sikander Raza
15. Malcolm Lake

A very white set up, I can already here Walter Mitty's teeth grinding, but on natural ability alone, tell me of a stronger current cricketer who could fit into this line up. People excluding Sean Williams is a massive disservice. This guy is quality and he adds a very handy left arm spin option. There's a great blend of youth and experience here as well which is perfect. I think the guys in the wings simply are not good enough to get into the side if all of these guys were available. The only close switch I would consider is Hammie. He's abviously world class, and has the experience on his side, but having seen Welch the other day I was simply blown away buy the kids ability to hit a cricket ball, (hard!) and still ooze class. Being 33, as well, I think Welch would be a greater long term investment. Taibu would be there perhaps if he was playing

I think Colin de Grandhomme is being wildly overrated here, he is really just a T20 bit player.

eugene wrote: ↑

Thu Oct 19, 2017 2:14 pm

I think Colin de Grandhomme is being wildly overrated here, he is really just a T20 bit player.

He's a better bowling all-rounder than we have in our entire FC system right now. Nathan Waller or young Mashinge are two potential players to fill this role in the future

sloandog wrote: ↑

Thu Oct 19, 2017 1:21 pm

Age
1. Gary Balance (27)
2. Nick Welch (19)
3. Craig Ervine (32)
4. Brendan Taylor (Wkt/Cpt) (31)
5. Sean Williams (31)
6. Sean Ervine (34)
7. Colin De Grandhome (31)
8. Sam Curran (19)
9. Graeme Cremer (31)
10. Tom Curran (22)
11. Kyle Jarvis (28)

eugene wrote: ↑

Thu Oct 19, 2017 2:14 pm

I think Colin de Grandhomme is being wildly overrated here, he is really just a T20 bit player.

He is a very very useful bowler especially on decks doin a bit , he can move the ball both ways. Watched him bowl before , and although not sharp his control was impressive. He can also bat very handy , something you must be able to do these days if you want a game.

De Grandhomme is probably useful in NZ, England, and a couple of pitches in SA. Put him on less green wickets and he is a no-show.