Panyangara back in training

[zimbofan88]

ZIMBABWE national team fast bowler Tinashe Panyangara has recovered from a back injury that kept him out for several months to resume full training to put himself in contention for selection in the squad to face West Indies and Sri Lanka in the triangular cricket series later this month.

BY KEVIN MAPASURE

Panyangara last played for Zimbabwe at the World T-20 tournament, but missed both the India limited-overs series and the two Tests against New Zealand, which were played in Harare and Bulawayo respectively.

Tendai Chatara is also part of a contingent of players not involved in the current two-match Test series against Sri Lanka, who have been practising at Country Club ahead of the triangular series.

Panyangara faces a challenge to regain his place in the team, but his availability boosts the selectors’ options even for future matches.

The 31-year-old has taken more Test wickets than any of the players still featuring for Zimbabwe with 31 scalps.

With the emergence of Carl Mumba, who took five wickets in the first Test, Panyangara will have to work his socks off to return into the team.

It is likely that the selectors will stick to the players who had a run during the Pakistan A tour of Zimbabwe.

Panyangara has played nine Tests, 64 one-day internationals and 14 Twenty-20 internationals.

Chatara is a good bet to make the triangular series squad since he played for Zim A during the Pakistan tour.

The 25-year-old was deemed unfit for the Test, but has regained full fitness and is set to lead the line in Zimbabwe’s attack for the limited-overs matches.

Also pushing for a place in the limited-overs squad is former captain Elton Chigumbura, who was left out of the Test squad.

Meanwhile, Zimbabwe will be looking to build on their performance in the first Test when they line up for the second and final one against Sri Lanka starting on Sunday.

The selectors, however, are likely to make some changes to the 11 that played and lost to Sri Lanka by 225 runs.
The hosts showed some resilience with the bat as they threatened to force a draw with some solid batting displays on day five.

Skipper Graeme Cremer and Mumba threatened to break the Sri Lanka hearts in their ninth wicket partnership.

Mumba faced 88 balls for his ten runs, while Cremer, who blamed himself for the defeat despite putting up a man of the match performance after scoring a century and taking four wickets, faced 175 for his 43 runs.

Zimbabwe will take confidence from their success in taking 16 wickets as well as their first innings score of 373 runs.

Peter Moor scored 79 in the first innings, but he will seek a better show behind the stumps if he retains the gloves.

[eugene]

Hopefully Panyangara can stay out of KFC.

[jimmylesaint]

Nope he can't. If he eats nothing from now.... he may just be fit enough to complete 5 overs. Personally i don't see him getting in the ODI.

[jaybro]

Nope he can't. If he eats nothing from now.... he may just be fit enough to complete 5 overs. Personally i don't see him getting in the ODI.

Tinashe seems to represent all that is wrong with the older brigade 'Over weight, un fit, too comfortable, doesn't seem to care & wasting his talent' ......

[ZIMDOGGY]

There is no way he can come back from a bad back injury at his age and with Zimbabwes lack of medical training and be the same bowler he was again,
the fact he is overweight and unfit and has a bad attitude, just erases all hope of that.

He will be a domestic bowler at best, but in his case I actually think je will struggle to get a Logan cup gig once tyhey realise he isnt up to it.

I was right about Chatara, but im even more sure about Panyangara.

[jaybro]

Is Larry really done and dusted ??

[TapsC]

I'm sincerely hoping Larry makes a comeback we need him. I think he just needs to rebuild that confidence in his previously injured leg and maybe bowl for a whole domestic season then he will be up for it. seeing him bowl 125-130kph really hurt. panyangara is done and dusted for me. no way with his age,weight and attitude he can make a full comeback.

[CrimsonAvenger]

What are you guys talking about Panyangara's fitness, attitude, weight etc.? He was the captain designate of Ntini...

[Conant]

What are you guys talking about Panyangara's fitness, attitude, weight etc.? He was the captain designate of Ntini...

To be honest I'm not sure why we seem to be in such a huff of his attitude, fitness etcetera.

While fully conceding that a leaner Panyangara would be ideal, there are some players that are generally heavier than others and the fact that Zim only seems to be playing roughly one game a year can't be helping. Still, Panyangara was far our best bowler despite being slightly over weight, and he achieved that with line and length, not heavily bending his back as suggested. Heath Streak, too, always looked like he should shed a kilo or two.

I haven't seen much to suggest Panyangara's attitude wasn't right, and if f Makhaya didn't have an issue with his it, being Mr 100% commitment himself, I don't know whey we need question that assessment unless we know better.

Somebody laughed about his acumen but I do know elsewhere, in a thread totally unrelated to this, there is mention of Panyangara (by Raza I think, who incidentally many made captain designate) being a team strategist and being one of the better cricket brains in the team.

[Googly]

You just need to look around all the top first class set ups to see that there aren't too many overweight fast bowlers, or cricketers for that matter. Mumba will put pressure on positions and we'll see how hungry Panyangara is. Also when Burl is fully fit there will be healthy competition for positions. I question why they've taken so long to include Burl and Moor. When you have guys averaging 20 something for years then you know they have a ceiling to their ability. To me it's apparent that Moor and Burl potentially have a higher ceiling and they should have been picked earlier. I dont think PJ should keep, I would really like to see Murray get a game, he's the only u19 that could hold his own right now at this level because he's such an outstanding keeper. I think he was the best keeper in the U19 WC, and that makes him capable of playing in our National side, without doubt. He's also got real potential as a batsman, but would probably struggle initially. I don't know how he fared in his game in the A side keeping, but he did well with the bat. I see they are now saying De Kock is comparable to Gilchrist, that's high praise indeed.