Zimbabwe All-Time Test XI - Open Voting

[NUFAN]

Can't vote twice **** aka Morgie.

My biggest issue with Taibu is I'm not really sure where his head would be at in this type of format against the other world XI's.

 

[watson]

I'm going to stick my nose in for the first time (just because it's mildly annoying ) and go for Taibu with the assumption that he is a pretty good keeper. I'm trusting PEWS opinion here.

In order to be competive during an ATG Test match.....

1. ....Andy Flower needs to score centuries in both innings, and he can't do that while needing a good lay down after keeping wicket for the best part of 2 days.
2. ....the Zimbabwe bowling attack needs all the help it can get. It would be a shame if Flower drops a difficult catch off Bradman when he is on only 3. Yet Taibu takes similar catches in Domestic cricket as a matter of routine.
3. ....an allrounder like Keith Miller or Mike Procter will need to be drafted into the No.7 spot should Flower take the gloves. Unfortunately, this is isn't going to happen so Taibu might as well occupy the spot.
4. ....Taibu needs to keep his 'head'. Who knows, we could be pleasently surprised, so let's give be optimistic and give him a go.

 

[morgieb]

Can't vote twice **** aka Morgie.

My biggest issue with Taibu is I'm not really sure where his head would be at in this type of format against the other world XI's.

That wasn't meant to be a vote.

 

[Flametree]

Seem to recall reading somewhere that Flower averaged more as a keeper than when he didn't have the gloves. So that makes me inclined ot pick Whittall over Taibu and let Flower do the keeping.

Don't know that I've ever seen Taibu keep though, so if someone can convince me that he was materially better than Flower, then I'd be willing to change my mind as it's a pretty close call...

 

[Dan]

3. ....an allrounder like Keith Miller or Mike Procter will need to be drafted into the No.7 spot should Flower take the gloves. Unfortunately, this is isn't going to happen so Taibu might as well occupy the spot.

The thing is, this is geared towards Whittall getting the other opening slot (and tbh he doesn't have many challengers). Which then suggests a pure batsman at 6, because Flower provides a sixth bowling option and anything more is overkill. I'm thinking we're looking at:

1. Flower
2. Whittall
3. Goodwin
4. Houghton
5. Flower
6. Taylor/Other Batsman
7. Taibu

4-7 potentially all wicketkeepers. Pretty unique by any standards, let alone at ATG level. Would you shift the gloves if Flower made a duck and Taibu made 150* in the third innings?

 

[NUFAN]

Bump.

Haha thanks for that. I had legitimately forgot about this. Will post up the next choices thing later today.

 

[Goughy]

I'm going to stick my nose in for the first time (just because it's mildly annoying ) and go for Taibu with the assumption that he is a pretty good keeper. I'm trusting PEWS opinion here.

In order to be competive during an ATG Test match.....

1. ....Andy Flower needs to score centuries in both innings, and he can't do that while needing a good lay down after keeping wicket for the best part of 2 days.
2. ....the Zimbabwe bowling attack needs all the help it can get. It would be a shame if Flower drops a difficult catch off Bradman when he is on only 3. Yet Taibu takes similar catches in Domestic cricket as a matter of routine.
3. ....an allrounder like Keith Miller or Mike Procter will need to be drafted into the No.7 spot should Flower take the gloves. Unfortunately, this is isn't going to happen so Taibu might as well occupy the spot.
4. ....Taibu needs to keep his 'head'. Who knows, we could be pleasently surprised, so let's give be optimistic and give him a go.

Well, Poctor represented Rhodesia for a long time. He wasn't born there and repped SA but given modern rules he prob could have qualified for Zim.