TEAM FOR SECOND TEST GENTS

[jimbo]

Utseya himself had a few words when cremer came back into the side. Are you him pariah?

[pariah]

Utseya himself had a few words when cremer came back into the side. Are you him pariah?

Nope.

Cremer has added absolutely zero value since his return!

[pariah]

Gutter journalism from Liam.

Headline from Cremer, just a short quote form him, rest of the article from Streak.

Either denotes that Streak calls the shots, or qualifies that just like Craig, Cremer isn't the sharpest tool in that shed.

Champion spinner, spinner decks, at home, batting 8-3 combination, surely your primary quote should be about bowling because you definitely not scoring anything above 500 runs against West Indies with your non-batsmen.

Cremer targets big runs in the first innings
http://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/ ... st-innings

Zimbabwe captain Graeme Cremer has targetted a big first innings-total as the hosts attempt to draw level with West Indies in the second Test at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo

"That first innings with the bat is so crucial in Test cricket," Cremer said. "If you don't do well in that first innings, you're always chasing the game. So we're hoping to rectify that. To win a Test match, you've probably got to score 600 runs in your two innings, so hopefully we'll do that and won't leave too much for our second innings with the bat."

Batting aside, both the captain and Zimbabwe coach Heath Streak suggested there would not be too much tinkering with Zimbabwe's tactics or their playing XI. "We're unlikely to make unforced changes," Streak said. "We've got a couple of niggles that we're managing, so we'll have a final check tomorrow on one or two guys, but we'll try not to change the team too much. That's what we've done consistently over the last year, trying to give guys a fair crack."

The quick turnaround between games does not give the hosts much freedom in testing out any new combinations, so Zimbabwe have instead focused on rest and recuperation, especially for a bowling attack that had plenty of work to do in intense heat during the first Test. "We just gave our quick bowlers a couple of days off with some achy bodies, and a couple of the guys had big workloads, the spinners especially, so just time to mentally refresh," Streak said. "And we went through what was effective and worked for us in the Test. There's obviously not much we can change in terms of our skills, just making sure that tactically we know exactly what we want to do and what we want to execute in the game."

Two issues for Zimbabwe are their middle order and the wicketkeeper position. Zimbabwe's lower-middle order crumbled twice in the first Test, with nos. 5 - 8 making 36 runs in the first innings and 48 in the second. Wicketkeeper Regis Chakabva had a reasonable game behind the stumps, but contributed just 13 runs across two innings.

"We spoke about soft dismissals and I know the guys were very disappointed, especially the middle-order guys," Streak said. "There were a few soft dismissals from the middle order. On the keeping front, Chakabva didn't score runs but he had an outstanding game with the gloves on a wicket that turned a lot. He's got an important role to do, and hopefully he can contribute with the bat in this next game."

After the extreme heat last week, the build-up to the second Test has seen rain and unseasonably low temperatures in Bulawayo. But with the warmth set to return next week, Streak expected very similar playing conditions for the second Test. "It's very unseasonal to get this cold, guti [persistent drizzle] type weather," Streak explained. "Normally October is quite hot, with thunderstorms. We'll have to see, but the forecast from Monday onwards is improving. If the wicket gets a bit of sun on it, I think we'll see it continue to dust up. It's dry now, and very similar [to the last pitch]."

[eugene]

Utseya himself had a few words when cremer came back into the side. Are you him pariah?

Nope.

Cremer has added absolutely zero value since his return!

Except for all those wickets which have catapulted him into the top 50 test bowlers in the world.

[pariah]

Even more gutter journalism from Liam.

1. Discuss ZiM economy - check
2. Discuss lack of games for ZIM - check
3. Find a way not to drop any of Streak's weak favourites - check
4. Find a way not to criticise Taylor as part of the failures (even to the point of classifying number 8 middle order ) - check
5. Lose our mind (replace Chakabva's excellent Test keeping with PJ Moor's world class batting) - check

Zimbabwe seek to fix batting issues in bid to draw level
http://www.espncricinfo.com/series/1807 ... w/1122887/

Cash isn't the only thing in short supply in Zimbabwe. During the first Test, it also seemed patience was lacking from the hosts' batting. In an effort to get ahead in the game, batsmen perished in a flurry of soft dismissals across both innings and Zimbabwe let slip the golden opportunity created by their bowlers. The batsmen were particularly generous during the afternoon denouement on day four, crumbling from a relatively healthy 219 for 4 to be 316 all out, with the tailenders bettering anything the middle order had to offer. The match was over with a day to spare, but despite the fact that Zimbabwe will be playing a four-day Test in two months' time, it wasn't a great advertisement.

The second Test presents an opportunity for Zimbabwe to get things right. Playing as little top-level cricket as they do, Zimbabwe are often a side that only really gets going a couple of games into a tour and the chastening experience of the first Test will likely spur greater resolve in what is a must-win game if they are to level the series. The first job will be to win the toss. The second will be to bat long into the second day.

That sounds a simple equation, and it is one that West Indies seem to have a greater aptitude for. The first-innings blip aside, their batsmen showed far greater tenacity in the first Test, and it tells that this West Indies squad has played three times as many Tests as Zimbabwe this year. West Indies were far more able to absorb the pressure and more conscious of the amount of time left in the game, waiting as long as necessary for a bad ball from which to score. If they can get the basics once again, they will be very hard to beat.

Zimbabwe will have the added challenge of tuning out any potential off-field distractions in the build-up to this match after it was revealed that Zimbabwe Cricket has been hit by a financial crunch which could affect salaries for all employees, including players. An internal memo informed staff that they would only be receiving half their October salaries this month, a situation ZC is hoping to rectify in November. It's no secret that Zimbabwe is dealing with one of its most serious economic crises in recent times, with a cash shortage the most recent symptom.

While it is unclear if this has contributed directly to ZC's current financial malaise, the entire country is reeling under the current crisis. ZC is no stranger to financial difficulties, but the relative stability enjoyed this year was key to the luring back of players such as Brendan Taylor and Kyle Jarvis, and this will be an unwelcome distraction. Chris Gayle's ongoing defamation case aside, West Indies have no such distractions and they will go into the second match as favourites.

Form guide

Zimbabwe LLLLL (last five matches, most recent first)
West Indies WLWLL

In the spotlight

Zimbabwe's lower middle order crumbled twice in the first Test match, with Nos. 5 to 8 making 36 runs in the first innings and 48 in the second. West Indies' combination of legspin and reverse swing did much of the damage, and with a very quick turnaround between Tests, there is little time to put things right. Zimbabwe would do well to follow the example set by the visitors, whose simplified tactics allowed them to occupy the crease and dictate the game.

Devendra Bishoo seems an unlikely spearhead for a West Indies bowling attack traditionally dominated by pace, but the last 12 months have been reasonably productive for the legspinner. Bishoo is within touching distance of 100 Test wickets, and 39 of his dismissals have come in the last year. He found conditions to his liking in the first Test with a match haul of 9 for 184, and with the second match being played at the same ground he will once again be West Indies' main bowling weapon.

Team news

Zimbabwe coach Heath Streak suggested there would be no major tactical changes for Zimbabwe, and with a variety of bowling options and seven Test centurions in their likely playing XI, the hosts are nicely balanced on paper. The conditions might dictate that Hamilton Masakadza has a little more bowling to do, but the main question for Zimbabwe lies behind the stumps. Regis Chakabva effected a couple of good stumpings in the first Test, but also dropped a catch and contributed little with the bat. Zimbabwe could bring in Peter Moor to strengthen their batting - although Moor didn't keep wicket in the A warm-up game ahead of this series. Their other less likely option would be to hand a debut to Mid West Rhinos wicketkeeper Nyasha Mayavo.

Zimbabwe (possible): 1 Hamilton Masakadza, 2 Solomon Mire, 3 Craig Ervine, 4 Brendan Taylor, 5 Sean Williams, 6 Sikandar Raza, 7 Malcolm Waller, 8 Regis Chakabva/PJ Moor (wk), 9 Graeme Cremer (capt), 10 Kyle Jarvis, 11 Chris Mpofu.

Consistency has been part of West Indies' selection policy this year, and after their victory in the first Test, there seems little reason to tinker with the playing XI aside from injury. Jermaine Blackwood had a quiet first Test, out stumped twice for single figures, but West Indies are unlikely to make any unforced changes.

West Indies (possible): 1 Kraigg Brathwaite, 2 Kieran Powell, 3 Kyle Hope, 4 Shai Hope, 5 Roston Chase, 6 Jermaine Blackwood, 7 Shane Dowrich (wk), 8 Jason Holder (capt), 9 Devendra Bishoo, 10 Kemar Roach, 11 Shannon Gabriel.

Pitch and conditions

After the first substantial rains of the season coincided with the first Test, there has been a bit of a concern in the second game too. The rain could leave a slow outfield even soggier, while the added moisture will also mean that the ball won't reverse swing quite so easily. Around this time of the year the weather always becomes a bit of a gamble, and while the forecast suggests that rain will not ruin the Test, it could play a part.

Stats and trivia

The team winning the toss has won four of the last five Tests played at this ground.

Zimbabwe won the toss 11 times in the first 12 Tests played at Queens, but have done so only four times in their 10 last games here.

Devendra Bishoo needs two more scalps to reach 100 Test wickets.

From the current team, Brendan Taylor is Zimbabwe's leading batsman at this ground, with 453 runs including a century and four fifties from the six Tests he has played here.

Quote

"We're unlikely to make unforced changes. We've got a couple of niggles that we're managing, so we'll have a final check tomorrow on one or two guys, but we'll try not to change the team too much."
Zimbabwe coach Heath Streak

[Jemisi]

Whinging about people trying to win games for Zim - check

[jaybro]

More white Zimbo bashing i guess hhm won't stop at the players, coaches or admin he's going after the journo's as well

[pariah]

jaybro your antics are bordering on obsession and stalking now.

You're commenting on things that aren't there.

If you bothered to notice, all races receive criticism from me.

This is gutter journalism from Liam. Feel free to defend him but logically. Only thing they aren't saying is "roaring into life" compared to the rest, but apart from that what exactly to you pick up?

[jaybro]

jaybro your antics are bordering on obsession and stalking now.

You're commenting on things that aren't there.

If you bothered to notice, all races receive criticism from me.

This is gutter journalism from Liam. Feel free to defend him but logically. Only thing they aren't saying is "roaring into life" compared to the rest, but apart from that what exactly to you pick up?

I think you’ll find the majority of the forum will agree with me on this one