Mupariwa set for Queens Sports Club debut

[zimfan1]

Mupariwa set for Queens Sports Club debut

Sports Reporter

AS Zimbabwe prepares for the five One-Day International matches (ODIs) against Bangladesh, pace bowler Tawanda Mupariwa is relishing an opportunity to finally play a match at his home ground, Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo.

The Bulawayo born player has never played a match at Queens Sports Club. He has played 33 ODIs for Zimbabwe and claimed 52 wickets in those matches, an average of 25.94 and an economy rate of 4.82 runs per over.
Mupariwa has played most of the matches at Harare Sports Club where he has appeared 14 times for Zimbabwe and also taken his highest number of wickets with 26 dismissals. His next successful venue is Port of Spain in West Indies where he took 11 wickets in four appearances during Zimbabwe’s tour of the Caribbean in 2006.
Mupariwa made his Test debut against Sri Lanka at Queens Sports Club in April 2004. It is a match that he would love to forget quickly as he bowled a wicketless 34 overs and gave away 136 runs. He was not considered for the first two ODIs against Sri Lanka in Bulawayo but went on to make his debut during the same series at Harare Sports Club.
In an interview last Thursday, Mupariwa said he was hoping to play in front of his home crowd and promised not to disappoint them.
“It would be nice for me to play my first match at Queens, the last time I was supposed to play against West Indies in 2007, the match was rained off. I have never disappointed when given a chance and I continue to give the best. I will take wickets or bowl an economic spell,” said Mupariwa.
The 24-year-old also promised to deliver with the bat and said his batting has improved. He pointed out that Bangladesh would be worried about his batting as he has managed to hand around long enough down the order.
His highest score of 33 runs came against Bangladesh at Harare Sports Club in August 2006 when he partnered Brendan Taylor to lead Zimbabwe to a sensational last ball victory.
During Zimbabwe’s tour to Bangladesh early this year, Mupariwa bowled a tight eight overs in which he conceded only 13 runs and sent down two maidens as Zimbabwe bowled out Bangladesh for 124 runs in 48.1 overs. Zimbabwe went on to win that match by one wicket.
Mupariwa is set to get an award during the Zimbabwe Cricket awards to be held at a city hotel on Wednesday for becoming the fastest Zimbabwean bowler to reach 50 ODI wickets. The medium pace bowler got 50 wickets in 28 ODIs, nine matches fewer than fellow fast bowler Eddo Brandes who hit the mark in 37 matches and previously held the record.
The Zimbabwe team is already in Bulawayo with 19 players in camp. National team coach Walter Chawaguta said the squad would be trimmed down to the tour 15 but the other four players would still be kept in camp for training purposes.
Bangladesh are expected in the country on Wednesday when they arrive in Harare before they travel to Bulawayo the following day.

http://www.sundaynews.co.zw/inside.aspx ... 4075&cat=5

[Eshen]

I got excited thinking he never played on Queens Sports Club and would be confused how to handle the slow pitch on it. But he has played on the field in domestic league matches

[Sir Mupariwa]

I got excited thinking he never played on Queens Sports Club and would be confused how to handle the slow pitch on it. But he has played on the field in domestic league matches

Come on man! why would you think that? Queens is the second best Ground and Mupariwa is like the best bowler, its like thinking Shakib has not played in Chittagong at all.

[Detective RDS]

If Mupariwa is set for selection, then I think Zimbabwe has to play 1 batsman short (Utseya at 7) or Zimbabwe has to drop a spinner and it must be Cremer. I don't think, it's a good idea to rule out Cremer and play both Rainsford, Mupariwa.

[zimfan1]

Yeah i reckon it willl be Mupariwa and Rainsford with the new ball then Chigumbura and the two spinners (Price and Utseya)

[brmtaylor.com admin]

Like most of the articles from The Chronicle it is only speculation and you shouldn't read too much into it.

I suspect that they will go into the 1st ODI with Chigumbura, Rainsford and Mupariwa (and Price and Utseya), but I personally think Graeme Cremer should get the nod. Bangladesh struggled against Price, and being a wrist spinner Cremer will spin it away from the right hander more than Price will. It would be a good attacking move to play the three spinners.

[Eshen]

As I mentioned in another thread, Bangldeshi batsmen faced some good pacers in WI (Sammy, Roach). They will be well prepared to handle Zimbabwean pacers. Mupariwa has never been much of a threat for our boys anyway.

I would worry more about Cremer.

[Detective RDS]

I also think that it will be a attacking move to play three spinners instead of playing both Rainsford and Mupariwa, drop any one of them.

[Sir Mupariwa]

There are 5 games to be played so the selectors will try out different combinations, but i'm quite sure Rainsford and Mupariwa will play the first game. I cant see them leaving any of these two for anything other than bad form. It will be a huge mistake to conclude that spinners are the ones who will make the greatest impact in this series, because i have seen wickets performing differently from even the pitch analysis on the morning of play. We have a good chance of fielding a far better team than Bang in the absence of Mortaza and Razzak. We have to play our two best front line pace bowlers and our two best spinners and if we feel Creamer turns it better than Price then Price should make way for him.

[Detective RDS]

We have to play our two best front line pace bowlers and our two best spinners and if we feel Creamer turns it better than Price then Price should make way for him.

Price can't be left out at any means, I guess everyone will agree with me. He is the most successful bowler of Zimbabwe in the ODI's on the basis of recent performance along with great performance and experience against stronger sides at test level. Utseya is the weakest of the three spinners although he is the captain...