The Best Batsmen of their respective teams

[Craig]

At the rate our middle order is going, I would say Jacob Oram.

Oh right, my mistake, this isn't most reliable batsmen of their respective teams.

 

[Craig]

amazing how 1 excellent series changes peoples opinion....

To be fair he has done in it both Sri Lanka and India this year.

 

[Richard]

Yet had he not done I'm prepared to bet he'd not be in the team ATM.
He was under tremendous pressure because of a quite considerable period of pretty poor performance.

 

[Prince EWS]

I think its VERY obvious that Elton Chigumbura is Zimbabwe's best ODI batsman.

Those who said extras, sundries or "no-one stands out" needs to have a look at the scorecards.

Perhaps in test matches, no-one stands out, but thats becuase they have only played 2 tests with their current team.

 

[tooextracool]

To be fair he has done in it both Sri Lanka and India this year.

yes before which his head was being called for despite averaging over 40.

 

[Richard]

I think its VERY obvious that Elton Chigumbura is Zimbabwe's best ODI batsman.

Yet you could have said that about Stuart Matsikenyeri in the NWS had he not been surrounded by equals and the odd superior.
I firmly believe he is the best one-day batsman in their current ODI side. Taibu isn't too far behind. Chigumbura seems to me to have become just a little overrated of late.

 

[Steulen]

Hmm...I disagree!

I said Taylor and I'm sticking to it. Mainly because Taylor is an opener and therefore comes in while Zimbabwe can still entertain thoughts of getting a result. By the time Chigumbura comes in, all hope is lost and he can just club away like there's no tomorrow.
That Taylor still makes innings of considerable size makes him the best batsman in the team currently, imVHo.

 

[Richard]

This modesty is getting OTT!
IMO... IMHO... IMVHO... whatever next?

 

[Beleg]

INVWHO = In my very worthless humble opinion


The juxtaposition of worthless and opinion in these sort of acroynms' pretty cool.

 

[tooextracool]

Hmm...I disagree!

I said Taylor and I'm sticking to it. Mainly because Taylor is an opener and therefore comes in while Zimbabwe can still entertain thoughts of getting a result. By the time Chigumbura comes in, all hope is lost and he can just club away like there's no tomorrow.
That Taylor still makes innings of considerable size makes him the best batsman in the team currently, imVHo.

ive wsaid this a zillion times before, but taylor is not an opener, whether or not he opens for his domestic side is irrelevant given the quality of their attacks. he doesnt have the technique or the footwork to succeed as an opener. he should bat at either 4 or 5.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

ive wsaid this a zillion times before, but taylor is not an opener, whether or not he opens for his domestic side is irrelevant given the quality of their attacks. he doesnt have the technique or the footwork to succeed as an opener. he should bat at either 4 or 5.

Yet he plays for Zimbabwe as an opener and opens the batting. He is an opener for Zimbabwe, so you can't discredit his point.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

ODIs
South Africa: Smith
Zimbabwe: Taylor

You may have an argument for Smith in Tests, but ODIs?!? He averages 37.64 with a SR of 74.19. That's a lower average than Kallis (45.99/71.12), Klusener (41.10/89.91 SR) and Rudolph (39.60/SR 71). Not to mention Dippenaar (42.21).

Regarding Taylor, he averages 24.86 with 4 fifties in 15 innings. Moderate. A closer look would see that he's passed 20 just 5 times in those 15 innings, including those 4 fifties. In innings where he's not gotten past 50 he averages a startling 9.28. I kid you not.

 

[tooextracool]

Yet he plays for Zimbabwe as an opener and opens the batting. He is an opener for Zimbabwe, so you can't discredit his point.

yes i know he does open the batting in zimbabwe, i infact mentioned it in my post. but that doesnt change the fact that hes not going to suceed as an opener. which incidentally was the only point i was trying to make.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Yet you could have said that about Stuart Matsikenyeri in the NWS had he not been surrounded by equals and the odd superior.
I firmly believe he is the best one-day batsman in their current ODI side. Taibu isn't too far behind. Chigumbura seems to me to have become just a little overrated of late.

Interestingly enough he averages a wonderful 13.32 and has gotten past 10 in ODIs on 12 occasions in 33 attempts. He averages 4.21 when he doesn't get past 10 and is yet to register a 50.

That's Zimbabwe's best ODI batsman? Heck, at least Sibanda has a couple of 50s! (in less innings mind you - worse average though)

Meanwhile Taibu has a solid 30.46 average in his last 15 ODIs with 2 of his 5 50s and a top score of 96*.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

yes i know he does open the batting in zimbabwe, i infact mentioned it in my post. but that doesnt change the fact that hes not going to suceed as an opener. which incidentally was the only point i was trying to make.

And as posted above, the stats back up your point to date.

 

[Richard]

Interestingly enough he averages a wonderful 13.32 and has gotten past 10 in ODIs on 12 occasions in 33 attempts. He averages 4.21 when he doesn't get past 10 and is yet to register a 50.

That's Zimbabwe's best ODI batsman? Heck, at least Sibanda has a couple of 50s! (in less innings mind you - worse average though)

Meanwhile Taibu has a solid 30.46 average in his last 15 ODIs with 2 of his 5 50s and a top score of 96*.

Yeah, I know (well, I knew some of it), it's just my interpretation.
He's played a huge part in one of Zimbabawe's few victories since WC2003, though.
He's been woeful, especially of late, but it really baffles me as much as it baffles tooextracool WR Taylor, that he opens the batting when he is flagrantly not an opener, especially when you have three specialist openers in Vermeulen, Ebrahim and even the woeful Sibanda.
When Matsikenyeri bats at five or even six, I think we might - might - get a bit better indication of his ability.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Not to derail your point, but just an observation. Matsikenyeri has actually been statistically in the form of his ODI career lately, averaging 18.63 over his last 11 innings with 4 scores over 25. A 27.25 average in his last 4 games.

 

[Richard]

Well given that his innings before that were against Australia then in England in September I don't know that that's too much of a surprise.

 

[marc71178]

He's played a huge part in one of Zimbabawe's few victories since WC2003, though.

Oh, so that makes all the difference then

 

[Richard]

No, but it makes a little difference - which is no more than I said it did.