Who will return to the zimbabwean national team ??

[sloandog]

With the zimbabwean first class season looming, i'm very intersted to know who will be slected for the national team ( if he performs ofcourse ). Will Greg Lamb be up for consideration ?? Travis Friend, Doug Marrliar and Barney Rogers have all proven themselves on the national stage. So i'm curious as to who will drop out of the team for some of these guys. Mutizwa is an ever improving player, Taibu is yet to return, and with the likes of these players returning, Malcolm waller may find 1st team appearences thin.
It would be great to see some of the " REBELS " return, but at the expence of some of our good youngsters i think it may be tough. What do you guys think. Detective ?? Train Driver ?? Zimfan1 ??

[eugene]

I may not be Detective RDS, Zimfan1 or Train Driver but I will post a reply!

I don't think Malcolm Waller is really up to international standard yet so I think he may find international ooportunuities hard to come by anyway. Of those players you have mentioned I think Barney Rogers has the most potential. Travis Friend tended to struggle internationally and Douglas Marillier was inconsistent.

Greg Lamb is a great addition to Zimbabwean cricket and could do well in the middle order and bowling a bit. The problem is we really need some fast pace bowlers. Greg Lamb, Barney Rogers, and Douglas Marillier are all players who bat well and bowl a bit. We already have too many part time bowlers in the side. We need some more full time bowlers. At least Travis Friend could bowl quite fast.

[Detective RDS]

I may not be Detective RDS, Zimfan1 or Train Driver but I will post a reply!

C'mon Eugene, not to think like this...We have all got human rights. You are always welcome


I'm starting with Tatenda Taibu. He is banned for 10 matches, amoung them 5 left. So, he won't be picked for Bangladesh series. But when his suspension will be over, he will be definitely called for the national side.

I think, 3 players will be left out from the squad which recently played against Bangladesh. Sibanda, Chibhabha and Waller are those players. I would like to put a question mark over Matsikenyeri as well. I can recall, he wasn't picked for the 5th ODI against Bangladesh. So, in total 4 players.

Forster Mutizwa will surely fill in one spot keeping in mind his wonderful domestic records and recent performances. So, that leaves 3 more spots to be filled.

For Malcolm Waller, (Don't mind, zimfan1 please!) I know he is a very potential player. But he didn't have a good series against Bangladesh. His List A average needs to be improved. Has a good FC record with an average over 40 but yet to get a FC record. These are the things he needs to work on. He needs to play more domestic matches and score big centuries before getting up for national selection again.

For the returnee players point of view, I'm really not sure that Travis Friend will return or not. According to the ICC report on Zimbabwean cricket, he was training to be a qualified pilot in UK. But still he is playing for Castletown CC in UK and is in great form.

Again, the form of the players (both returnee+current) will be the X-Factor. I agree with Eugene that Zimbabwe has got many part-timers already and needs a quality fast bowler.

Travis Friend struggled in the ODIs both in batting and bowling. A batting average of 16+ and bowling average of 48+ don't give a good look. His List A batting average has struggled also. I think, he will be considered more for the tests if he does return.

For me, Zimbabwe badly needs Andy Blignaut back. He could have been a world class player. He can bowl fast and can bat aggressively in the middle order. Does bag a good international record.

Barney Rogers will be certainly up for national selection for the Bangladesh series if he prooves his form. I would like to see Douglas Marillier back also. Despite he was inconsistent, he was proved to be a match winner. The chances of the national selection of Greg Lamb is much low, I think. Zimbabwe would like to include a seamer for one spot either Mpofu or Manyumwa.

But in conclusion, all will depend on THE FORM. How the players go for the 3 spots, will be very interesting to watch.

[zimfan1]

I think, 3 players will be left out from the squad which recently played against Bangladesh. Sibanda, Chibhabha and Waller are those players. I would like to put a question mark over Matsikenyeri as well. I can recall, he wasn't picked for the 5th ODI against Bangladesh. So, in total 4 players.

I think its a little unfair to say at this stage who will play and who wont, lets judge all the players on a clean state starting from next weekend when the franchise system starts as remember the cream allways rises to the top, then we can see who the best players in Zimbabwe are

I think the lack of competition for places has contributed to the lack of improvement in certain players such as Matsikenyeri, Sibanda and Chibhabha. But now competition for places will force them to strive and improve there game as if they perform at domestic level consistantly they will be selected for the national side.

For Malcolm Waller, (Don't mind, zimfan1 please!) I know he is a very potential player. But he didn't have a good series against Bangladesh. His List A average needs to be improved. Has a good FC record with an average over 40 but yet to get a FC record. These are the things he needs to work on. He needs to play more domestic matches and score big centuries before getting up for national selection again.

I terms of Waller i have allways thought that he is better at the longer version of the game but we cannot discard him for the shorter version. He will have a chance to perform domesticly and with the A side (which i think he should captain) and if he scores enough runs he will be knocking on the door. It will be tough for him but i see him as a key players in the years to come even if he is just outside the sqaud at the moment.

Barney Rogers will be certainly up for national selection for the Bangladesh series if he prooves his form. I would like to see Douglas Marillier back also. Despite he was inconsistent, he was proved to be a match winner. The chances of the national selection of Greg Lamb is much low,

I would disagree with this, as Greg Lamb usally batted 5 for Hampshire and i would say that he is a better bowler than rodgers and about the same with the bat and i can see him getting the number 6 slot in the side with Chigumbura coming in at 7. I think Rodgers will be battleing with Vermulen and Madakaskza for the opening slots.

[Detective RDS]

I think its a little unfair to say at this stage who will play and who wont, lets judge all the players on a clean state starting from next weekend when the franchise system starts as remember the cream allways rises to the top, then we can see who the best players in Zimbabwe are

I totally agree that...For this reason if you noticed, I wrote "Again, the form of the players (both returnee+current) will be the X-Factor." At last I also added, "But in conclusion, all will depend on THE FORM". I just put my opinion on the basis of the recent performance of the players against Bangladesh. But as we all know things can really change in a rush.

Barney Rogers will be certainly up for national selection for the Bangladesh series if he prooves his form. I would like to see Douglas Marillier back also. Despite he was inconsistent, he was proved to be a match winner. The chances of the national selection of Greg Lamb is much low,

I would disagree with this, as Greg Lamb usally batted 5 for Hampshire and i would say that he is a better bowler than rodgers and about the same with the bat and i can see him getting the number 6 slot in the side with Chigumbura coming in at 7. I think Rodgers will be battleing with Vermulen and Madakaskza for the opening slots.

I don't like to agree with it...Barney Rogers is a quality batsman and Greg Lamb is an off spining all rounder. From the statistics it can be seen that Rogers is a much better batsman than Lamb in no doubt. In 36 FC matches he has got an ave of 33 with 12X50, 3X100 and in 44 List A matches he averages 27.50 with 8X50. On the other hand, Lamb has an ave of 22.59 in 38 FC matches with 6X50, 1X100 and in 56 List A matches he averages 23.85 with 5X50 and 1X100.

Lamb hasn't made his international cricket debute yet. This is one of the reasons for which I said his chances may be low. Rogers averages 31.86 in 15 ODIs with 5 half centuries under his belt. Represented the test side also but wasn't successful.

Rogers mainly opened the innings when he represented Zimbabwe and he also played in the middle order as well. If Zimbabwe takes 5 frontline bowlers from 7 to 11, Rogers can well be in the middle order. But he can be turned as an opener if one of the openers fail to deliver. I don't rate Rogers bowling much as far as I can recall his off spin. As a bowler, Rogers is a part-timer but he is a quality batsman. Greg Lamb is an off-spinning allrounder.

I know, Greg Lamb is also a very good player having played English County Cricket for Hampshire. He must be pushing hard for national selection.

But again I would like to sAY, THE FORM OF THE PLAYERS WILL BE THE KEY AND THE DECIDER OF WHO WILL BE PICKED AND WHO WON'T.

[zimfan1]

THE FORM OF THE PLAYERS WILL BE THE KEY AND THE DECIDER OF WHO WILL BE PICKED AND WHO WON'T.

Agree 100% it almost as we are back to national trials in this domestic season, almost no one is certain of there place

[eugene]

At least we have got to the point where we can debate who is going to make the team. A few years ago it was getting hard to even name eleven players who should be in the side.

[sloandog]

yeah you're right in what you say there eugene. But i personally think Travis Friend may fit in quiet well in this zimbabwean team. Having an average of 16 with the bat, and with the the ball just averaging 48 it's hardly world beating, but i feel he ( like Blignaut ) has that unpradictability. Weather it be with the bat or the ball, i think on is day he could be match winner. but he remains a wild card, and zim may go for Mpofu.

[Conant]

I think it is quite pointless banding about bits and pieces players and backing up their statistics with “how much they can bat or bowl in addition”. In Test cricket its either you bowl or bat, with the addition of on or two all rounders, whom we all know will be Elton Chigumbura.

So of our current squad, (here I refer to ideal Test squad) only five or six players are virtually guaranteed places, and the selectors will be looking to replace first and fore most our weak links.

Firstly I think they will want not want Hamilton Masakadza to open in Test cricket. In one day, yes, but not tests. I think n a very strong squad he will bat at three.

Which leaves the opening slot bare, because neither Mark Vermuleun nor no Vusi Sibanda have entirely convinced.

One of these slots I imagine will fall to Barney Rogers. The other I will leave bare for now.
Ideally that will be Sean Ervine, if he can be convinced back. Sean William will follow at five and at six Tatenda Taibu, also as wicket keeper. Assuming you want to fill up with specialists batsmen, of the current squad Stuart matsikenyere comes in at seven, but the selectors will be hard pressed to replace him, as he is an underperformer (Charles Coventry; Greg Lamb).

Finally Chigumbura comes in at eight! That alone is an indication of how strong a squad is when a class player like Chigumbura bats at eight, and it is ideal! The rest of the slots go to specialist bowlers, 9 Travis Friend, 10 Tinashe Panyangara, 11 Ray Price as specialist spinner.

And Brandon Taylor’s scope in all this?
Sorry to disappoint you folks, but its either he opens, bats at seven, or nothing. He can not replace anyone in the middle order.

I doubt Andy Blignaut is half fit at this time, nor can he be bothered to be.

Prosper Utseya? Contrary to widely held belief, Utseya is one of the most astute players in that camp; he is l all right as a captain. Problem is he doesn’t cut it as a Test bowler.

[sloandog]

Okay conant i agree with most of your views there, but saying that Matsikinyeri in and taylor out ??!! Sorry but that just doesnt wash with me. Next to Willimams Taylor is one of our best youngsters and only a fool would leave him out !! U sayin he can only bat at 7 or open is stupid, we've all seen him score effective runs in the middle order. Take the last ODI for example, 61 not out when wickets were falling all around him. Utsea is not captain material nor is he good enough for international standards. When we have the likes of Lamb around, it'd be ludicrus to play him