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Zimbabwe All-Time Test XI - Open Voting

Prince EWS

Global Moderator
Zimbabwe have certainly produced some class players well above their mean during their time in Test cricket despite the long-lasting political turmoil in the country, and in fact I think they'd quite hold their own if the other "all-time" teams were restricted to the period since Zimbabwe got Test status. I've always had a strong interest in Zimbabwean cricket so I felt it fitting I ran the voting for this one.

The order I run this voting may seem slightly strange but it'll make sense from a team balance perspective as we get closer.to the final eleven, as I've looked into all the realistic possible combinations.

To start things off I'm asking you to vote for TWO opening bowlers and ONE opening batsman.

Suggested bowlers:

Code:
[B]PLAYER			TEST CAREER[/B]

Heath Streak		216w @ 28.14
David Brain		30w @ 30.50
Pommie Mbangwa		32w @ 31.43
Kyle Jarvis		30w @ 31.73
Eddo Brandes		26w @ 36.57
Douglas Hondo		21w @ 36.85
Andy Blignaut		53w @ 37.05
Henry Olonga		68w @ 38.52
Bryan Strang		56w @ 39.33
Suggested batsmen:

Code:
[B]PLAYER			TEST CAREER	AS OPENER[/B]

Kevin Arnott		302r @ 43.14	302r @ 43.14
Tino Mawoyo		381r @ 38.10	381r @ 38.10
Grant Flower		3457r @ 29.54	2373r @ 29.29
Guy Whittall		2207r @ 29.42	424r @ 35.33
Alistair Campbell	2858r @ 27.21	306r @ 38.25
Vusi Sibanda		465r @ 23.25	453r @ 25.16
Dion Ebrahim		1225r @ 22.68	813r @ 23.22
Trevor Gripper		761r @ 22.38	761r @ 22.38
We're only selecting one opening batsman for now because I think the choice of the second will come down to team balance later; someone like Whittall increases his stock as an opener if we need him to be the fifth bowler by that point.
 
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Prince EWS

Global Moderator
Heath Streak
David Brain

Grant Flower


Going for Brain ever so slightly over Jarvis at this point, just based on a similar record against better opposition really. I think we're only one series away from Jarvis leapfrogging him though.
 

Flem274*

123/5
Heath Streak
Kyle Jarvis


Grant Flower

I never realised how far ahead of everyone else Streak's wicket tally was. Surely there are some dudes with 100-150 wickets who just aren't that good?

Was tempted to give Hawera's finest, Dion Ebrahim, a vote but decided to take it seriously since I'm an early voter.
 
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Prince EWS

Global Moderator
Heath Streak
Kyle Jarvis


Grant Flower

I never realised how far ahead of everyone else Streak's wicket tally was. Surely there are some dudes with 100-150 wickets who just aren't that good?

Was tempted to give Hawera's finest, Dion Ebrahim, a vote but decided to take it seriously since I'm an early voter.
Ray Price has taken the second most Test wickets by a Zimbabwean, with 80. Only seven bowlers have actually taken 50 wickets and one of them was Guy Whittall.
 

Flem274*

123/5
Wow, Zimbabwe seriously need to play some cricket. Bangladesh probably have higher wicket tallies on average than they do and every single Zimbabwean pace bowler listed would stroll into their all time eleven.
 

Dan

Hall of Fame Member
Streak
Jarvis

Flower


Didn't realise the type of record Flower had opening the batting. Nor did I realise that Neil Johnson only made 3 runs opening. Could be in with half a chance at 6 though.
 

Prince EWS

Global Moderator
Wow, Zimbabwe seriously need to play some cricket. Bangladesh probably have higher wicket tallies on average than they do and every single Zimbabwean pace bowler listed would stroll into their all time eleven.
Zimbabwe's most talented players have all typically had pretty short Test careers, with a couple of obvious exceptions.
 

Prince EWS

Global Moderator
Streak
Jarvis

Flower


Didn't realise the type of record Flower had opening the batting. Nor did I realise that Neil Johnson only made 3 runs opening. Could be in with half a chance at 6 though.
Yeah Johnson was a very fine ODI cricketer - comfortably in Zimbabwe's AT ODI XI - but he didn't really have a great impact on Test cricket at all and he certainly didn't do so opening. :p
 

Daemon

Request Your Custom Title Now!
Yeah Johnson was a very fine ODI cricketer - comfortably in Zimbabwe's AT ODI XI - but he didn't really have a great impact on Test cricket at all and he certainly didn't do so opening. :p
Would that make him a better cricketer than say Campbell? :ph34r:
 

harsh.ag

Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
Man alive, does the phrase All-Time Test XI sound oxymoronic here or what?!

Grant Flower

Heath Streak
David Brain


I think we should really consider putting both Neil Johnson and Andy Blignaut in this side, especially Blignaut, considering the quality of the specialist talents available :p
 

NUFAN

Y no Afghanistan flag
Streak
Jarvis

GFlower

I'm impressed with Jarvis. I haven't ever been too impressed with any of the other bowlers except maybe Olonga. Brain wasn't my cup of tea, way too slow to trouble anyone consistently.
 

Prince EWS

Global Moderator
Man alive, does the phrase All-Time Test XI sound oxymoronic here or what?!

Grant Flower

Heath Streak
David Brain


I think we should really consider putting both Neil Johnson and Andy Blignaut in this side, especially Blignaut, considering the quality of the specialist talents available :p
The middle order stocks are much better with Goodwin, Andy Flower, Houghton and Taylor to choose from; it's why I think we might end up with Whittall opening as the allrounder to fit all those guys in. Someone like Blignaut could end up being the first change bowler though.
 

Dan

Hall of Fame Member
If you decide to give the gloves to someone in the middle order (since Flower, Taylor and Houghton can all do it), you leave the #7 slot open to an all-rounder.

I'd be picking Whittall/Taibu at 2 and 7 respectively though - stronger team overall and lets the batsmen bat without needing to worry about 'keeping as well. Plus Tatenda probably isn't far off justifying a spot as a batsman anyway.
 

Prince EWS

Global Moderator
If you decide to give the gloves to someone in the middle order (since Flower, Taylor and Houghton can all do it), you leave the #7 slot open to an all-rounder.

I'd be picking Whittall/Taibu at 2 and 7 respectively though - stronger team overall and lets the batsmen bat without needing to worry about 'keeping as well. Plus Tatenda probably isn't far off justifying a spot as a batsman anyway.
Yeah, completely agree.
 

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