When was the last time...

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eugene
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When was the last time...

Post by eugene »

When was the last time Zimbabwe fielded a full-strength lineup? I honestly don't remember. For a team that doesn't play much cricket we always seem to have an awful lot of guys out with side strains, the flu, vacations, weddings, board disputes, etc. Have Taylor, Ervine, Williams, and Raza been in the same lineup at any point in the last three years?
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Donald
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Re: When was the last time...

Post by Donald »

Closest was the Pakistan one day internationals away late last year when Williams ervine and raza played.
I believe ervine played the 20 20s but got injured??

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Re: When was the last time...

Post by Donald »

Sorry Taylor played in all the one dayers

Kriterion_BD
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Re: When was the last time...

Post by Kriterion_BD »

eugene wrote:
Sat Sep 04, 2021 9:14 pm
When was the last time Zimbabwe fielded a full-strength lineup? I honestly don't remember. For a team that doesn't play much cricket we always seem to have an awful lot of guys out with side strains, the flu, vacations, weddings, board disputes, etc. Have Taylor, Ervine, Williams, and Raza been in the same lineup at any point in the last three years?
https://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engin ... ;type=team

Not sure about the last time, but Zimbabwe have 4 wins and 21 losses (3 ties, 1 draw) all time across all 3 formats with the Big 4 playing. Thats still a pretty poor record, poorer than most people would imagine. Big 4 have only played 29 games together, across all formats.

If you add Big 4 + Cremer + Jarvis, their record improves significantly to 2-3...with the caveat that the wins came against Hong Kong and Ireland.

https://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engin ... ew=results

Taylor, Williams, Ervine, Cremer, and Taibu...the only win for that combo was vs Canada.

So all the big wins for Zimbabwe, have actually come with some of the key players missing. Conversely, even with all the big guns in, Zimbabwe have won precious few games.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JjtuZBykSzM (Noreaga - Blood Money Part 3)

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CrimsonAvenger
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Re: When was the last time...

Post by CrimsonAvenger »

Yeah, they have all hardly ever fired together. For longevity of this analysis, I removed Craig and Raza who were more 2010s addition, and brought in Hamilton. This is how the scenario looks:

19 wins at win/loss ratio of 0.263 when Hammy, BT and Williams have all played: https://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engin ... ;type=team

Reduces to a win/loss ratio of 0.227 with 20 wins when Hammy is removed to keep only Taylor and Williams: https://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engin ... ;type=team

win/loss ratio of 0.289 with only Masakadza and Taylor retained - 48 wins: https://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engin ... ;type=team

And the best of 0.339 win/loss ratio when only Masakadza and Williams are retained, with 35 wins: https://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engin ... ;type=team

Interesting, but yes, they have all rarely fired together.

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Re: When was the last time...

Post by CholeZimbo »

Kriterion_BD wrote:
Sun Sep 05, 2021 6:01 am
eugene wrote:
Sat Sep 04, 2021 9:14 pm
When was the last time Zimbabwe fielded a full-strength lineup? I honestly don't remember. For a team that doesn't play much cricket we always seem to have an awful lot of guys out with side strains, the flu, vacations, weddings, board disputes, etc. Have Taylor, Ervine, Williams, and Raza been in the same lineup at any point in the last three years?
https://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engin ... ;type=team

Not sure about the last time, but Zimbabwe have 4 wins and 21 losses (3 ties, 1 draw) all time across all 3 formats with the Big 4 playing. Thats still a pretty poor record, poorer than most people would imagine. Big 4 have only played 29 games together, across all formats.

If you add Big 4 + Cremer + Jarvis, their record improves significantly to 2-3...with the caveat that the wins came against Hong Kong and Ireland.

https://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engin ... ew=results

Taylor, Williams, Ervine, Cremer, and Taibu...the only win for that combo was vs Canada.

So all the big wins for Zimbabwe, have actually come with some of the key players missing. Conversely, even with all the big guns in, Zimbabwe have won precious few games.
What's Zim record with all big 4 playing vs teams Bangladesh and below? Also in this context, There is an expectation that combining them with Muzarabani at his best could make Zim stronger. Also, for me Wellington Masakadza has become an important player for us. Bowling and fielding. Cricket is as simple as you make it. Get him to block runs one end and get batsmen forcing things and making mistakes. Our bowlers rely more on these forced errors than genuine wicket taking deliveries. That is why we seem to defend these low scores because we keep things very tight and Masakadza has consistently done that. So if at least 3 of our big guys perform, Muzarabani taking early wickets and Masakadza creating pressure on his end Zim has a good platform to win these ODIs and sneak in at least a win vs teams like SA, BD and SL.

And back to the main topic, I hope all of them are available, but that is unlikely now since Ervine is already injured again playing t20s. Having at least 3 of them in will be massive and may propel the replacement youngster to play freely and perform.

Kriterion_BD
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Re: When was the last time...

Post by Kriterion_BD »

CholeZimbo wrote:
Sun Sep 05, 2021 6:40 am

What's Zim record with all big 4 playing vs teams Bangladesh and below? Also in this context, There is an expectation that combining them with Muzarabani at his best could make Zim stronger. Also, for me Wellington Masakadza has become an important player for us. Bowling and fielding. Cricket is as simple as you make it. Get him to block runs one end and get batsmen forcing things and making mistakes. Our bowlers rely more on these forced errors than genuine wicket taking deliveries. That is why we seem to defend these low scores because we keep things very tight and Masakadza has consistently done that. So if at least 3 of our big guys perform, Muzarabani taking early wickets and Masakadza creating pressure on his end Zim has a good platform to win these ODIs and sneak in at least a win vs teams like SA, BD and SL.

And back to the main topic, I hope all of them are available, but that is unlikely now since Ervine is already injured again playing t20s. Having at least 3 of them in will be massive and may propel the replacement youngster to play freely and perform.
Firstly what is meant by "Bangladesh and below?" Idk about CA's analysis, but mine was across all 3 formats, so Bangladesh's rank is different in all 3 formats. Even in ODIs, historically West Indies and Sri Lanka have been ahead of Bangladesh, although currently behind. Bangladesh have only been ahead of those traditional "G8 sides" since 2015. But easy enough to adjust on statsguru:


https://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engin ... ;type=team

All formats, all time with just 4 (Taylor/Williams/Ervine/Raza) vs BD/AFG/IRE + Associates: 4 wins, 12 losses, 0.333 ratio

All formats all time with Big 4 + Hammy + Jarvis + Cremer 2 wins, 1 loss, 2.0 ratio



Since the 2015 WC, adding West Indies and Sri Lanka, and retaining Bangladesh, and swapping Raza for Taibu: 2 won, 3 lost, 0.667 ratio

Against AFG/IRE + Associates in ODIs only, since WC2015: 2 wins, 2 losses, 1.0 ratio
Same as above but Take Jarvis and Cremer out, so Big 4 only in ODIs: 2 wins, 7 losses, 0.285 ratio
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JjtuZBykSzM (Noreaga - Blood Money Part 3)

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eugene
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Re: When was the last time...

Post by eugene »

I should have posted this thread years ago, the selectors were clearly waiting for instruction from ZCF to select the "big four". The big four were selected today and we beat Ireland. International cricket is much easier when you select your best players.
Neil Johnson, Alistair Campbell, Murray Goodwin, Andy Flower (w), Grant Flower, Dave Houghton, Guy Whittall, Heath Streak (c), Andy Blignaut, Ray Price, Eddo Brandes

Kriterion_BD
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Re: When was the last time...

Post by Kriterion_BD »

At least the management have intentions to win all the Super League games. They gave the youngsters a very long run in the T20 series, and without that, it would be impossible to know where the Young 4 stand. It was generally the right decision.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JjtuZBykSzM (Noreaga - Blood Money Part 3)

secretzimbo
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Re: When was the last time...

Post by secretzimbo »

Kriterion_BD wrote:
Thu Sep 09, 2021 3:32 am
At least the management have intentions to win all the Super League games. They gave the youngsters a very long run in the T20 series, and without that, it would be impossible to know where the Young 4 stand. It was generally the right decision.
We lost the series. Our highly paid highly talented players didn’t play - for no reason.

I hope whoever made that decision is punished and loses their job.

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