2016 Home Season Performance (NZ and SL series)

[Kriterion_BD]

4 Tests with a small enough gap in between to have continuity. Plus both series preceded by A team tours so this is a good data set.

Batting:

Ervine: 8 innings, 384 runs, 1 century, 3 fifties, avg 48.00
Williams: 8 innings, 300 runs, 1 century, 1 fifty, avg 37.50
Moor: 6 innings, 211 runs, 2 fifties, avg 35.16
Cremer: 8 innings, 195 runs, 1 century, avg 27.85
Mawoyo: 6 innings, 161 runs, avg 26.83
Tiripano: 8 innings, 153 runs, avg 25.50
Chari: 6 innings, 112 runs, 1 fifty, avg 18.66
Chibabha: 4 innings, 103 runs, 1 fifty, 25.75 avg
Masakadza: 6 innings, 82 runs, avg 13.66
Waller: 4 innings, 40 runs, avg 10.00

Ervine, Williams, and Moor make a solid trio for the middle order. They've also been fairly consistent with multiple 50+ scores. Another 2 reliable run makers (BRMT in a year from now perhaps?) and the batting will quite decent, IMO. Musakanda and Burl should slot in for the next Test series. Perhaps recall Raza or Chibabha.

Cremer and Tiripano have exceeded all expectations.

The negatives are Chari, although perhaps he could be given some more chances due to the solid score of 80 that he just got. Hamilton's form is shocking. An average under 15 for the senior most player is unacceptable. Another worry is that only 3 centuries were scored - and just 2 from the top order batsmen - despite how flat the wickets have been in both series.

Will do the bowling tomorrow.

[CrimsonAvenger]

Pretty atrocious form for Hamilton, while for Malcolm, the writing is on the "Wall". As someone suggested in the match thread, time for these guys to focus on shorter formats alone and see if they can get some gigs in T20 leagues around the world (well, the minor ones at least).

Also, this honeymoon period with Moor will also be over in some time and we'll start getting frustrated by the modes of his dismissal a la Raza if he keeps losing wickets softly. Hope he can do better than the average Zimbo batter in this aspect.

If Ervine gets a start, he's nowadays pretty dependable. Initial 25-30 balls are very crucial though. But he is now, for me, the best batsman in the team. Needs to take care of concentration across breaks. Williams is more talented, but his big occasion temperament is virtually absent. when was the last time he scored big when it mattered? Frustrating guy who does well pretty much every time the cause is already lost. You expect more than entertaining 40s from your no. 5. Of course, he might look more productive than the top order failures, but ultimately, his efforts towards team's cause are also equally meaningless (or slightly better).

[jaybro]

Imo Williams' technique isn't really suited for batting long periods so I'd have him batting 6 as a counter attacking middle order batsman who can bat well with the tail .....

Finding guys to bat in the top 5 are hard to find in Zimbabwe though although Craig performed well and maybe Burl and Musakanda will turn into solid top 4 players .....

Interesting that Tino's numbers were better than Chari and Chamu's yet both scored half centuries and Tino didn't. In the current state or even in Zimbabwe's history to be fair a opening batsman who averages 30 is gold !!!

Hami on borrowed time ......

[TapsC]

I have to agree that Williams is probably more talented than Ervine but building a patient innings just isn't in him. I think PJ will also have the same problem once he has settled in. as for Hami and Waller its clear that their time is up although they might get picked again if we do tour the sub continent because they have the experience.