[News] Zim drop key batting trio

[zimfan1]

G Cremer, H Masakadza, T Mawoyo, B Chari, C Chibhabha, P Masvaure, C Ervine, P Moor, R Mutumbami, R Chakabva, S Raza , T Muzarabani, T Chatara, N Ncube, D Tiripano.

No Sibanda, Williams or Chigumbura (Williams and Sibanda expected to play for Zim "A" in the warm up)

Cant work out how Muzarabani and Ncube have made the cut, but to be fair there is a lack of options.

[Flakeman]

Oh my goodness. I cant even find the words for our selectors. Williams us gonna quit.
Sibanda riding a wave of form
Elton was our best bowler in tests vs Bangladesh.
Muzarabani? Its a joke, a complete and utter joke.

I dont even want to watch this garbage.

[tawac]

Three of Zimbabwe’s most experienced batsmen, Vusi Sibanda, Sean Williams and Elton Chigumbura are set to miss the first Test against New Zealand, after they were omitted from the 15-men squad for that match to be played in Bulawayo.
by Kevin Mapasure/ Tawanda Taderera

Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) is set to announce the squad today led by captain, Graeme Cremer with opening batsmen, Tino Mawoyo and Brian Chari returning to the fold.
Top bowler, Tinashe Panyangara, who is still recovering from a back injury, has not been included in the Test.
Some of the bowlers in the 15-man squad include Njabulo Ncube, Donald Tiripano, Tendai Chatara, as well as all-rounder Sikandar Raza Butt.
The selectors will retain the experience of Hamilton Masakadza, while Chamu Chibhabha will also be included.
But it is the omission of Sibanda, Williams and Chigumbura that could be the talking point in a match where Zimbabwe face a top side such as the Black Caps.
Sibanda and Williams are both likely to play in the warm-up match, which starts tomorrow at Harare Sports Club, while Chigumbura is supposedly injured.
New Zealand have no such problems, as they arrived in Harare yesterday boasting of a clean bill of health and a full complement of their top players.
The Black Caps are in high spirits and looking forward to the Test series, with the uncertainty of the series going ahead now behind them.
Batsman, Tom Litham said he was confident they would get the results they want here after their week’s training camp in Pretoria.
“It’s nice to be here finally, all of that stuff was out of our control. New Zealand Cricket are calling the shots, but it’s good to be here and we are looking forward to the warm-up game, then the two Tests in Bulawayo,” he said. “We were here last year, it was a really good tour and we expect more of the same again this year.”
Last year, New Zealand toured Zimbabwe for a limited-overs series, winning the one-day international series 2-1, with Litham scoring an unbeaten century in one of the matches.
He said that they had benefited a lot from the week’s training in South Africa and was ready for the matches.
“It was a good week, we got locked down and it was great to catch up with the guys. We got a lot of our preparation out of the way and now we focus on the three-day game and two Tests. We want to win every game, it’s nice to have everyone back and everyone seems to be fully fit. We will get down to the warm-up game and then the two Tests in Bulawayo.”

Zimbabwe probable squad for first Test:
G Cremer, H Masakadza, T Mawoyo, B Chari, C Chibhabha, P Masvaure, C Ervine, P Moore, R Mutumbami, R Chakabva, S Raza Butt, T Muzarabani, T Chatara, N Ncube, D Tiripano.

[TapsC]

is this for both tests or just the first test? besides the obvious Williams and Sibanda surprise I'm also surprised that cremer is the only spinner that I can see there meaning that either Ncube or Muzarabani are actually going to play with Chatara and Tiripano. you really have to wonder what's going on in ZC especially with Sean Williams.

[TapsC]

if this really is the squad then I hope Madziva,Jongwe,Chisoro,Welly, Waller ,Elton and Panyangara(if their injuries are not serious) join Williams and Sibanda tomorrow and give NZ a good game in the warmup.

[rusty17]

So Ncube can just walk back into the squad over Mumba or any other bowler working hard in domestic cricket. And leaving Williams out? Ridiculous

[TapsC]

Williams is actually in the squad according to the official ZC twitter account.they had shocked me there.

[Mr Twig]

Williams is there.

Squad could have been worse. Glad Elton is not there. Raza and Mawoyo are probably lucky to be there and Waller unlucky.
Good to see Masvaure rewarded.

[Conant]

Can't understand why they decided to drop Vusi. For once in over 8 years, after seeing him bat against India, I had some real confidence in him. I though he was a shoo-in for a spot in the middle order. I mean, if they were gonna drop him shouldn't they have given him and Malcolm Waller a chance in the warm ups? Actually, how does Raza, in his present from, make a Test squad ahead of Vusi? Don't know also how they expect Sean Williams to play in a Test three months after his last competitive outing, the Premier League in Bangladesh. He should have played against SA.

Glad though that they didn't let Elton mini swashbuckling knocks in the T20s seduce them into selection for Tests. If there is one fatal error that selectors always made was that assuming one's form in one format translated into performance for another, eg, Malcolm Waller's selections in the ODIs, and Regis Chakabva , who would you believe has quite a few T20s. As longs as Elton is not bowling, he offers no value into the Test side. You might as well play Tymcen in his position. Masvaure's runs were very timely in this regard.

The bowling is worrying, how we gonna take 20 wickets with only a half fit Chatara and without Panyangara? I don't see much hope for us. Please curator, if you are reading this, get us a totally lifeless pitch, a Kriterion wisely suggested. If New Zealand score 600, we will try 400 and fight for a draw.

[CrimsonAvenger]

So, we have loaded the squad with batsmen this time. 11 of them front line batsmen and 5 bowlers to choose 4 from!

Glad Elton is out. Just about the only sensible decision in this selection. But not giving credit to selectors here, may be he was ruled out due to an injury? Fairy tale is obviously the selection of Prince.

No Sibanda when he showed some form is a little disappointing, but having supported his removal for long, can't complain now. His temperament is anyone's guess anyway.

Chamu hasn't shown any indications of a longer format player as well. Temperament issues again. Would have probably preferred Vusi over him in that case, but may be his bowling is more threatening and might be useful...

Waller should consider himself very unlucky. He did everything Chakabva did in their purple patch in 4 day games. Obviously the new panel is oblivious to past season's records.

Mutumbami and Moor. Goodness me! Hope Chakabva does not get injured and these two don't get a look in. They are not ready for this, and probably they never would be.

Raza is lucky too, but may be he can turn things around. Or it is a case of slow Sibanda realization for some of us fans.

Ncube walks back into the test squad. This is atrocious. Looks like an inspired selection by Coach Ntini? Is Ncube our Tino Best? I don't know what to make of this selection really.

What the heck does Muzarabani bring to the table?

No challengers for Cremer. No proper second spinner to choose from on a pitch that is historically batsmen's paradise and slow. Hilarious. What are we doing with the careers of Wellington and Mufudza? An out of form leggie as a lone spinner is the last thing you need on a concrete deck. Hope Cremer brings his A game.

Like many, I'm not sold on Williams the long format player. Those temperament issues again.

Hamilton is destined to start with a lot of pressure and his usual "I'm thinking I must not fail" attitude and we are staring down the barrel.

Here's my XI anyway, but for the first time, our guys are playing tests again, but I'm hardly excited:

Heck we are opening with a guy who averages 20 in FC cricket

Chari
Mawoyo
Masakadza
Ervine
Chakabva
Williams
Masvaure
Chibhabha
Cremer
Chatara
Tiripano

How about this? Batting till 9th. And go for the drill and draw...