All-time Zimbabwe XI

[Craig]

Now since we have a fair amount of followers of Zimbabwe cricket, and a thread I have always wanted to create, let's name an all-time Zimbabwe XI, and as atribute to Zimbabwe when they had a decent side in the 90's (certaintly compared to the current farce).

1 - ADR Campbell
2 - SV Carlise
3 - GW Flower
4 - DL Houghton *
5 - MW Goodwin
6 - A Flower +
7 - GJ Whittall
8 - HH Streak
9 - PA Strank
10 - M Mbwanga (or Bryan Strang)
11 - HH Olongo

12 - NC Johnson

 

[Chubb]

Kevin Arnott
Grant Flower
Andy Flower
David Houghton
Murray Goodwin
Duncan Fletcher*
Tatenda Taibu+
Heath Streak
Paul Strang
Ray Price
Henry Olonga

12th Man Peter Rawson

I only included players who represented Zim and not those who represented Rhodesia in the Curry Cup etc.

I did not selected Pom Mbangwa because he did not have enough pace. Peter Rawson played for Zim in the eighties and was a very good fast bowler. I think it's a decent side, capable of giving most Test sides a run for thei money, particularly in batting.

 

[TIF]

Neil Johnson
Alistiar Cambpbell
Grant Flower
Andy Flower
Dave Houghton(c)
Murray Goodwin
Tatenda Taibu(w)
Heath Streak
Andy Blignaut
Ray Price
Henry Olonga

 

[Langeveldt]

1. NC Johnson
2. GW Flower
3. ADR Campbell
4. A Flower * +
5. M Goodwin
6. D Houghton
7. Andy Blignaut
8. Heath Streak
9. Paul Strang
10. Ray Price
11. Henry Olonga

 

[Goughy]

, let's name an all-time Zimbabwe XI, and (certaintly compared to the current farce).

10 - M Mbwanga (or Bryan Strang)

Are you seriously talking about Pommie Mbangwa?

Im guessing you did some of the selection based on stats from short careers.

Mbangwa would never have made a decent club team and it out of place in the company you mention in the team (he is a decent TV pundit though).

He opened the bowling and bowled at 65mph (approx 105 kph)
The same man who got his wickets caught at cover.

He is deeply ingrained in my memory as the worst Test new ball opening bowler I have seen.

 

[Goughy]

Neil Johnson
Grant Flower
Murray Goodwin
Guy Whittall
Andy Flower
Graeme Hick
Duncan Fletcher
Kevin Curran
Tatenda Taibu
Heath Streak
Paul Strang

I like the look of this team. Due to the general weakness of Zim bowlers I have gone for the longest batting line-up possible with Andy Blignaut just missing out.

Hick is included due to being part of Zimbabwes 1983 ICC Trophy squad.

 

[Chubb]

I was never a fan of Neil Johnson. An ODI side, certainly, but not for tests. Most Zims disliked him, Houghton especially, because he was very much a mercenary on a passport of convenience. He never wanted to put anything back into Zim cricket and had no passion for Zim at all, unlike Murray who put a lot of effort into coaching kids etc. and genuinely cared about Zim. Arnott is a much better bet as an opener anyway, a typical nerves-of-steel Zimbok grafter.

 

[Craig]

Are you seriously talking about Pommie Mbangwa?

Im guessing you did some of the selection based on stats from short careers.

Mbangwa would never have made a decent club team and it out of place in the company you mention in the team (he is a decent TV pundit though).

He opened the bowling and bowled at 65mph (approx 105 kph)
The same man who got his wickets caught at cover.

He is deeply ingrained in my memory as the worst Test new ball opening bowler I have seen.

I must admit he was a rather random selection with a lack of number 10.

 

[age_master]

1 - ADR Campbell
2 - SV Carlise
3 - GW Flower
4 - DL Houghton *
5 - MW Goodwin
6 - A Flower +
7 - GJ Whittall
8 - HH Streak
9 - PA Strank
10 - R Price
11 - Bryan Strang

12 - NC Johnson

 

[NZTailender]

Test
1. G Flower
2. A Campbell (c)
3. M Goodwin
4. D Houghton
5. A Flower (wk)
6. G Whitall
7. H Streak
8. P Strang
9. A Blignaut
10. R Price
11. H Olonga

12th Man: S Carlisle


ODI
1. N Johnson
2. A Campbell (c)
3. S Carlisle
4. A Flower (wk)
5. G Flower
6. G Whitall
7. H Streak
8. E Brandes
9. P Strang
10. D Hondo
11. H Olonga

12th Man: M Goodwin

Both sides bowler heavy...though a few of them have test hundreds to their name.

On reflection, perhaps the XI would be better bringing in batsman for one of the spinners...
I did the XI based on runs scored in that batting position...
And the bowlers averages and strike rates.

 

[wpdavid]

Neil Johnson
Grant Flower
Murray Goodwin
Guy Whittall
Andy Flower
Graeme Hick
Duncan Fletcher
Kevin Curran
Tatenda Taibu
Heath Streak
Paul Strang

I like the look of this team. Due to the general weakness of Zim bowlers I have gone for the longest batting line-up possible with Andy Blignaut just missing out.

Hick is included due to being part of Zimbabwes 1983 ICC Trophy squad.

I'm glad to see that someone remembered Big Dunc.

btw should Traicos be in the frame for this side?

 

[Beleg]

Nice ot see Kevin Curran there.


My side:

1. Neil Johnson
2. Alistair Campbell
3. Grant Flower
4. Andy Flower*+
5. Dave Houghton
6. Guy Whittall
7. Duncan Fletcher
8. Kevin Curran
9. Heath Streak
10. Paul Strang
11. Edo Brandes

 

[Chubb]

I'm glad to see that someone remembered Big Dunc.

btw should Traicos be in the frame for this side?

Fletcher is captain of my team, too.

Both Strang and Price were better spinners than Traicos, and both were better batsmen than he was.

 

[wpdavid]

Fletcher is captain of my team, too.

Both Strang and Price were better spinners than Traicos, and both were better batsmen than he was.

Fair enough. Just wanted to make sure the old boy wasn't forgotten.