Name your first eleven for the 1st ODI

[brmtaylor.com admin]

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=731&p=7531#p7531

Use this 19, at this stage it looks legit, despite the baffling absence of Malcolm Waller.

Squad: Prosper Utseya (captain), Hamilton Masakadza, Ray Price, Stuart Matsikenyeri, Mark Vermeulen, Charles Coventry, Vusi Sibanda, Sean Williams, Elton Chigumbura, Chamu Chibhabha, Forster Mutizwa, Keith Dabengwa, Timycen Maruma, Graeme Cremer, Chris Mpofu, Tawanda Mupariwa, Ed Rainsford, Admire Manyumwa, Trevor Garwe.

I like this: (naturally I don't believe it will happen, because Matsikenyeri and Dabengwa are certainties )

1. Mark Vermeulen
2. Hamilton Masakadza
3. Sean Williams
4. Charles Coventry (wk)
5. Forster Mutizwa
6. Graeme Cremer
7. Elton Chigumbura
8. Prosper Utseya (c)
9. Ray Price
10. Tawanda Mupariwa
11. Ed Rainsford

(If we had Taylor, Taibu and Waller - take your pick, I'd go with Taylor - then I think we could offset losing Mupariwa by putting the incoming batsman at #4 and shifting the rest down one)

[CrimsonAvenger]

There has been a lot of talk about how Sibanda is shaping up during the preparations, so they would probably continue with the tried and tested (but not necessarily the most successful) opening combination of Masakadza and Sibanda to begin with.

But here's my lineup: (Assuming no Waller / Taibu / Taylor as last minute inclusions)

Vermeulen
Masakadza
Williams
Mutizwa
Coventry
Chibhabha
Chigumbura
Utseya
Cremer
Price
Rainsford

If we need to go in with another bowler, it will of course be Mupariwa replacing Chibhabha and batting at 10. I would also give wicket keeping duties to Coventry and play Mutizwa as specialist batsman at no. 4. He deserves that chance.

[Detective RDS]

1. Hamilton Masakadza
2. Mark Vermeulen
3. Stuart Matsikenyeri
4. Sean Williams
5. Forster Mutizwa (WK)
6. Charles Coventry
7. Elton Chigumbura
8. Prosper Utseya (C)
9. Raymond Price
10. Graeme Cremer
11. Edward Rainsford

Justice Chibhabha (12th men)
13. Tawanda Mupariwa
14. Christopher Mpofu

If Brendan Taylor is available then...

1. Hamilton Masakadza
2. Mark Vermeulen
3. Sean Williams
4. Brendan Taylor
5. Forster Mutizwa (WK)
6. Charles Coventry
7. Elton Chigumbura
8. Prosper Utseya (C)
9. Raymond Price
10. Graeme Cremer
11. Edward Rainsford

Stuart Matsikenyeri (12th men)

[zimfan1]

Im still confident Taylor will play so this is my side

1. Madakazka
2. Vermulen
3. Williams
4. Taylor (WK)
5 Mutizwa
6 Matiskenyeri
7 Chigumbura
8 Utseya
9 Price
10 Cremer
11 Rainsford

[anusha gamage]

this team can win a games
1 hamiltan masakadza
2 mark vermulen
3 Charles Coventry (wk
4 Sean Williams
5 Forster Mutizwa
6 Stuart Matsikenyeri
7 Prosper Utseya (capt
8 Ray Price
9 Graeme Cremer
10 Trevor Garwe
11 Ed Rainsford

[zulu]

Mine would be

1. Masakadza
2. Sibanda
3. Vermealun
4. Williams
5. Coventry (WK)
6. Mutizwa
7. Chigumbura
8. Utseya
9. Price
10. T.Mupariwa
11. E. Rainsford

I think that is the team to go for first up obviously cremer is unlucky to miss out but I dont think there is room for a 3rd spinner playing in Zimbabwe, williams and Masakadza can turn can turn their arms over if needed. I think thats a realistic 11 that ZC selectors will pick

[asif]

Hi!

I am here from Pakistan and trying to share ideas on best 11 from current Squad.
Best of luck Zimbabwe for the upcoming series.

1.Mark Vermeulen
2.Hamilton Masakadza
3.Chamu Chibhabha
4.Sean Williams
5.Stuart Matsikenyeri
6.Charles Coventry (wk)
7.Elton Chigumbura
8.Prosper Utseya (capt)
9.Ray Price
10.Tawanda Mupariwa
11.Ed Rainsford

[brmtaylor.com admin]

Hi asif, thanks for joining in the discussions it's great to have you here

[alan132]

I think that the team for the 1st ODI could unfortunately be

1. Vusi Sabanda
2. Hamilton Masakadza
3. Stuart Matsikenyeri
4. Mark Vermeulen
5. Forster Mutizwa (wk)
6. Elton Chigumbura
7. Keith Dabengwa
8. Proper Utseya (c)
9. Ray Price
10. Tawanda Mupariwa
11. Ed Rainsford

However I would like it to be

1. Brendan Taylor
2. Hamilton Masakadza
3. Sean Williams
4. Mark Vermeulen
5. Forster Mutizwa (wk)
6. Charles Coventry
7. Elton Chigumbura
8. Proper Utseya (c)
9. Ray Price
10. Tawanda Mupariwa
11. Ed Rainsford

There would the be a chance to change either Mupariwa or Rainsford for Graeme Cremer if a 2nd or 3rd match is played on the same strip in the anticipation that it will spin more

[brmtaylor.com admin]

Okay, we know the squad now and I think it is fantastic. Well done to Alistair Campbell and his team.

Zimbabwe national squad: Prosper Utseya (captain), Hamilton Masakadza, Mark Vermeulen, Brendan Taylor, Stuart Matsikenyeri, Sean Williams, Elton Chigumbura, Charles Coventry, Vusi Sibanda, Chamu Chibhabha, Malcolm Waller, Ray Price, Tawanda Mupariwa, Graeme Cremer, Ed Rainsford.

Here is my 11:

1. M Vermeulen
2. H Masakadza
3. S Williams
4. B Taylor
5. C Coventry (wk)
6. M Waller
7. E Chigumbura
8. G Cremer
9. P Utseya (c)
10. R Price
11. E Rainsford

I still think Mupariwa has a fairly good chance of getting selected (but leaving out Mpofu does make that a fraction less likely I think), and Matsikenyeri might make the team ahead of Coventry... but still, no matter what happens on Sunday we are going to have an awfully strong team, probably our strongest in 5 years!