MVP thread

[ZIMDOGGY]

Chakabva could well end up having 1-2 years as our top Test batsman once the big four are gone.
He could well be the last one standing with a Test century to his name.

I might be wrong about this, but I think the most recent player to debut and then score a century is Raza (who played his first Test in 2013, tonned up in 2017). In seven years we haven't found a batsman capable of scoring a century - Chibhabha, Burl, Moor, Chari are amongst that lot.

I've brought up this point a few times as a indication of the failure that is Zimbabwe Cricket and their system or lack there of

Post Rebel era the side has been predominately made up from the 'Golden U19' team of 2004, excluding those guys only two players who have come through the ZC pathways system have scored an international century, that being Regis Chakabva & Solomon Mire. Raza didn't come through the system he just ended up playing club cricket then Logan Cup cricket.

So since the WC team of 2004 Zimbabwe Cricket's system of producing International batsman has produced 2 International centuries in 16 years of trying

Let that sink in

No one under the age of 32 has scored an international century for Zimbabwe in alll formats.

[ZIMDOGGY]

My MVP List

1: Sikander Raza Raza is without doubt the MVP of the Zimbabwe Cricket Team, being a triple threat he has won games with bat, ball & in the field for Zimbabwe in the past and will do no doubt in the future. He's arguably the 2nd best batsman in the side, and now undoubtedly the best spinner in the side, when Zimbabwe win he's almost certainly contributed in some way.

2: Brendan Taylor BT is still the best bat in the side, but is now only the 2nd MVP as his form and dedication seems to be inconsistent these days. As I've pointed out recently he's in ODI mode no matter the match situation, which has made him less dependable in recent times. Still the most likely to play a match winning knock against a quality opponent.

3: Sean Williams The Test captain and similar to Raza, Williams is a triple threat, although as it has been pointed out before his best performances with the bat don't always come in winning efforts. It's different with the ball though as Williams seems to play a hand with ball more so in winning matches. His ability to reach triple figures in recent times shows growth from a player who always seemed to be happy with the 'Zimbo Century' when he passed 50.

4: Craig Ervine Just as talented as the 3 above mentioned batsman Ervine is a key member of the Zimbabwe side, after a difficult 2018 he's bounced back in all three formats. Hopefully he hangs around for the next few years, we might be about to see the best of Craig Ervine I feel, and build on his 6 international tons, only BT has more amongst the active playing squad.

5: Tendai Chatara The best bowler Zimbabwe has in their ranks no doubt, his record across all three formats proves this. The issue with TLC is his fitness issues, ever since his leg break it seems he's always a couple of games away from breaking down again. He also seems to perform better when he's not the leader of the attack, I was disappointed in his performances during the mini player strike in 2018.

They are my top 5 MVPs for Zimbabwe atm, I feel Tendai Chisoro could actually be Top 5 if he wasn't barred from selection, his lower order batting and useful bowling would make him an integral part of all three formats.

Not a KJ fan?

[jaybro]

My MVP List

1: Sikander Raza Raza is without doubt the MVP of the Zimbabwe Cricket Team, being a triple threat he has won games with bat, ball & in the field for Zimbabwe in the past and will do no doubt in the future. He's arguably the 2nd best batsman in the side, and now undoubtedly the best spinner in the side, when Zimbabwe win he's almost certainly contributed in some way.

2: Brendan Taylor BT is still the best bat in the side, but is now only the 2nd MVP as his form and dedication seems to be inconsistent these days. As I've pointed out recently he's in ODI mode no matter the match situation, which has made him less dependable in recent times. Still the most likely to play a match winning knock against a quality opponent.

3: Sean Williams The Test captain and similar to Raza, Williams is a triple threat, although as it has been pointed out before his best performances with the bat don't always come in winning efforts. It's different with the ball though as Williams seems to play a hand with ball more so in winning matches. His ability to reach triple figures in recent times shows growth from a player who always seemed to be happy with the 'Zimbo Century' when he passed 50.

4: Craig Ervine Just as talented as the 3 above mentioned batsman Ervine is a key member of the Zimbabwe side, after a difficult 2018 he's bounced back in all three formats. Hopefully he hangs around for the next few years, we might be about to see the best of Craig Ervine I feel, and build on his 6 international tons, only BT has more amongst the active playing squad.

5: Tendai Chatara The best bowler Zimbabwe has in their ranks no doubt, his record across all three formats proves this. The issue with TLC is his fitness issues, ever since his leg break it seems he's always a couple of games away from breaking down again. He also seems to perform better when he's not the leader of the attack, I was disappointed in his performances during the mini player strike in 2018.

They are my top 5 MVPs for Zimbabwe atm, I feel Tendai Chisoro could actually be Top 5 if he wasn't barred from selection, his lower order batting and useful bowling would make him an integral part of all three formats.

Not a KJ fan?

Definitely am a KJ fan, but he’s not the same ODI bowler as Chatara and Zimbabwe don’t play many Tests.

Just calling it as I see it no favourites here

[sloandog]

I'll be honest, a feeling of real dread came over me when I saw Thsuma and Nayauchi running in bowling 70-74mph butter balls. The cupboard is empty, and that's really worrying. A good 8 or 9 years ago or so, we had a good few guys who could crank it up a bit and bowl at least with some penetration.
Shingrai Mazakadza was all over the place but had a yard, Jarv and TC where young and raw, Mpofu was able to crank it up, then you had Nicholson, Rainsford, Nathan Wwaller, Panyangara, Ncube....at least these boys could run in a little bit and bend their backs. The fact that, after almost a decade, we have to resort back to using bobby is a worry. We have no bowlers

[Donald]

Mumba would have been the fastest had he played and even mpofu. Personally I would have liked mumba mpofu and Tshuma playing together. I think we can work with Tshuma. He has a lovely action and good height. He did get a bit of bounce at times and was reverse swinging the ball. Coaches need to get his pace up a bit and work on outswinger

[ZIMDOGGY]

If Solomon Mire had played today he would have been the fastest in our attack at 130.
Solomon Mire!

Let that sink in. He would have led our attack. Someone rightly considered a non bowler.

[ZIMDOGGY]

The cupboard is empty, and that's really worrying. A good 8 or 9 years ago or so, we had a good few guys who could crank it up a bit and bowl at least with some penetration.
Shingrai Mazakadza was all over the place but had a yard, Jarv and TC where young and raw, Mpofu was able to crank it up, then you had Nicholson, Rainsford, Nathan Wwaller, Panyangara, Ncube....at least these boys could run in a little bit and bend their backs. The fact that, after almost a decade, we have to resort back to using bobby is a worry. We have no bowlers

I think you’re looking back with rose coloured glasses a bit here.

Nicholson was all over the place and would get belted and retired before 2012.

Rainsford hasn’t been seen since 2010, and was also a medium pacer around 125-130.
Nathan Waller deadset couldn’t crack 120 and didn’t even dominate domestically.
Ncube another late 120s peddler.
Masakadza never really did well internationally and was very expensive.
Panyangara. Another 120-125 bowler, admittedly he was economical up front. But not a sensation or anything.

The one you omitted and should have said is Vitori. He would start at 140 and end up 120 through fatigue. But it was all a lie because he chucked. But there were moments with him.

Our best period was 2018 here because we had the same 2 guys that have done the damage the last 8 years, whom we still have, AND we had Blessing as an X factor (even though he’s overrated) and could call on Mire as backup for a few overs, also quicker than most guys over the last ten years.

The plods we have now, to their credit don’t get absolutely tonked, they just are ineffective.
They can still get erect, but impotent.

[zimfan1]

Nathan Waller bowled 73mph at best. Panyangara was a quality bowler though, again another one who was mismanaged.

[sloandog]

Ncube, Panyangara and Rainsford could all hit the mid 130’s...Panyangara actually cranked it up quite a lot in the very early days. Nicholson just needed some TLC! I remember Kepler Wessels saying during a 2009/10 ODI that Nicholson was markedly quicker than all the other Zimbabwe bowlers, but looked raw and needed some coaching on his length; that was said on commentary as I was watching the game.

[sloandog]

My point is that now, in today’s squads, we don’t even have a single bowler with that explosive potential that Nicholson or Mazakadza had a DECADE ago. There’s not even a cupboard anymore.