[Match Thread] Intercontinental Cup - Zimbabwe XI v Kenya

[Train Driver]

Not that long now before Kenya arrive and get their tour off to a start with this fixture on 7th October at Kwekwe.

Any thoughts on how strong the Zim selection should be ?, personally i thought that the game against Afghanistan may have been looked down on a bit and an understrength side selected, the side was

Friday Kasteni, Tendai Chisoro, Tatenda Taibu, Timycen Maruma, Forster Mutizwa, Shingirai Masakadza, Trevor Garwe, Cephas Zhuwawo, Tafadazwa Kamungozi, Christopher Mpofu & Admire Manyumwa.

I think i'd be happy with Kasteni, Taibu, Maruma, Masakadza, Garwe, Mpofu & Manyumwa but look at giving some extra strength with Regis Chakabva, Tino Mawoyo, Steven Nyamuzinga & Brighton Mugochi with the possibility of Chamu Chibhabha, after his form against Bangladesh he needs to show if he can earn a National spot again, and the one returning player that i think deserves an early chance, Greg Lamb, i've left Mutizwa out because i think he should be a starter in the ODI series.

My 13 gives,
4 seamers - Masakadza, Garwe, Mpofu & Manyumwa
2 spinners - Maruma & Mugochi
2 batsmen - Kasteni & Mawoyo
2 Keeper/batsmen - Taibu & Chakabva
1 spinner/batsman - Lamb
2 seamer/batsmen - Nyamuzinga & Chibhabha

Depending on pitch conditions any 2 of these 13 could be left out and still give a varied bowling attack and, i believe, a strong batting line up.

Any thoughts out there ?

[zimfan1]

id probably get Malcolm Waller in the sqaud as he wont be in the national team sqaud and perhaps Terry Duffin as captain,

Id also try and find a place for Prince Masurve who is having a good start to the season

[Robin]

Is it worth looking for a seamer with more pace? Mahwire/Mujaji/Ncuce/Jarvis? Who's the quickest of these four and the four listed in the squad above?

[muyendesi]

maregwende , lamb,mwakayeni, chapungu and mutombedzi should be given a chance.I think selection should be based on performances during the logan cup.

[Detective RDS]

I would like to include some returnee players in the ''A'' side. Since most of the returnee players are with the Tuskers so I reckon their individual form in the next match will work as a gear in the selection process.

By now, I will give Terrence Duffin, Gregory Strydom, Alester Meregweede a go in the A side. Tatenda Taibu as a player/captain in the team is perfect for me. Malcolm Waller along with Justice Chibhabha has to be in the side. Prince Masvaure also did well to get included. Regis Chakabva isn't having a good time with the bat, so I will overlook him. For the remaining spots I would prefer Kasteni, Maruma, S Masakadza, Garwe, Manyumwa, Hondo.

[Boundary]

I reckon Taibu as a captain is a certainty, what with his full international ban still in force. Also because of his form, this is perfect him. I quite like the idea of such an experienced guy leading most of our 'youngsters'.

[tawac]

Picking the A' side or Zimbabwe XI(wonder whats the difference) is gonna be harder than we thought. Is the side gonna going to be picked on form or past perfomances. I would settle for a mixture of both. Here is my starting eleven:

1. Friday Kasteni,
2. Tino Mawoyo,
3. Tatenda Taibu,
4. Timycen Maruma,
5. Forster Mutizwa,
6. Gregory Strydom,
7. Prince Masvaure
8. Trevor Garwe
9. Admire Manyumwa
10. Shingirai Masakadza,
11. Christopher Mpofu.

[Horo]

out of the returning players id like to see Greg Strydom and Greg Lamb in this team but id also like to see douglas hondo feature but i think the remaining returnees are still yet to make a significant impact to justify selection at such an early stage

[Train Driver]

That's a good strong side whatever anyone wants to call it, tawac.

I'm not totally sure what the real purpose of participation in the Intercontinental is about, are we looking to put out the strongest XI available in order to win every game possible or is it an 'A' side to give the 'almost there' players more 4 day experience ?

I guess it should be so that the next group of National players are exposed to various other sides and venues and gain experience, but by putting out sides that are not as strong as they could be may allow people, who would like to see Zim pushed to one side, have more ammunition if we do lose to the lesser countries at this level.

It's a difficult one this, i just hope that the ZC selectors know what they are trying to do so that these games aren't wasted.

[maehara]

Sticky'ing as the match is just around the corner. CricInfo are promising live scores (I believe they have a contract with the ICC to provide ball-by-ball for Intercontinental Cup matches now), but we'll see...

I'm not totally sure what the real purpose of participation in the Intercontinental is about, are we looking to put out the strongest XI available in order to win every game possible or is it an 'A' side to give the 'almost there' players more 4 day experience ?

I guess it should be so that the next group of National players are exposed to various other sides and venues and gain experience, but by putting out sides that are not as strong as they could be may allow people, who would like to see Zim pushed to one side, have more ammunition if we do lose to the lesser countries at this level.

It's a difficult one this, i just hope that the ZC selectors know what they are trying to do so that these games aren't wasted

If you read Hunte's report, it should really be the full national side that plays in these - but as you point out, if we fielded our top XI and then lost even one match, there would be calls for our Full Member head.

Playing a weakened side (I think 'Zimbabwe XI' is technically intended to fall in between the 'A' and national sides - some members from each) gives us some deniability - "sure we lost, but it was a development side..." - but ruins the argument that we're in the tournament as part of the preparations to return to Test cricket. For that, we need to get some good, competitive 4-day matches for the full national side, and they're not getting that at the moment.