Practice Match : Zimbabwe XI V/s Bangladesh XI, Harare

[Rajkumar Sharma]

the boys have been very economical though especially tshuma

Good economy is a valuable metric in limited overs cricket. Wickets in the bag are what wins test matches. Without wicket taking bowlers, the best you can hope for is a draw

Yeah I know but I was expecting a run rate over 4, at least they showed some level of control at the start

Over 4 in longest format is too much expectation.

[zimbofan88]

Pleased to see Maruma not get a ton. Even 70-80 from him could have directly led him to Test XI. Not convinced with Kaia either. Not sure why they didnt select Musakanda, maybe he got injured. Out batting looks thin again at the top and lower order.
I would play all Myers, Shumba and Wesley at the lower order and have them bowl long overs. No Chisoro or any frontlinr spinner..3 fast bowlers could be anyone as they are all good but wouldn’t play DT.

[Yvmnaidu]

maruma
kasuza
ervine
Taylor
Myers
Williams
chakabva
shumba
blessing
ngrava
nyauchi

[Donald]

Shock horror but Maruma has 8 first class hundreds and a good average in logan Cup considering he spent years as a front line spinner and a lower order batsmen.

He has been hampered a bit by the Fab four but if you play 8 batsmen then Maruma should be in there.
He looked good today and has earnt his chance after lots of good logan Cup matches

[TapsC2]

The truth is Maruma is not that bad. He absolutely dominates some of the domestic games and he is a clean hitter on his day. It just never worked out on the big stage and for me he is just too old to still be trying to crack the team.

I wouldn't be surprised if he gets picked after this 50 although Kaia might play instead because he is a part time bowler. No Raza means no offspin if Kaia doesnt play

[zimfan1]

Can't see how we can play 8 batsman this time without Raza.

Jongwe's batting is not up to a number 6. If Reggie opens with Kasuza we can play an extra middle order batsman.

I think Blessing, Ngarvara, Chatara and Chisoro are pretty much set in stone.

[zimfan1]

I personally would open with Reggie and play Maruma and Shumba at 6 and 7.

[zimfan1]

The truth is Maruma is not that bad. He absolutely dominates some of the domestic games and he is a clean hitter on his day. It just never worked out on the big stage and for me he is just too old to still be trying to crack the team.

I wouldn't be surprised if he gets picked after this 50 although Kaia might play instead because he is a part time bowler. No Raza means no offspin if Kaia doesnt play

I agree, watching him bat on the live streams have shown that he is the best domestic batsman outside the fab 4. One could argue that he never got a fair crack but he also didn't take the chances presented to him.

[Kriterion_BD]

No Raza means no offspin if Kaia doesnt play

If this is the case Kaia is set. Bangladesh have AT LEAST 3 lefties in the top 4, and 4 in the top 6. That number goes up if Shadman opens instead of the incumbent Saif. But Saif may continue given he scored a fifty while Shadman scored a 30 ball duck.

[ZIMDOGGY]

The truth is Maruma is not that bad. He absolutely dominates some of the domestic games and he is a clean hitter on his day. It just never worked out on the big stage and for me he is just too old to still be trying to crack the team.

I wouldn't be surprised if he gets picked after this 50 although Kaia might play instead because he is a part time bowler. No Raza means no offspin if Kaia doesnt play

He’s in that musakamda class where you’re too good for the filth dished up domestically but nowhere near international standards.
There’s a huge chasm between these leagues so it’s hardly his fault.