1st Test review and ratings

[jaybro]

1. Hamilton Masakadza - Rating 7.5 Scores of 42 and 57 opening the batting showed calls for Hami to open were on the money as he looked comfortable seeing off Gabriel, Roach & Holder. Will be disappointed he didn't go on to three figured after getting a start in both innings and also dropped two crucial catches at slip.

2. Solomon Mire - Rating 7 Scores of 27 & 47 plus the wicket of Kyle Hope made for an impressive introduction to Test cricket for Mire. Not sure if he's a long term solution opening in Tests but on tracks that don't offer much to the new ball he was very effective.

3. Craig Ervine - Rating 4 Ervine will be frustrated he got out twice to straight balls by Bishoo after getting starts which really hurt Zimbabwe. If Ervine goes on in either innings this match could have been very different. Took some sharp catches which help his rating

4. Brendan Taylor Rating 6.5 BT played a terrible shot to get out for 1 in the first innings that really started the rot, he redeemed himself by top scoring in the second innings with a score of 73 but ran himself & Waller out.

5. Sean Williams Rating 6 Divisive as ever there were two tales to the Williams story in this Test, 6 - 111 off 48 overs with the ball showed he can be a force with the ball as he continuously beat the bat. His batting was woeful though getting out twice to soft dismissals, he really needs a score soon.

6. Sikander Raza Rating 4.5 Failed in the first innings to a terrible shot than got out after getting a good start in the second dig. Got two wickets at crucial times in the match which helped his rating.

7. Malcolm Waller Rating 2 Got out in both innings for 11 after looking decent but as a No.7 batsman who isn't bowling much he needed to do better, I do feel bad for him as BT ran him out in the 2nd. For a guy who averages 22 he can't afford games like this.

8. Regis Chakabva Rating 3.5 Regis did some nice work behind the stumps but still fumbled a few but overall much improved with the gloves. His batting is non-existent at the moment.

9. Graeme Cremer Rating 8 Bowled superbly in both innings and was unlucky not to have better figures with his fielders letting him down again on at least three occasions, 8 for 178 off 58 overs again showed he is the iron man of Zimbabwe cricket. Disappointing his batting let him down but I thought his captaincy was fairly good throughout.

10. Kyle Jarvis Rating 6 3 -106 of 38 overs was a good return for KJ to Test Cricket on a pitch that didn't help the seamers much. His speed seems down but his control and variation has improved greatly. Also added some good runs down the order.

11. Christopher Mpofu Rating 2.5 Mpofu has now gone two Tests in a row without taking a wicket and to be fair he didn't look like taking one either, although he bowled with good control surely his days are numbered considering his average is well over 50 and Chatara is seemingly fit. His batting was a highlight in the final stages which was a pleasant surprise.

Looking at the match in review the plan to prepare a slow turning pitch to suit the spinners was a good one as Cremer & Williams took 14 wickets between them but the execution from the batsman let them down especially in the first innings where the game was lost. The second innings batting was also poor with Ervine, Williams, BT & Waller all getting out softly, in hindsight if they batted smarter they could have chased the total down.

The infamous 8-3 lineup I feel was the right choice as the bowlers took 20 wickets for 592 which should be good enough to win a Test but even though Zimbabwe batted down to Cremer @9 they were still bundled out for 157 in the first innings where the game was lost. Can't blame Streak for the game plan it was the execution of the batsman that let the side down.

Looking at Mire as an opener he did very well although on a pitch that will offer more to the new ball he might be better off down @7, his bowling looked very good. Hami looked very good opening and was the best batsman for Zimbabwe this is why I've been calling for him to open.

Looking at potential changes I think Mpofu is gone he just doesn't look like taking a wicket at all, surely Chatara, Ngarava, Tiripano or Shingi offer more potential for the 2nd Test. Waller and Regis are also under pressure after failing twice but I'd be tempted to leave them for the 2nd Test due to Regis' improvement behind the stumps & Waller did score 68 v Sri Lanka so he probably deserves another chance. Williams needs more with the bat but his bowling was superb so he will stay for the 2nd Test also.

Selectors could be tempted to draft in Kevin Kasuza or Tinotenda Mutombodzi after their good starts to the Logan Cup but I think they will stick with the same side apart from Mpofu.

[Kriterion_BD]

As much as I criticize Masakadza, you have to commend him for selflessly serving the team and realise he's batting out of position and to get two decent scores on a tricky pitch is a pretty good achievement.

Waller is tough one cuz he scored runs in SL. Mpofu though needs to be dropped for Chatara and I think thats the only change that needs to be made for the 2nd Test. Unless a player significantly better than Waller can present himself in the next few days.

[CholeZimbo]

Please bring in Peter Moor for regis

[jaybro]

Review from Tristan Holme

http://www.cricbuzz.com/cricket-news/97 ... yle-jarvis

[tawac]

11. Christopher Mpofu Rating 2.5 Mpofu has now gone two Tests in a row without taking a wicket and to be fair he didn't look like taking one either, although he bowled with good control surely his days are numbered considering his average is well over 50 and Chatara is seemingly fit. His batting was a highlight in the final stages which was a pleasant surprise.

Mpofu had a decent game by all means cant fault him for being hardly used in the second innings. If Sean is going to be judged on his bowling so to should Mpofu be judged on his batting 10 and 33 clearly out preforming half the team's batsman. Don't see why he should get the chop when clearly the team failed because of its batting. Its the batsman that need to be changed. Bowling looks manageable.

[jaybro]

11. Christopher Mpofu Rating 2.5 Mpofu has now gone two Tests in a row without taking a wicket and to be fair he didn't look like taking one either, although he bowled with good control surely his days are numbered considering his average is well over 50 and Chatara is seemingly fit. His batting was a highlight in the final stages which was a pleasant surprise.

Mpofu had a decent game by all means cant fault him for being hardly used in the second innings. If Sean is going to be judged on his bowling so to should Mpofu be judged on his batting 10 and 33 clearly out preforming half the team's batsman. Don't see why he should get the chop when clearly the team failed because of its batting. Its the batsman that need to be changed. Bowling looks manageable.

Cmon man he hasn’t even looked like taking a wicket for two test matches and averages over 50 with the ball.

You said it isn’t his fault he only bowled 10 overs in the second innings, well maybe if he bowled better he would have got more overs ?

[jaybro]

You want to pick Mpofu for his batting Tawac ?? Because that’s what you’re saying you know that sounds stupid right ?

People try and defend their favourites to no end and they look foolish

[tawac]

You want to pick Mpofu for his batting Tawac ?? Because that’s what you’re saying you know that sounds stupid right ?

People try and defend their favourites to no end and they look foolish

Hmmmm don't look at it that way? But I will say again its the batting that needs to be fixed.

[jaybro]

You want to pick Mpofu for his batting Tawac ?? Because that’s what you’re saying you know that sounds stupid right ?

People try and defend their favourites to no end and they look foolish

Hmmmm don't look at it that way? But I will say again its the batting that needs to be fixed.

Yes I agree and I’ve said as much it was the batting that let them side down not the bowling. But Mpofu hasn’t taken a wicket for 2 whole Tests now mate and Zimbabwe has Chatara, Shingi, Ngarava etc to pick from why should we stick with Mpofu ?

Waller scored over 100 runs on the Sri Lanka test yet you’re calling for him to be dropped after 1 bad test

[brmtaylor.com admin]

There's three players in real trouble:

Waller - 13 Test matches and not much to show for it. At 33, if he's not scoring runs he's just taking up a spot that Musakanda etc could be learning in.
Mpofu - Now that Jarvis is back that's one automatic selection in the fast bowling department. If Mpofu isn't taking wickets then (similar to Waller) he's just taking the spot of someone who could be.
Chakabva - probably the least concerning of the three, but he was touch and go on getting a spot in this Test beforehand remember. I desperately wanted him to grab his opportunity but he didn't. He need more from a wicket keeper batsman.

I'm torn as to whether you drop these guys and say "back to domestic cricket, work your way up again" (eg. the usual Zim revolving door of the top 20 players) or whether you give them one more chance to prove themselves before pursuing more of a youth policy and effectively ending their Test careers.