Zimbabwe 2004 v Zimbabwe 2021

[eugene]

A comment of mine in another thread seemed to stir some disagreement so I thought I would start a separate thread for it. Which Zimbabwe squad would you rather take? The 2004 post-rebel lineup or the current lineup?

2004
1. Vusi Sibanda
2. Brendan Taylor
3. Dion Ebrahim
4. Mark Vermeulen
5. Tatenda Taibu
6. Stuart Matsikenyeri
7. Elton Chigumbura
8. Prosper Utseya
9. Tawanda Mupariwa
10. Douglas Hondo
11. Tinashe Panyangara

2021.
1. Tarisai Musakanda
2. Wesley Madhevere
3. Craig Ervine
4. Brendan Taylor
5. Sean Williams
6. Sikandar Raza
7. Regis Chakabva
8. Luke Jongwe
9. Wellington Masakadza
10. Blessing Muzarabani
11. Richard Ngarava

I don't think my theory that the 2004 lineup is stronger is that far-fetched. A combined XI of the two would look like this:

1. Vusi Sibanda (2004)
2. Brendan Taylor (2004, I would rather have a young Taylor than the current version who seems to have given up)
3. Craig Ervine (2021)
4. Tatenda Taibu (2004)
5. Sean Williams (2021)
6. Sikandar Raza (2021)
7. Elton Chigumbura (2004)
8. Prosper Utseya (2004)
9. Tawanda Mupariwa (2004)
10. Blessing Muzarabani (2021)
11. Tinashe Panyangara (2004)

2004 = 7
2021 = 4

[CrimsonAvenger]

Before getting into details, one would neither take the 2005 version nor the 2021 version of Chibhabha. Look at the consistency!

[eugene]

Before getting into details, one would neither take the 2005 version nor the 2021 version of Chibhabha. Look at the consistency!

Chibhabha is a non-starter in any era. Makes sense that he is the current captain.

[Rajkumar Sharma]

The way management is supporting proven failure Chibhabha others like Nathan Waller, Mashinge could have been international regulars for Zim by now if they would have got such back up.

16 yrs of international cricket, close to 100 odis, batting at the top without a ton or a fiver with bowl.

[foreignfield]

I assume you are talking ODIs and not Tests, but Mupariwa is overrated anyway. And I'd probably take the promise of Wes over the proven false promise of Vusi 2004. He had his best years in the very early 2010s--I believe he averaged under 20 in all forms of international cricket prior to 2011.

[zimlover]

A comment of mine in another thread seemed to stir some disagreement so I thought I would start a separate thread for it. Which Zimbabwe squad would you rather take? The 2004 post-rebel lineup or the current lineup?

2004
1. Vusi Sibanda
2. Brendan Taylor
3. Dion Ebrahim
4. Mark Vermeulen
5. Tatenda Taibu
6. Stuart Matsikenyeri
7. Elton Chigumbura
8. Prosper Utseya
9. Tawanda Mupariwa
10. Douglas Hondo
11. Tinashe Panyangara

2021.
1. Tarisai Musakanda
2. Wesley Madhevere
3. Craig Ervine
4. Brendan Taylor
5. Sean Williams
6. Sikandar Raza
7. Regis Chakabva
8. Luke Jongwe
9. Wellington Masakadza
10. Blessing Muzarabani
11. Richard Ngarava

I don't think my theory that the 2004 lineup is stronger is that far-fetched. A combined XI of the two would look like this:

1. Vusi Sibanda (2004)
2. Brendan Taylor (2004, I would rather have a young Taylor than the current version who seems to have given up)
3. Craig Ervine (2021)
4. Tatenda Taibu (2004)
5. Sean Williams (2021)
6. Sikandar Raza (2021)
7. Elton Chigumbura (2004)
8. Prosper Utseya (2004)
9. Tawanda Mupariwa (2004)
10. Blessing Muzarabani (2021)
11. Tinashe Panyangara (2004)

2004 = 7
2021 = 4

Where is Donald Tiripano ? He is the first man on any Zimbabwean Test OR One day line up

[sam_ahm]

Vusi and Utseya were very ordinady, I think current team is much better, youngsters like Madhevere, Musakanda, Myers, Burl are more promising.

[secretzimbo]

That’s not the exact 2021 XI I would pick. But yeah, 2021 and it’s not even close. People have short memories and/or rose tinted glasses if they think otherwise.

[Zimco]

The 2021 line up has way more potential for say the next world cup in 2023. The team may well be at its peak then if BT can stay on field till then and maintain some quality.

[sam_ahm]

Dion and Matsi were incredibly ordinary players to have played international cricket. 2004 had severe lack of quality and potential.

I liked Vermeulen, Chigumbura and Panyangara, but none of them eventually kicked on to achieve bigger things.