Where does Graeme Cremer rank among Zimbabwe Test batsmen?

[brmtaylor.com admin]

Among Zimbabwe's top 30 run scorers, Cremer has the lowest strike rate at 32.29

By comparison Mawoyo's is 37.04, Rennie's is 35.20, Grant Flower's is 34.52 and Gripper's is 32.71. So when it comes to batting time, good rearguard efforts he's in pretty good company. In fact, nobody can stonewall like Cremer.

Notable times he has batted for time:

• 12 off 80 vs South Africa (SR 15.00, 2005)
• 28* off 150 vs West Indies today (SR 18.66, 2017)
• 33 off 130 vs New Zealand (SR 25.38, 2016)
• 43 off 144 vs Sri Lanka (SR 29.86, 2016)
• 42 off 140 vs Bangladesh (SR 30.00, 2013)

I didn't include his century because by strike rate that was one of his fastest innings, although by balls faced (207) it is his longest.

So I believe in terms of temperament, he is one of our more reliable batsmen in Tests. He's been pretty good at sticking around. I'm not going to argue that he's one of our finest, that would be a silly argument because unlike the Taylor's and Masakadza's, etc he's not the type that can turn a game on its head. But he is good - he plays a very important role and he is capable of important contributions.

Since the resumption he has scored 491 runs at 23.38 (16.25 overall). What works against him is that he doesn't usually build on his starts - a lot of 20s-40s, no half centuries and the one century.

So with all this in mind, where does Graeme Cremer rank among Zimbabwe's Test batsmen?

I rate Cremer as a better Test batsman than Malcolm Waller and Stuart Matsikenyeri. A little behind Elton Chigumbura though.

[eugene]

I would be more than comfortable with Cremer batting at 8. If I needed someone to bat for my life I would choose Cremer over Waller and Williams at the moment who only seem interested in throwing their wicket away.

[pariah]

Among Zimbabwe's top 30 run scorers, Cremer has the lowest strike rate at 32.29

By comparison Mawoyo's is 37.04, Rennie's is 35.20, Grant Flower's is 34.52 and Gripper's is 32.71. So when it comes to batting time, good rearguard efforts he's in pretty good company. In fact, nobody can stonewall like Cremer.

So I believe in terms of temperament, he is one of our more reliable batsmen in Tests. He's been pretty good at sticking around. I'm not going to argue that he's one of our finest

I rate Cremer as a better Test batsman than Malcolm Waller and Stuart Matsikenyeri. A little behind Elton Chigumbura though.

I would be more than comfortable with Cremer batting at 8. If I needed someone to bat for my life I would choose Cremer over Waller and Williams at the moment who only seem interested in throwing their wicket away.

I said all of this recently.

I even said Cremer can actually bat as high as 7 on merit in the Test side and his batting can actually be his strong point. I also argued that he should be batting much higher in the Logan Cup because at that level he is no longer just a bowler but a genuine top 5 batsman.

Mr eugene is taking it further by saying the exact same things I was accused of being crazy for stating. That he is a better option that Malcolm and Williams, so why is ZIM trying to fit all of them as opposed to just promoting Cremer up the order, and slotting in a 2nd spinner, who will technically be a "frontline spinner".

This is precisely why I say "WE" don't disagree, "YOU" just agree with me later.

[jaybro]

Cremer is a good number 8 or 9 but 7 is too high unless batsman 8, 9 & 10 are solid

good work with a lineup like this

7. Cremer
8. Nathan
9.Tiripano
10. Shingi

I

[eugene]

I have never been a big Waller fan. I rate Williams as a far better batsmen than Cremer, but Cremer is the grittier one, at least on current form. I wouldn't bat Cremer higher than 8 in tests I don't think however.

[TapsC]

I think Cremer can do a Jason Holder kind of role at 8. Holder actually doesn't have as many test wickets as you would think but he makes up for it with his batting. I think he is competent enough for us to use a normal 7-4 line-up. If we go for this 8-3 South Africa will score over 600 runs.

[Mueddie28]

Cremer is a good number 8 or 9 but 7 is too high unless batsman 8, 9 & 10 are solid

good work with a lineup like this

7. Cremer
8. Nathan
9.Tiripano
10. Shingi

No to anything Waller we are tired of zim coach throwing a Favor to Andy Bhunu Waller..
Nathan is average
Malcolm should be selected for one dayers or t20
Not test..That said Tari Musakanda & PJ Moor should play ahead of Malcolm..

[Jemisi]

Cremer is a luxury at 9. Fine at 8 - especially as his average continues to climb. Too high at 7 - we need to get guys averaging 30 there.

[pariah]

Cremer at 7 is as good a batsman as Mire, Malcolm, Williams, Chamu etc.

I don't get where the argument is.

Often times when trying to protect certain individuals we fail to appreciate certain truths.

How often have people genuinely acknowledged that Tiripano a genuine number 8 can hold a bat better than most players. Is Cremer better than Tiripano? By quite some distance. So that makes him a 7 by Zimbabwean standards.

I have said this before and I'll say it again, for the sake of the team and the balance, a 2nd specialist spinner is a must because Cremer is leaking way too many runs every match.

I shudder to think what would have happened if Chisoro hadn't somehow managed to get those WI batsmen out. Surely with so many more runs to bowl at I think Gabriel and Roach would have bent their back harder.

It doesn't matter who - Wellington, Mavuta, Chikomba etc, ZIM need that spinner.

For what its worth, Greg Lamb actually showed more wicket-buying ability than all of Cremer, Raza and Williams. I could also add that he would have been a top order option as well not afraid and hiding all the time.

Let Cremer bat 4/5 in the Logan Cup and 7 in Tests.

[Jemisi]

Cremer at 7 may be where Zim batting standards are right now - and he can bat in the top 6 in the Logan Cup but him at 7 won't take our batting forward. None of the keepers deserve to be higher than 7 at the moment. If Cremer can average 22 at 8 we will be going forward.

And a 2nd spinner who can't take wickets doesn't help us. Wellington would be good if he can improve. He has been in poor form. Cremer just got a ten fer then 8 in the first test. Wellington has hardly any wickets this season.

Greg Lamb would be useful right now probably but he is long gone. If Price was around then your argument would be worth something. We'd all have him and Cremer together in the lineup. Random junior spinners will not improve upon what Williams and Raza can manage. To pick a genuine 2nd spinner (who can't bat) doesn't work right now. Someone needs to be cutting through Logan Cup batting lineups consistently to give our test team a boost by their inclusion.