Zimbabwe Test Squad for England Test

[Pat_Bee]

Murali and Monty Panesar are the last spinners to get a 5fer each in the same match there like 20 years ago nearly according to Larry k it’s not that conducive to spin. That said, it has been baking hot for a month to six weeks. Might spin more than usual.

[Marshmallow]

Gary Ballance joins Zimbabwe as a coaching consultant ahead of their upcoming Test match at Trent Bridge.

[zimbot]

Gary Ballance joins Zimbabwe as a coaching consultant ahead of their upcoming Test match at Trent Bridge.

Interesting. He's never playing again is he?

[Googly]

Now that's an interesting inclusion. These Zc guys are full of hate the one minute and the next they kiss and make up. It's a good trait actually.
The fact that Ballance is interested possibly means it wouldn't take too much to get him playing again. When the Big 4 retire it will surely be tempting for GB.
As a consultant he'll know the English players intimately, he'll be very useful.

If there's no outside interference it would be logical that Raza will likely replace Wellie. Social media is questioning why Masekesa is not in the squad but its highly unlikely we need a specialist spinner. Masekesa did great, but only in the second spell when the game has slipped away.
We're short of Gimu or Evans.

[Kriterion_BD]

Overall I think Masekesa bowled quite well. 5 wickets is like a century...doesn't matter the overall context, its still a very decent achievement. He had some solid variations and control as well as knowing when to use what delivery. When I saw his FC average and econ rate, I was sure he'd have been smashed to all parts like John Nyumbu or Ainsley Ndovolu before him, so Masekesa has certainly done well. Deserved to be in the England tour squad along with Matigimu.

[Andy31]

Now that's an interesting inclusion. These Zc guys are full of hate the one minute and the next they kiss and make up. It's a good trait actually.
The fact that Ballance is interested possibly means it wouldn't take too much to get him playing again. When the Big 4 retire it will surely be tempting for GB.
As a consultant he'll know the English players intimately, he'll be very useful.

If there's no outside interference it would be logical that Raza will likely replace Wellie. Social media is questioning why Masekesa is not in the squad but its highly unlikely we need a specialist spinner. Masekesa did great, but only in the second spell when the game has slipped away.
We're short of Gimu or Evans.

Surprised the rangers haven't tried to get him to play a few club games.

[Googly]

Ya so am I. It may well happen.

I was scrolling social media. The general consensus was why Masekesa and Campbell weren't there and why were Gwandu and Nyamhuri included when Matigimu and Evans were better options.
The latter two I agree with wholeheartedly.

Jonno has been really unlucky so far. Captain on debut and then nothing. He's invented ways of getting himself out so far, but he deserves a call-up and a few games in succession to settle down. I just don't see where he fits into the English line-up though.

I'm not sure about Masekesa. Is he enough of a threat to include him in conditions that are unlikely to favor spinners?
I think we'd be better off with an extra seamer that can bat.

Ngarava is surely on thin ice in red ball? I'd pick Evans over him all day and possibly even Matigimu. They could of course have picked Evans AND Ngarava!

I'm in two minds about Raza. If ZC pressured him to play he gets a pass, but if he put his hand up for this high profile game I don't agree. We've played so few games over the years and he's gotten himself into these T20 leagues but we've got plenty of games lined up and he must avail himself or not. There needs to be some consistency. As a good a player as he is I think he's a disruptive influence. He has carried our team so often in white ball you have to try and ignore that, but its not easy for some of the guys.

It's the same old never-ending story with ZC-
They'll hedge their bets by putting in one stronger player thinking he'll help us avoid the blushes, but they still won't pick the strongest team. In a weak team one guy doesn't carry another player, let alone two or three. It's the same old mistake game after game, year after year. We somehow can clearly afford to not pick our strongest team, but its not correct. As a country we want the strongest side on the park.

Curran, Bennett, Welch, Williams, Ervine, Raza, Madhevere, Tsiga, Evans, Matigimu, Muzarabani.

I think this is our strongest team for English conditions, but obviously Gimu and Brad are not in the squad.
They're likely to start with Richie and Victor. Richie just has to up his game big time. Thin ice.
It's unlikely, but they may go with Clive over Tsiga.
They may try and squeeze Wellie in, but not sure where. They'd probably have to drop NW if they were going to do that.

Contrary to what people think our bowling is probably more suspect that our batting. These county sides come here and land 95% of their deliveries. The Bangladeshi gave us a bowling lesson. Just relentless line and length. We bowl 2 or 3 decent deliveries an over and the odd jaffer that usually doesn't get a wicket.
Blessing is obviously our most threatening bowler and mostly because of his unique genetics, but if he's having a bad day or there's no assistance from the ball and/or conditions he also lacks consistency.

[Andy31]

Matigimu is injured which is a shame.

I reckon he would have been close

[andrea lanzoni]

Now that's an interesting inclusion. These Zc guys are full of hate the one minute and the next they kiss and make up. It's a good trait actually.
The fact that Ballance is interested possibly means it wouldn't take too much to get him playing again. When the Big 4 retire it will surely be tempting for GB.
As a consultant he'll know the English players intimately, he'll be very useful.

If there's no outside interference it would be logical that Raza will likely replace Wellie. Social media is questioning why Masekesa is not in the squad but its highly unlikely we need a specialist spinner. Masekesa did great, but only in the second spell when the game has slipped away.
We're short of Gimu or Evans.

I had read that Gary Ballance would join as assistant coach.
I got it as he has definitely stopped playing. He announced it almost two years ago, now he joins as coach.

What makes you optimistic he could come back again as a player in the future?

[Pat_Bee]

He’s like 5 years younger than the big 4