Windies Test Series - Player Ratings

[jaybro]

It’s been a while since I did an end of series player ratings, but from memory I think people liked it? Anyways only one way to find out

Zimbabwe Player Ratings

Innocent Kaia 172 runs @43 - 7/10 A really good debut series from the best find in Zimbabwe cricket since who knows when! Kaia has taken to Test cricket like a duck to water and finished as Zimbabwe’s highest run scorer. He looked at ease against the WI pace artillery, but got himself out every time after getting a start. Really good players would convert 2-3 of those starts to big scores, Inno only managed to get past 50 once.

Tanunurwa Makoni 43 runs @10.75 - 2/10 After a bright start in his first innings where he made 30, young Makoni looked well out of his depth at Test level. He has a massive technical issue where he stays too leg side of the ball, I’m pretty sure all four innings he got out nicking behind. I’d have to say of the last lot of debut openers (Zimbabwe has had 19 different openers since re-entry) he has impressed me the least and I’d rather stick with Kaitano or Kasuza.

Chamu Chibhabha 51 runs @12.75 - 2/10 A disappointing return to Test cricket for Chamu, but realistically it’s a miracle he even got back there. He was never considered a Test specialist (pretty sure he owns the record for most ODIs before debuting in a Test) so a recall at 36 seemed improbable. But he didn’t make the most of it with his weakness against spin catching up with him again in the 1st Test, whilst he struggled even more in the 2nd.

Craig Ervine 124 runs @31 - 6/10 The Zimbabwe captain had a disappointing series, saved only by an innings of 72 in the final dig. Much like Kaia he got a start in every innings, but could only go on to the ‘Zimbabwe Century’ of passing 50 once. As is always the case for Craig, his modes of dismissal always look soft, he reminds me of Mark Waugh or Damien Martyn in the at way. His captaincy was also poor, under bowled Mavuta at times & lacked any real creativity in his field placings.

Gary Ballance 155 runs @155 - 8/10 A wonderful return to Test cricket for Gary Ballance with his splendid 137* in the 1st Test to really make the difference between losing & the draw. He showed why he’s class as he blunted the attack before going on the offensive himself. Loses a point for getting out strangled down leg side in the 2nd dig and also for missing the 2nd Test. His durability is already in question missing half his games already.

Milton Shumba 10 runs @5 & no wickets - 1/10 A disappointing return to Test Cricket for Shumba as he managed just 10 runs in the 2nd match. He got out really softly in the first innings, and although he managed to face 40 odd balls in the 2nd, he looked bereft of confidence at this level. Probably needs an extended run back at Tuskers.

Tafadzwa Tsiga 28 runs @9.33 & 5 catches - 4/10 The biggest surprise selection since Charlton Tshuma in 2020, Tsiga came from the clouds to take the gloves in this series. But ultimately he struggled with both gloves and bat, although his glove work improved after missing a few chances in the 1st innings and he saved the Test with a 24*. But his modes of dismissal in the 2nd Test made me feel ill.

Brad Evans 2 wickets @57.50 & 7 runs @3.5 - 3/10 A tough entry into Test cricket for Brad Evans as he went wicket less in the 1st innings and scored a duck in the 4th. He did however take a couple of wickets in the 3rd innings but was dropped for the 2nd Test. Definitely got the tools to be a good player, just needs some polish on his game.

Donald Tiripano 23 runs @23 & no wickets - 4/10 Another player I thought we’d seen the last of in Zimbabwe colours, but the Don never gives up. Toothless with the ball again as we’ve seen many times, his average is nearing 50 again. But he showed once again his bravery with the bat holding the fort in the 1st innings of the second Test. A duck in the final innings could be the final chapter of his career.

Wellington Masakadza 5 wickets @42.8 & 23 runs @7.66 - 5/10 A tough one to rate for Wellington, as I feel he both bowled & batted better than his numbers suggest. But ultimately the numbers don’t lie, and I guess that’s his career in a nutshell. Bowling wise he got Braithwaite out three times one which was quite a feat, but only managed another two wickets all series. His batting looks good, but for some reason he didn’t get the ‘big hitting gene’ that his two brothers were blessed with, but his 30-ball 0* helped save the 1st Test.

Brandon Mavuta 8 wickets @30.37 & 73 runs @24.33 - 8/10 A really good return to Test cricket for Rango with both bat & ball. He took first career 5-for and also maiden 50 in Test cricket in the first Test. He then backed it up with 3 more wickets in the 2nd Test and was one of only 3 batsman to make double figures in the last innings of the 2nd Test. If he can build on this & continue to improve with bat & ball, there’s no reason for him to be dropped again. I feel he could be the X-Factor Zimbabwe needs in the CWCQ.

Victor Nyauchi 5 wickets @33.4 -6/10 Another hard one to judge because he went wicket less for 90% of the series, before taking 5 within about 6 overs to take his maiden Test 5-for. The deliveries to dismiss both Chase & Da Silva were peaches, but he wasn’t consistent enough throughout the series. Played a decent cameo with the bat in the 1st Test.

Richard Ngarava 0 wickets - 2/10 Big Richard just hasn’t seemed to find the formula required for Test cricket, his overall record is quite poor now with 5 wickets in 5 Tests at 73.8 which isn’t great. Even in white ball cricket, where he’s certainly improved a lot, he still hasn’t become a genuine wicket taker. Needs to start taking multiple wickets in every other game otherwise he’ll find himself falling behind Nyauchi & Chivanga.

Tanaka Chivanga 0 wickets - 4/10 I gave Chivanga a 4 despite not getting a wicket, because he only got one crack at bowling and he took a wicket before being called back for a no-ball. He’s a bit wild, but I like it and I think if backed and coached well he could be a serious player for Zimbabwe. We need someone with some mongrel and he’s the guy imo.

[ZIMDOGGY]

Pretty bang on, maybe a bit too generous for Tsiga and the Don but all in all pretty on the money.

[jaybro]

Pretty bang on, maybe a bit too generous for Tsiga and the Don but all in all pretty on the money.

Yeah maybe for the Don, but Tsiga did save the 1st Test with his innings so that gets some points for me.

[secretzimbo]

I'd have been harsher for a few of them but mostly spot on mate.

[jaybro]

I'd have been harsher for a few of them but mostly spot on mate.

Yeah generally I tend to be more on the positive side rather than the opposite.

I remember doing the ratings from that Boxing Day Test debacle in South Africa, that was tough to find positives there.

[mnelson68]

It’s been a while since I did an end of series player ratings, but from memory I think people liked it? Anyways only one way to find out

Zimbabwe Player Ratings

Innocent Kaia 172 runs @43 - 7/10 A really good debut series from the best find in Zimbabwe cricket since who knows when! Kaia has taken to Test cricket like a duck to water and finished as Zimbabwe’s highest run scorer. He looked at ease against the WI pace artillery, but got himself out every time after getting a start. Really good players would convert 2-3 of those starts to big scores, Inno only managed to get past 50 once.

Tanunurwa Makoni 43 runs @10.75 - 2/10 After a bright start in his first innings where he made 30, young Makoni looked well out of his depth at Test level. He has a massive technical issue where he stays too leg side of the ball, I’m pretty sure all four innings he got out nicking behind. I’d have to say of the last lot of debut openers (Zimbabwe has had 19 different openers since re-entry) he has impressed me the least and I’d rather stick with Kaitano or Kasuza.

Chamu Chibhabha 51 runs @12.75 - 2/10 A disappointing return to Test cricket for Chamu, but realistically it’s a miracle he even got back there. He was never considered a Test specialist (pretty sure he owns the record for most ODIs before debuting in a Test) so a recall at 36 seemed improbable. But he didn’t make the most of it with his weakness against spin catching up with him again in the 1st Test, whilst he struggled even more in the 2nd.

Craig Ervine 124 runs @31 - 6/10 The Zimbabwe captain had a disappointing series, saved only by an innings of 72 in the final dig. Much like Kaia he got a start in every innings, but could only go on to the ‘Zimbabwe Century’ of passing 50 once. As is always the case for Craig, his modes of dismissal always look soft, he reminds me of Mark Waugh or Damien Martyn in the at way. His captaincy was also poor, under bowled Mavuta at times & lacked any real creativity in his field placings.

Gary Ballance 155 runs @155 - 8/10 A wonderful return to Test cricket for Gary Ballance with his splendid 137* in the 1st Test to really make the difference between losing & the draw. He showed why he’s class as he blunted the attack before going on the offensive himself. Loses a point for getting out strangled down leg side in the 2nd dig and also for missing the 2nd Test. His durability is already in question missing half his games already.

Milton Shumba 10 runs @5 & no wickets - 1/10 A disappointing return to Test Cricket for Shumba as he managed just 10 runs in the 2nd match. He got out really softly in the first innings, and although he managed to face 40 odd balls in the 2nd, he looked bereft of confidence at this level. Probably needs an extended run back at Tuskers.

Tafadzwa Tsiga 28 runs @9.33 & 5 catches - 4/10 The biggest surprise selection since Charlton Tshuma in 2020, Tsiga came from the clouds to take the gloves in this series. But ultimately he struggled with both gloves and bat, although his glove work improved after missing a few chances in the 1st innings and he saved the Test with a 24*. But his modes of dismissal in the 2nd Test made me feel ill.

Brad Evans 2 wickets @57.50 & 7 runs @3.5 - 3/10 A tough entry into Test cricket for Brad Evans as he went wicket less in the 1st innings and scored a duck in the 4th. He did however take a couple of wickets in the 3rd innings but was dropped for the 2nd Test. Definitely got the tools to be a good player, just needs some polish on his game.

Donald Tiripano 23 runs @23 & no wickets - 4/10 Another player I thought we’d seen the last of in Zimbabwe colours, but the Don never gives up. Toothless with the ball again as we’ve seen many times, his average is nearing 50 again. But he showed once again his bravery with the bat holding the fort in the 1st innings of the second Test. A duck in the final innings could be the final chapter of his career.

Wellington Masakadza 5 wickets @42.8 & 23 runs @7.66 - 5/10 A tough one to rate for Wellington, as I feel he both bowled & batted better than his numbers suggest. But ultimately the numbers don’t lie, and I guess that’s his career in a nutshell. Bowling wise he got Braithwaite out three times one which was quite a feat, but only managed another two wickets all series. His batting looks good, but for some reason he didn’t get the ‘big hitting gene’ that his two brothers were blessed with, but his 30-ball 0* helped save the 1st Test.

Brandon Mavuta 8 wickets @30.37 & 73 runs @24.33 - 8/10 A really good return to Test cricket for Rango with both bat & ball. He took first career 5-for and also maiden 50 in Test cricket in the first Test. He then backed it up with 3 more wickets in the 2nd Test and was one of only 3 batsman to make double figures in the last innings of the 2nd Test. If he can build on this & continue to improve with bat & ball, there’s no reason for him to be dropped again. I feel he could be the X-Factor Zimbabwe needs in the CWCQ.

Victor Nyauchi 5 wickets @33.4 -6/10 Another hard one to judge because he went wicket less for 90% of the series, before taking 5 within about 6 overs to take his maiden Test 5-for. The deliveries to dismiss both Chase & Da Silva were peaches, but he wasn’t consistent enough throughout the series. Played a decent cameo with the bat in the 1st Test.

Richard Ngarava 0 wickets - 2/10 Big Richard just hasn’t seemed to find the formula required for Test cricket, his overall record is quite poor now with 5 wickets in 5 Tests at 73.8 which isn’t great. Even in white ball cricket, where he’s certainly improved a lot, he still hasn’t become a genuine wicket taker. Needs to start taking multiple wickets in every other game otherwise he’ll find himself falling behind Nyauchi & Chivanga.

Tanaka Chivanga 0 wickets - 4/10 I gave Chivanga a 4 despite not getting a wicket, because he only got one crack at bowling and he took a wicket before being called back for a no-ball. He’s a bit wild, but I like it and I think if backed and coached well he could be a serious player for Zimbabwe. We need someone with some mongrel and he’s the guy imo.

Missing the 2nd test due to a migraine has nothing to do with durability

[jaybro]

Missing the 2nd test due to a migraine has nothing to do with durability

He’s missed two games with concussion, another with a tight hamstring and a Test match for a migraine.

What ever way you want to describe it, he’s so far missed half his available games due to one reason or another.

[Mr Twig]

I like the ratings threads and your ratings are pretty good. Hard to disagree.

[Googly]

Really good summary. Makes for bloody grim reading though.

[jaybro]

I like the ratings threads and your ratings are pretty good. Hard to disagree.

Really good summary. Makes for bloody grim reading though.

Thanks fellas, yes was pretty grim Googly, but a few bright spots there as well. To be honest, considering the side they put out I think it wasn’t too bad.