Match thread: 2nd ODI - Bangladesh vs Zimbabwe

[brmtaylor.com admin]

Next match starts on Wednesday. Betting odds are in, to win Bangladesh are $1.50 and Zimbabwe $2.50. I thought the odds would be a bit shorter than that now to be honest, so these aren't bad odds for Zimbabwe.

Should we make any changes? It would be a miracle if Williams hangs on to his position, maybe he should be omitted from the last two games and then given all of the Kenya series to get back into some form. Masakadza is looking very ordinary as well, but dropping two batsmen would mean we'd have to debut a second player in as many matches. It would be nice to have Chibhabha in the squad right now!

So, my change would be Sibanda in for Williams, Taibu back down to number 4, and Waller put up to number 5.

V. Sibanda
H. Masakadza
S. Matsikenyeri
T. Taibu
M. Waller
E. Chigumbura
K. Dabengwa
P. Utseya
R. Price
T. Mupariwa
E. Rainsford

[zimfan1]

yeah sounds good to me im afraid williams is out of form and needs a break

we need to give a lot of credit to dawgbenwa as he has really played well which we can tell as no one is now calling for his head

[Terryalderman]

Everyone has jumped off the Sean Williams bandwagon very quickly. He seems to be the scapegoat for the poor batting performances lately. It was only a month ago he was been rated as one of the best batsmen in the side. What about Matskinyeri, Chigumbra and even Taibu in these latest games they've hardly made big contributions. Williams deserves another chance and Sibanda hasn't proven himself yet. Leave the winning side as is and don't get excited about Waller just yet, leave him down the order where the pressure will be off.
A question about Ray Price why didn't he make it for Warwickshire(was this his county?)?

[maehara]

Everyone has jumped off the Sean Williams bandwagon very quickly. He seems to be the scapegoat for the poor batting performances lately. It was only a month ago he was been rated as one of the best batsmen in the side.

I wouldn't say we were "jumping off the bandwagon", we just know how the selectors work, and any dip in Sean's form usually ends up in him being dropped for a while - they're far less forgiving with him than they have been with the likes of Dabengwa or Matiskenyeri. When people are picking likely sides, the selectors' past form has to be taken into account...

What about Matskinyeri, Chigumbra and even Taibu in these latest games they've hardly made big contributions. Williams deserves another chance and Sibanda hasn't proven himself yet. Leave the winning side as is and don't get excited about Waller just yet, leave him down the order where the pressure will be off.

Criticism of Matsikenyeri, Chigumbura and Taibu is fair - Taibu in particular is selected on reputation. But Sibanda has had plenty of opportunity to prove himself - he's been a regular in the side for quite some time - and really isn't living up to his billing.

A question about Ray Price why didn't he make it for Warwickshire(was this his county?)?

Worcestershire. His form for them was very good, especially in one-dayers - by most accounts he rejected a new contract with them before returning to Zim in late 2007, just before being selected by ZC for the West Indies series. For the precise reason why you'd need to ask Price - but Worcestershire's loss was definitely our gain...

[Terryalderman]

maehara wrote:
"I wouldn't say we were "jumping off the bandwagon", we just know how the selectors work, and any dip in Sean's form usually ends up in him being dropped for a while - they're far less forgiving with him than they have been with the likes of Dabengwa or Matiskenyeri. When people are picking likely sides, the selectors' past form has to be taken into account..."

Fair point and this is exactly why Williams needs to remain in the side, prevent him from having another another allegiance back flip. The selectors need to give all players the assurity that there are no agendas when selecting the side.

[zimfan1]

yeah but on the other side if a player is out of form should he be playing

they cant show favoritism t a clearly out of form player and i assure you i am one of Williams biggest fans

[alan132]

It may be a bit harsh to say that Sean Williams and other top order batsmen are out of form judging by the team totals (all sides) that have been scored in Bangladesh recently. I think it would be fair to say that the standard of pitches at Mirpur has been pretty average to say the least!

[brmtaylor.com admin]

yeah but on the other side if a player is out of form should he be playing

they cant show favoritism t a clearly out of form player and i assure you i am one of Williams biggest fans

I agree. I would love to see Williams play tomorrow (and make a century ). But I think it is realistic to expect, for the reasons maehara gave, that he will be omitted.

[zimfan1]

if we look at the facts he has scored less runs than any other of the main batsman

Chigumbura 3 matches - 70 runs - 3 wickets
Matsikenyeri 3 matches - 61 runs
Price 3 matches - 42 - 7 wickets
Taibu - 3 matches -40 runs
Utseya 3 matches - 38 runs - 3 wickets
Waller 3 matches - 24 runs
Sibandia 2 matches - 22 runs
Masakadza 3 matches - 21 runs - 1 wicket
Williams 3 matches - 19 runs
Dabengwa 3 matches - 17 runs - 4 wickets
Mupariwa 3 matches - 11 runs - 0 wickets
Rainsford 3 matches- 0 runs - 5 wickets

he was lucky not to be dropped in the last match but i am afraid the stats don't lie as in 3 matches along with two innings against the BCB academy he has not got into double figures.

we all know that he is probably our best batsman but he is not scoring runs, this is not a witchhunt but if you compare him to dabegwa who has taken valuable wickets and matskiyeneri who is the second leading run scorer in the odi's he is not performing as well as them.

I think sean williams is a great batsman and i know his family but if someone has to be dropped in order to try and improve the batting it has to be him, perhaps leaving him out will be a good thing and he can come back into form against kenya.

[CrimsonAvenger]

When people are picking likely sides, the selectors' past form has to be taken into account...

Oh yes, that's the reason. We are now so used as to what to expect from the selectors. It would be 8th wonder of the world if we see Williams in the team tomorrow.