All time Zimbabwe fielding XI

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jaybro
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All time Zimbabwe fielding XI

Post by jaybro »

Always wanted to make this thread but never got around to it but Robot triggered my memory

Now don’t be too critical as I only started to follow Zimbabwe at the end of the ‘Goldern Era’ so I may have favoured newer players or left out guys I didn’t know were guns. Feel free to suggest changes

D.Ebrahim - Freak of fielder anywhere you put him

V.Sibanda - Much like Ebrahim could field anywhere and did some crazy things in the field

T.Musakanda - Only new to the side but his efforts in Sri Lanka have put him in the conversation

C.Ervine - Some won’t like it but despite being a ‘slug’ in the field he has taken some great catches in close and his boundary catch off AB DeVilliers at the WC was top shelf

A. Flower ( wk ) - Best keeper we have had so he’s in

S.Carlisle - Another great fielder who took some memorable catches

S.Raza - Takes some great catches and is always good for a runout

H.Streak - Good hands strong arm like most things concerning Zim cricket he was one of the better ones

A.Blignaut - Really strong arm and took a couple of memorable catches last time Zimbabwe toured Australia especially the one handed boundary catch off Shaun Marsh at the WACA

W.Masakadza - Best spin bowling fielder I’ve seen for Zimbabwe so far especially fielding at point

C.Mpofu - His runout of Ricky Ponting at the 2011 WC was one of the best out field run outs ever, for this alone he’s in.

Hamilton was close as he’s a great slipper I also seem to remember Campbell being a good slipper but wasn’t sure if my memory was correct.

Feel free to contribute or correct my fading memory if I’ve given someone too much credit, happy to change the XI
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Googly
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Re: All time Zimbabwe fielding XI

Post by Googly »

Colin Bland- finest fielder of his generation and perhaps the greatest cover fielder of all time.
Trevor Penny- one of the best ever.

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Re: All time Zimbabwe fielding XI

Post by Googly »

Grant Flower was unbelievable. He was our point/gully specialist and was as good as anyone

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Re: All time Zimbabwe fielding XI

Post by Googly »

Murray Goodwin was pretty sharp. Utseya was not bad as well. That one catch he took a couple of years ago was absolutely top drawer.

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Re: All time Zimbabwe fielding XI

Post by Googly »

I’ve seen Raza drop a few dollies as well.

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Re: All time Zimbabwe fielding XI

Post by Googly »

I don’t think Andy was our best keeper. Taibu was damned good. Murray will be better than both of them if he stays in the game. He’s got the best hands I’ve ever seen, mark my words.

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Re: All time Zimbabwe fielding XI

Post by brmtaylor.com admin »

Williams used to be a terrific point fielder (I'm thinking like 2008-ish)

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Re: All time Zimbabwe fielding XI

Post by ZIMDOGGY »

Grant Flower the big omission here, was considered one of the best fielders of the 90s
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Re: All time Zimbabwe fielding XI

Post by CrimsonAvenger »

Yeah, Taibu was easily the best keeper we had. And yes Williams looked special initially, but hasn't gone on to develop that part of his game much. And Dabengwa was wonderful too when we were putting out some disastrous teams. In fact, the only contribution of Dabengwa most of the times was his fielding :)

Don't forget Chris Mpofu's rocket arm. Has accounted for a few run outs from the outfield in his career.

But I like this idea of coming up with the best fielding XI. Will update mine after some thoughts on this.

But my all time favorite in this category is Dion Ebrahim - he was truly sensational at backward point to the extent of displacing an equally good Grant Flower from his preferred position.

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jaybro
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Re: All time Zimbabwe fielding XI

Post by jaybro »

Ok so at this point are we happy to swap the following

Andy Flower out for Taibu ?

Grant Flower in for Craig Ervine ?

Surely there were more outstanding fielders from the 'Golden Era' when Zimbabwe was the best fielding side in the world ?
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