Zimbabwe Vs Namibia | 2nd T20I | 25th Oct 2023

[Donald]

I'm not adverse to madhevere opening. I think maybe K long needs a bit of a run of it. He has never had extended opportunity in the side. Might be time to give him a run.

[zimfan1]

Jongwe needs to go, can't bat, can't bowl and is too fat to field.

[secretzimbo]

I don't understand why the team management are so allergic to playing 2 specialist spinners. Yes Welly and Ndlovu are similar but they are just straight up better bowlers than Akram, Mumba and Jongwe. The WC next year is in the Caribbean and the pitches more often than not take turn, so picking two spinners should not be out of the question.

The thinking is probably that we usually have 3-4 part-time spinners in the team as well (Burl, Williams, Raza, Wes) so a 2nd frontline spinner just isn’t necessary.

Mavuta is the one that is a real point of difference as an attacking wicket taker leggie but he’s obviously being punished currently for his poor discipline during the NPL.

I don’t think Ndlovu offers anything different to Welly at all.

[secretzimbo]

I’m disappointed Chivanga is not involved. He hasn’t taken his international chances and he is a bit wild and unreliable but he is a damn sight better option than either Akram or Mumba.

A lot of the low-level African associate batters we will face in the qualifier would shit themselves against an attack of Blessing, Ngarava and Chivanga.

[Jemisi]

Zimbabwe is not forgotten at the Cricket World Cup in India
https://x.com/drsitu/status/17172168469 ... FXCYeozrRg

Good on you mate

[secretzimbo]

Have they given Raza a farm yet? He deserves multiple Heck, give him half a province

[Saint_Mel]

I don't understand why the team management are so allergic to playing 2 specialist spinners. Yes Welly and Ndlovu are similar but they are just straight up better bowlers than Akram, Mumba and Jongwe. The WC next year is in the Caribbean and the pitches more often than not take turn, so picking two spinners should not be out of the question.

I don’t think Ndlovu offers anything different to Welly at all.

I’m not saying he does. I’m just saying that they’re objectively better bowlers than Mumba Akram etc and therefore should be picked regardless.

[secretzimbo]

Ya I get your point and don’t disagree. They are!

But if we were to pick two specialists then I’d like to go with a leggie as well. Not much point picking two left armers who are very similar. Both are good bowlers though. I’m not knocking them!

[CalZim]

I’m disappointed Chivanga is not involved. He hasn’t taken his international chances and he is a bit wild and unreliable but he is a damn sight better option than either Akram or Mumba.

A lot of the low-level African associate batters we will face in the qualifier would shit themselves against an attack of Blessing, Ngarava and Chivanga.

I agree. As much as I dislike TK, he is a much better bowling option than Akram and Mumba. He is arguably now the front line seamer for the A team with Nyauchis decline.

In order of pace bowlers for Zimbabwe I'd go:

Muzarabani
Ngarava
Evans
Chatara
Jongwe
Chivanga
Nyauchi
Masuku
Akram

That's just 9 but Mumba probably wouldn't even make top 15. Players like Gwandu, Jaure, musekwa, and some other young cricketers coming through. I'd even consider the mighty Michael Chinouya ahead of Mumba

[secretzimbo]

No joke, Chinouya and Madizva aren’t far behind Mumba

Masuku has never been given a chance. He’s military medium but he’s effective. I’m not saying he will be great, but like Mufudza it’s weird that they’ve never even taken a look at him.

The raw pace and hostility of Chivanga alongside Blessing and Richard would probably work very well against lesser experienced teams we will face next month.