Bangladesh Test Series Ratings
Posted: Fri Nov 16, 2018 3:35 am
I think we can all agree that the boys did exceptionally well in this series despite their recent troubles with spin in these conditions and lack of match practice in Test Cricket. Although the team totals were similar to that of last time Zimbabwe played Tests in Bangladesh I feel there have been improvements on how the guys played the spinners. I think we're finally starting to see the effects of the new coach Rajput taking place hopefully it continues next time the boys play.
Hamilton Masakadza - 5.5: 139 runs @34 was a decent output from Big Hami but for a player of his experience and class he really needed to go on and score at least one big one. His 52 & 48 in the 1st Test were crucial to victory on a low scoring deck but he will be disappointed with his efforts in the 2nd Test. His dismissals all seemed lazy as well which may be down to the fact he looks so good at the crease and rarely looks troubled, then all of a sudden he is out? His captaincy was good IMO although the general feeling on the forum was he got it wrong in the 3rd innings in Mirpur by not bowling the seamers longer spells up front.
Brian Chari - 4.5: One of the forum's favourite 'whipping boys' Chari's selection had many people dis-pleased and his efforts in the 1st test wouldn't have helped change many opinions, his shot to get out in the 1st innings was dreadful! You won't see many worse than that by an opener in the 1st hour of a test. But he definitely picked up his game in Mirpur playing two good innings and showed a great temperament to see off the new ball and then take the attack to Taijul. His mode of dismissal in both innings were still very poor which took some of the gloss of his efforts as did his dropped catch off Mominul which although tough could have changed the game.
Brendan Taylor - 8: After a very disappointing Test in Sylhet BT bounced back big time in Mirpur scoring 'twin centuries' for the 2nd time in his Test career and becoming the 1st Zimbabwean batsman to do it overseas. He was able to mix his expansive stroke play with solid defence as he stayed calm for the most part despite having wickets fall around him. We've all been waiting for BT to produce in a Test Match in his latest return for Zimbabwe after disappointing in his previous four Tests averaging below 20, but he answered his critics and those doubts he could do it overseas. His shot to get out in the 1st innings was awful though being so close to stumps and with Zimbabwe so far behind still, and he sent Regis up the creek in the 2nd dig with a terrible run-out, got the feeling once Raza got out he was more worried about getting to 100 then saving the test.
Sean Williams - 6.5: Felt he deserved more after his 88 in the 1st dig at Sylhet but he really fell away after that and struggled to make an impact with bat & ball. But that innings really was for me a 'career defining' one for him playing within himself and according to the match situation and conditions, in the past he has seemed to disregard those aspects and continue to play his shots regardless which usually ends in his demise. He will be disappointed to not make another score in the next three attempts especially considering he got a start in all three, the Bangladeshis seemed to find a 'chink' in his game as he struggled to get forward to balls on off stump which ended with him being bowled. His bowling was disappointing just taking the two wickets I really expected more from him with ball in hand.
Sikander Raza - 4: Hard to rate Raza as he had a terrible tour with the bat and struggled with the ball in Mirpur, but his bowling in the 1st Test especially his spell on the 4th morning was top shelf and really set up the game for Zimbabwe. 7 wickets @32 is a pretty good return for a part time spinner, although he is held in higher regard these days as a bowler which is why his performance in the 2nd Test was so disappointing. His batting was the biggest disappointment of the tour, he was the main guy I felt Zimbabwe could rely on in these conditions but he was totally out of sorts especially to the left arm spinners who got him out in every innings, 3 of which were bowled.
PJ Moor - 7: PJ was the biggest surprise of the tour despite his impressive start to his test career he wasn't expected to deal with the spinners with such ease and score so many runs, but as pointed out by Googly he has made huge strides under Rajput and is on the cusp of becoming a real good player. His ability to play such diverse innings in either match showed that he is a smart cricketer and why Rajput sees him as a future captain. He played a very defiant innings in Sylhet defending the spinners and taking his chances when they came, but in Mirpur he played a counter attacking innings identifying the pitch was good for stroke play he took on the bowlers and made his highest test score. Will be disappointed he didn't go on to make a hundred in Mirpur and his struggles in the 2nd innings of Tests is something he needs to fix.
Regis Chakabva - 3.5 : Might be a bit harsh after playing a pretty good match in the 1st Test but he had a shocker in Mirpur missing at least four chances with the gloves and making no impact with the bat. In the 1st Test he was really good with the gloves taking a few chances off the spinners and being faultless to the seamers, his batting was also pretty good but he got out twice in the 20's which due to Zimbabwe's long tail led to a quick collapse on both occasions. He got unlucky being run-out by BT in the 2nd Test but his miss chances off Mominul and Mushfiqur really hurt Zimbabwe, for me his keeping to the spinners is too 'hit or miss' and Zimbabwe can't afford to miss those chances, his batting is probably suited to batting higher up the order especially with a long tail he seems to run out of partners. Maybe a move up the order to No.3 and giving up the gloves would suit him?
Brandon Mavuta - 3: Another guy hard to rate because of his heroics in the 4th innings in Sylhet where he bowled Zimbabwe to victory, but apart from that he struggled and was clearly out of his depth with bat & ball. He was brought back down to earth in the 2nd Test where he took no wickets and made no runs, a really tough match for him but he will learn and move on. We can only wonder what difference Cremer would have made in this series.
Kyle Jarvis - 8.5: Jarvis was IMO Zimbabwe's player of the tour in both formats as he really came of age bowling in conditions that shouldn't have suited him he took plenty of wickets and at times was almost unplayable. 10 wickets @15 in Bangladesh is unheard of for a seamer especially considering he bowls about 125kph, he bowled more overs than any other Zimbabwe bowler and always looked like he could take a wicket. Taking 5-72 in a total of 7-522 showed he was head and shoulders above the rest, formed a great partnership with Chatara before he got injured which will hopefully continue to blossom for Zimbabwe. It would be nice if he could improve his batting as Zimbabwe continue to struggle for lower order runs, seems caught between trying to be a blocker or a slogger.
Tendai Chatara - 6.5: I found it hard to rate Larry as well because of him getting injured early in the 2nd Test and although he kept it tight he only took the one wicket on Day 1 at Mirpur. But his opening spell in the 1st Test really set the tone as he ripped through the Bangladesh top order taking 3 wickets, he didn't take another wicket for the match but kept it tight throughout going for less than two runs an over. His injury was a massive blow and for a guy who has had his doubts about playing the longer format maybe playing 'back to back' tests in such conditions wasn't such a great idea.
Donald Tiripano - 5: Bowled pretty good in his only outing in Mirpur taking three wickets, although all three were more bad shots by the batsman than gems from the bowler. But he tried his best and gave everything he had as we can expect from the 'Iron Man' of Zimbabwe cricket, his batting was disappointing making 8 as the nightwatchman and a duck in the 2nd dig. I've said it before Zimbabwe really need to find a seam bowling allrounder better then Tiripano if they want to improve, but as long as he keeps putting out his whole hearten efforts he deserves to be picked.
Wellington Masakadza - 4: Only played the 1st test and he didn't really make an impact with the ball being out bowled by the 'part timers' Raza and Williams, I've said it before I really don't see what it is people see in him he seems to just put it on the spot with no revs and isn't really threatening at all, I think he needs some variations and an arm ball. But he did try very hard and made some vital runs with the bat in the 2nd dig whilst also picking up two wickets at the end, his fielding was also very good.
Hamilton Masakadza - 5.5: 139 runs @34 was a decent output from Big Hami but for a player of his experience and class he really needed to go on and score at least one big one. His 52 & 48 in the 1st Test were crucial to victory on a low scoring deck but he will be disappointed with his efforts in the 2nd Test. His dismissals all seemed lazy as well which may be down to the fact he looks so good at the crease and rarely looks troubled, then all of a sudden he is out? His captaincy was good IMO although the general feeling on the forum was he got it wrong in the 3rd innings in Mirpur by not bowling the seamers longer spells up front.
Brian Chari - 4.5: One of the forum's favourite 'whipping boys' Chari's selection had many people dis-pleased and his efforts in the 1st test wouldn't have helped change many opinions, his shot to get out in the 1st innings was dreadful! You won't see many worse than that by an opener in the 1st hour of a test. But he definitely picked up his game in Mirpur playing two good innings and showed a great temperament to see off the new ball and then take the attack to Taijul. His mode of dismissal in both innings were still very poor which took some of the gloss of his efforts as did his dropped catch off Mominul which although tough could have changed the game.
Brendan Taylor - 8: After a very disappointing Test in Sylhet BT bounced back big time in Mirpur scoring 'twin centuries' for the 2nd time in his Test career and becoming the 1st Zimbabwean batsman to do it overseas. He was able to mix his expansive stroke play with solid defence as he stayed calm for the most part despite having wickets fall around him. We've all been waiting for BT to produce in a Test Match in his latest return for Zimbabwe after disappointing in his previous four Tests averaging below 20, but he answered his critics and those doubts he could do it overseas. His shot to get out in the 1st innings was awful though being so close to stumps and with Zimbabwe so far behind still, and he sent Regis up the creek in the 2nd dig with a terrible run-out, got the feeling once Raza got out he was more worried about getting to 100 then saving the test.
Sean Williams - 6.5: Felt he deserved more after his 88 in the 1st dig at Sylhet but he really fell away after that and struggled to make an impact with bat & ball. But that innings really was for me a 'career defining' one for him playing within himself and according to the match situation and conditions, in the past he has seemed to disregard those aspects and continue to play his shots regardless which usually ends in his demise. He will be disappointed to not make another score in the next three attempts especially considering he got a start in all three, the Bangladeshis seemed to find a 'chink' in his game as he struggled to get forward to balls on off stump which ended with him being bowled. His bowling was disappointing just taking the two wickets I really expected more from him with ball in hand.
Sikander Raza - 4: Hard to rate Raza as he had a terrible tour with the bat and struggled with the ball in Mirpur, but his bowling in the 1st Test especially his spell on the 4th morning was top shelf and really set up the game for Zimbabwe. 7 wickets @32 is a pretty good return for a part time spinner, although he is held in higher regard these days as a bowler which is why his performance in the 2nd Test was so disappointing. His batting was the biggest disappointment of the tour, he was the main guy I felt Zimbabwe could rely on in these conditions but he was totally out of sorts especially to the left arm spinners who got him out in every innings, 3 of which were bowled.
PJ Moor - 7: PJ was the biggest surprise of the tour despite his impressive start to his test career he wasn't expected to deal with the spinners with such ease and score so many runs, but as pointed out by Googly he has made huge strides under Rajput and is on the cusp of becoming a real good player. His ability to play such diverse innings in either match showed that he is a smart cricketer and why Rajput sees him as a future captain. He played a very defiant innings in Sylhet defending the spinners and taking his chances when they came, but in Mirpur he played a counter attacking innings identifying the pitch was good for stroke play he took on the bowlers and made his highest test score. Will be disappointed he didn't go on to make a hundred in Mirpur and his struggles in the 2nd innings of Tests is something he needs to fix.
Regis Chakabva - 3.5 : Might be a bit harsh after playing a pretty good match in the 1st Test but he had a shocker in Mirpur missing at least four chances with the gloves and making no impact with the bat. In the 1st Test he was really good with the gloves taking a few chances off the spinners and being faultless to the seamers, his batting was also pretty good but he got out twice in the 20's which due to Zimbabwe's long tail led to a quick collapse on both occasions. He got unlucky being run-out by BT in the 2nd Test but his miss chances off Mominul and Mushfiqur really hurt Zimbabwe, for me his keeping to the spinners is too 'hit or miss' and Zimbabwe can't afford to miss those chances, his batting is probably suited to batting higher up the order especially with a long tail he seems to run out of partners. Maybe a move up the order to No.3 and giving up the gloves would suit him?
Brandon Mavuta - 3: Another guy hard to rate because of his heroics in the 4th innings in Sylhet where he bowled Zimbabwe to victory, but apart from that he struggled and was clearly out of his depth with bat & ball. He was brought back down to earth in the 2nd Test where he took no wickets and made no runs, a really tough match for him but he will learn and move on. We can only wonder what difference Cremer would have made in this series.
Kyle Jarvis - 8.5: Jarvis was IMO Zimbabwe's player of the tour in both formats as he really came of age bowling in conditions that shouldn't have suited him he took plenty of wickets and at times was almost unplayable. 10 wickets @15 in Bangladesh is unheard of for a seamer especially considering he bowls about 125kph, he bowled more overs than any other Zimbabwe bowler and always looked like he could take a wicket. Taking 5-72 in a total of 7-522 showed he was head and shoulders above the rest, formed a great partnership with Chatara before he got injured which will hopefully continue to blossom for Zimbabwe. It would be nice if he could improve his batting as Zimbabwe continue to struggle for lower order runs, seems caught between trying to be a blocker or a slogger.
Tendai Chatara - 6.5: I found it hard to rate Larry as well because of him getting injured early in the 2nd Test and although he kept it tight he only took the one wicket on Day 1 at Mirpur. But his opening spell in the 1st Test really set the tone as he ripped through the Bangladesh top order taking 3 wickets, he didn't take another wicket for the match but kept it tight throughout going for less than two runs an over. His injury was a massive blow and for a guy who has had his doubts about playing the longer format maybe playing 'back to back' tests in such conditions wasn't such a great idea.
Donald Tiripano - 5: Bowled pretty good in his only outing in Mirpur taking three wickets, although all three were more bad shots by the batsman than gems from the bowler. But he tried his best and gave everything he had as we can expect from the 'Iron Man' of Zimbabwe cricket, his batting was disappointing making 8 as the nightwatchman and a duck in the 2nd dig. I've said it before Zimbabwe really need to find a seam bowling allrounder better then Tiripano if they want to improve, but as long as he keeps putting out his whole hearten efforts he deserves to be picked.
Wellington Masakadza - 4: Only played the 1st test and he didn't really make an impact with the ball being out bowled by the 'part timers' Raza and Williams, I've said it before I really don't see what it is people see in him he seems to just put it on the spot with no revs and isn't really threatening at all, I think he needs some variations and an arm ball. But he did try very hard and made some vital runs with the bat in the 2nd dig whilst also picking up two wickets at the end, his fielding was also very good.