Pre-Kenya "selection" thread

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Pre-Kenya "selection" thread

Post by brmtaylor.com admin »

We've got less than 4 days until the first ODI in Mombasa, let's pretend we collectively are Kenyon Ziehl and our task is to pick the best (ie. no discrimination) eleven.

In your reply, answer any question/s from the posts above and then at the end of your reply include a new question of your own for someone else to answer.

Hopefully by the end of it we will have decided collectively on a team for the 1st ODI. :)


Who should be the 2 people that open the batting?

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Re: Pre-Kenya "selection" thread

Post by Detective RDS »

In my opinion,it should be Hamilton Masakadza and Stuart Matsikenyeri.

Masakadza is okay in the opening spot.But Vusimuzi Sibanda is really out of form.No sign of his being a class player and averages just around 11 in his last about 11 ODI's.Very poor stuff!Zimbabwe has tried Tatenda Taibu to open the batting,but there was no decent sucess.Moreover,Taibu isnt an opener and I think he is fit at number 4 position in the batting line up.Stuart Matsikenyeri is tested in the num 5 and 3 position.As he has got some runs recently under his belt,so he will retain his position in the team.As he is a recognised opener and experienced playing above 80 ODIs,I think he is currently the person to be chosen as an opener.

I feel that Malcolm Waller shouldnt be dropped for the 3rd ODI.He has played well in the 1st ODI making responsible 24 runs.So,my question is what you think Malcolm Waller should play in the final 11 against Kenya?

One more question I want to know that is this Zimbabwean 15 players squad will be unchanged for the Kenya tour?I think Regis Chakabva should replace Vusimuzi Sibanda.Chakabva can be a vital player in the middle order along with Sean Williams and Malcolm Waller.It will give the batting some more depth.

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Re: Pre-Kenya "selection" thread

Post by CrimsonAvenger »

I would rather open with Masakadza and Chakabva.

I would drop both Sibanda and Matsikenyeri. They don't inspire any confidence at the moment (Or in the latter's case it could be overconfidence). So, Waller takes Matsikenyeri's spot and would definately be there in the playing 11.

I feel that anyway we are in shambles as far as batting is concernced. Why not give Mutizwa and Cremer a chance in the playing 11? Where would you fit them in the side if you would?

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Re: Pre-Kenya "selection" thread

Post by brmtaylor.com admin »

Chakabva isn't in the squad. Just a reminder to everyone, the players in the squad are: Prosper Utseya (capt), Hamilton Masakadza, Tatenda Taibu (wk), Ray Price, Sean Williams, Stuart Matsikenyeri, Elton Chigumbura, Vusi Sibanda, Tawanda Mupariwa, Keith Dabengwa, Ed Rainsford, Graeme Cremer, Chris Mpofu, Forster Mutizwa (wk), Malcolm Waller.
Where would you fit them in the side if you would?
Mutizwa is a middle order batsman. In one-day cricket he has never batted higher than #4... intriguingly he made his highest score of 49 in this position. But still, the middle order is where he seems most familiar so this is where you would want to start him. For that reason I don't think he's the best candidate for the opening position.

We all know how good Cremer is, but I don't know how you fit him into a side with 2 very good in-form spinners and a pace attack which is performing very well. If Cremer is to make the team, it would have to be as an allrounder in the lower middle order.
what you think Malcolm Waller should play in the final 11 against Kenya?
I think Waller should be in the starting eleven. He looked very comfortable at the crease in his first match, he was playing the ball very well and looks to have a good technique about him. Moreover, he stayed at the crease for nearly 50 balls and we need more of those types of players in the team.




Should Tawanda Mupariwa come back into the team, and in place of whom?

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Re: Pre-Kenya "selection" thread

Post by CrimsonAvenger »

brmtaylor.com admin wrote:Chakabva isn't in the squad.
Oh! I thought they would announce the squad separately for that tour. Mupariwa would walk into the side in place of Mpofu. He hasn't done much wrong, but the balance would be good that way.

So, why not try a left-right combination for a change at the top of the order: Masakadza with Dabengwa so that Cremer could be fit into Dabengwa's position. He did play a few lusty blows in Pakistan last year towards the end of an ODI innings, so he can take some pressure off Masakadza, who can build the innings. And Dabengwa sure looks a better bet than many other batsmen in the team to score a few runs now.

Well, my actual question now is, where should Sean Williams bat: 3/4/5?

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Re: Pre-Kenya "selection" thread

Post by brmtaylor.com admin »

Well, my actual question now is, where should Sean Williams bat: 3/4/5?
Number 3, definitely. The rule of thumb is you put your best batsman at number 3... he gave us a bit of a scare through the Sri Lanka series up until quite recently, but as someone said form is temporary and class is permanent. Thank God he found form when he did, because he confirmed that he is the best batsman in the team.



Where should Taibu bat?

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