***Official*** Zimbabwean Domestic Season 2012/13

[Prince EWS]

That's ridiculous. Utterly ridiculous.

Kyle Jarvis still taking poles for fun too, by the looks of things.

@Cribb, Chubb and the guys who know more about Zimbabwean cricket than I do - if everyone was available, what would be your Zimbabwe Test XI?

You're probably going to have to define "everyone" first. Does Querl count? What about Ballance? Compton? Paul Harris? Where do you draw the line exactly?

 

[Chubb]

I don't know as much as I used to. More of a benign interest in the team and provincial stuff than the screaming passion (and anger) I did have.

I find it hard to select a batting lineup because I'd have most of the ones who were in the NZ test.... and we know what happened there. But I'd want Williams not Chakabva and he's the only one who scored runs in that game. So what do you do?

Take this as a stab, though as PEWS said, how do you define it?

Mawoyo
Sibanda
Masakadza
Taylor
Williams
Waller
Taibu
Querl
Meth
Jarvis
Cremer

My natural defensive preferences here - Waller potentially better as pure batsman than Chiggers IMO. Also interesting, perhaps, there are 4 black batsmen and no black bowlers, which is unusual for Zimbabwe.

 

[Prince EWS]

I don't know as much as I used to. More of a benign interest in the team and provincial stuff than the screaming passion (and anger) I did have.

I find it hard to select a batting lineup because I'd have most of the ones who were in the NZ test.... and we know what happened there. But I'd want Williams not Chakabva and he's the only one who scored runs in that game. So what do you do?

Take this as a stab, though as PEWS said, how do you define it?

Mawoyo
Sibanda
Masakadza
Taylor
Williams
Waller
Taibu
Querl
Meth
Jarvis
Cremer

My natural defensive preferences here - Waller potentially better as pure batsman than Chiggers IMO. Also interesting, perhaps, there are 4 black batsmen and no black bowlers, which is unusual for Zimbabwe.

Extremely harsh to bat Cremer below Jarvis.

Good to see you've restored the Zimbabwean tradition of having bowling allrounders down to 10 though (well, eleven if you maintain your batting order). Ray Price at 8 with Jarvis at 9 was enough to make a man cry at 6 down.

 

[Chook Herron]

Mawoyo
Sibanda
Masakadza
Taylor (c) (wk)
Craig Ervine
Williams
Meth
Querl
Cremer
Jarvis
Mpofu

 

[Chubb]

Extremely harsh to bat Cremer below Jarvis.

Good to see you've restored the Zimbabwean tradition of having bowling allrounders down to 10 though (well, eleven if you maintain your batting order). Ray Price at 8 with Jarvis at 9 was enough to make a man cry at 6 down.

I think you'd be stupid not to have a strong tail if you're a Zimbabwe selector. Fact is there aren't any specialist bowlers who are worth their place above the "allrounders". Half the batsmen can bowl the odd over to fill in anyway... and then they go and play Mutizwa, S Masakadza and Chakabva.... but then perhaps they are trying to play to win. It just seems to me they'd do better to have a more conservative lineup.

 

[Prince EWS]

I think you'd be stupid not to have a strong tail if you're a Zimbabwe selector. Fact is there aren't any specialist bowlers who are worth their place above the "allrounders". Half the batsmen can bowl the odd over to fill in anyway... and then they go and play Mutizwa, S Masakadza and Chakabva....

I think part of the reason Shingi was picked was to strengthen the lower order actually; he's supposed to be able to bat.

And I like Mutizwa!

 

[Chubb]

I think part of the reason Shingi was picked was to strengthen the lower order actually; he's supposed to be able to bat.

And I like Mutizwa!

I like him too - as an ODI batsman. But 3 in a test side?

 

[Prince EWS]

I like him too - as an ODI batsman. But 3 in a test side?

Wouldn't be opposed to seeing him at 5 or 6 in the Test side honestly; he's had some pretty strong periods in four day cricket domestically. #3 was probably a bridge too far though, indeed.

 

[Chubb]

We have to ask ourselves how far we are prepared to play to win and how far to avoid being humiliated. I think my team has a good chance of avoiding humiliation, but could the lack of bowling options win a game? That said, I believe those 4 bowlers have a better chance of being incisive and causing trouble than a five-man attack featuring other options.

The other question is who keeps wicket. There are a lot of guys on the fringe of the side like Mutizwa or Chakabva who can take the gloves: I think one of the two would be the best option, and bat them at 7. Taylor shouldn't have to keep in tests. But if he does they can play an extra allrounder/batsman... and the problem continues....

 

[Dan]

Anyone who is eligible for Zimbabwe and hasn't played Tests elsewhere. So Ballance is a yes, Compo and Harris no.

Also, today I learned Harris was born in Zimbabwe.


My thoughts were along the lines of this, as the best-case scenario XI:

Mawayo
Sibanda
Ballance
Taylor *
Ervine, S
Waller
Muwitza +
Meth
Querl
Cremer
Jarvis

 

[morgieb]

Is Taibu still playing?

 

[Dan]

Is Taibu still playing?

Retired to do religious work, IIRC.

 

[morgieb]

Retired to do religious work, IIRC.

Yeah I heard that. Sucks too, he still has a lot to offer IMO.

 

[Prince EWS]

Anyone who is eligible for Zimbabwe and hasn't played Tests elsewhere. So Ballance is a yes, Compo and Harris no.

By that definition I can bring Taibu out of retirement and even play Murray Goodwin, so..

1. Sibanda
2. Masakadza
3. Goodwin
4. Taylor
5. Ballance
6. Ervine
7. Taibu
8. Cremer
9. Meth
10. Querl
11. Jarvis

Playing Williams or Waller ahead of Ervine would be tempting but it'd probably be taking the piss slightly.

 

[Chook Herron]

Querl has been in the wickets again with figures 4/31 in the second innings against the Rocks. Although the Rocks are the South Australia of Zimbabwean domestic cricket. In saying that Mutumbami has been batting pretty well for them lately. If he can keep it up, he could be the answer to Taylor going back to a specialist batsman sometime down the track.

 

[Prince EWS]

Finally some big runs for Vermeulen this week, too. He's played for every franchise in the comp now so this is basically his last chance at being a professional cricketer; hope it works out because I get the feeling he'd go much further off the rails without it.

 

[morgieb]

Finally some big runs for Vermeulen this week, too. He's played for every franchise in the comp now so this is basically his last chance at being a professional cricketer; hope it works out because I get the feeling he'd go much further off the rails without it.

I'm surprised he's still playing. Nice to see him in hot form

 

[Chook Herron]

He was suppose to be retiring at the end of last season to become a professional golfer so I don't know what happened there. I can't see him cracking the national side again but who knows with Zimbabwean cricket

 

[Prince EWS]

He was suppose to be retiring at the end of last season to become a professional golfer so I don't know what happened there.

That was because he'd burnt his bridges with practically every side and the Rhinos didn't want to go there. Eventually they offered him a "pay as you play" contract and he accepted.

 

[Pup Clarke]

Would have doubts about Goodwin being good enough for a full-strength XI now. Imagine a near 40 year old up against the Windies pace attack for example...