Looking forward to Boxing Day

[jaybro]

Might as well start looking ahead to our next international fixture and discussing tactics and lineup

Port Elizabeth isn’t the quickest or greenest pitch I. South Africa but seam will still be the order of the day ( Hhm can give better details for the pitch ). So I would think Zimbabwe will need 3 seamers for this match.

We could see either of these tactics

1. Pick 3 seamers and Cremer

2. Pick 2 seamers, Cremer and Mire as the third spinner

3. Continue with the ‘8-3’ Lineup and play for a draw considering it’s a 4 Day Test and it’s against South Africa

Personally I’d go with 3 seamers but the third seamer needs to be able to bat so someone like Tiripano, Shingi, Jongwe or even Mashinge

Competition for Batting spots will become more intense if we drop a batsman for a bowler but this is how I would go if the side was picked today.

Hami
Kasuza
BT
Ervine
Moor
Raza
Regis
Cremer
Tiripano
KJ
Chatara

Obviously Williams is the big omission from my side but because spin is not be as a big a factor and Moor took his chances Williams misses out this match.

I picked Kasuza ahead of Tino Mawoyo because we need to start looking to the future a bit and he’s the best performing opener in Logan Cup so I’d give him a chance.

Some will say he’s being sent to the wolves but I would say to him he’s got 6 Tests to show us what he’s got and if he’s capable at this level. Knowing he won’t be dropped after one bad performance will ease the pressure.

BT to number 3 and Ervine to 4. BT is the more accomplished player and will handle 3 better than Ervine. After Moor’s heroics he could bat @3 but I’d leave him at 5.

Tiripano gets back in due to his batting ( sounds funny I know ) but we need another seamer who can also bowl. Plus he’s never really bowled on a seamer friendly wicket.

[Black Mamba]

If it was odi series, then there would have been some competition. Proteas will be taking Zimbabwe as international test warm ups for the players returning from injury lay offs, to make them ready for the India Series.

Faf Duplesis, Philander, Steyn, Morkel, Ngedi, ABD have 100% chance to be playing in this test.

[jaybro]

If it was odi series, then there would have been some competition. Proteas will be taking Zimbabwe as international test warm ups for the players returning from injury lay offs, to make them ready for the India Series.

Faf Duplesis, Philander, Steyn, Morkel, Ngedi, ABD have 100% chance to be playing in this test.

This post has zero relevance to the subject

[TapsC]

I have to agree that as it stands on a wicket that's not spinning, Williams might miss out because of PJ if we play 7-4 but I know people will push for an 8-3 Just to get Williams in.

I think the next set of Logan Cup rounds are very important to see who puts their hand up. For me it's Tino because the day night factor might just be too much for a young batsman as well. As for the bowlers I would chuck Muzarabani in there as crazy as it sounds but I'm sure after 3 or more Logan cup fixtures people will start saying the same. Something different. The proteas will know nothing about him. He wasn't even at the u19 world cup I think. The West Indies chucked Alzari Joseph in the deepend as a youngster as well. If not blessing then Donald has to play at 8 or 9 for me.

I think I would go with

Tino
PJ ( I know this will be hard but I think he is capable)
Hami ( he deserves to play in his best position)
BT
Craig(I think he will dominate a softer ball)
Raza
Regis
Cremer
Donald/Blessing
Jarvis
Chatara

Williams
Burl
Chisoro
Shingi
Chamu

[brmtaylor.com admin]

We need to stonewall and make it a draw. Prove to the ICC that 4-day Tests are a joke.
So I'm happy for Mawoyo, Tiripano, Moor and anyone else who's happy to block to get a shot.

[ZIMDOGGY]

We need to stonewall and make it a draw. Prove to the ICC that 4-day Tests are a joke.
So I'm happy for Mawoyo, Tiripano, Moor and anyone else who's happy to block to get a shot.

Word.

Need to angleshoot this bitch hard.

[CrimsonAvenger]

We haven't played much cricket under lights. We haven't played any pink ball cricket. This is a massacre waiting to happen no matter who we choose. Plus SA would be looking to get game time into their best, so we are staring down the barrel already.

However, yes, I agree we need to somehow stonewall and draw this out and show the middle finger to CSA and ICC.

Here's my XI:

Mawoyo
Moor
Hamilton
Ervine
BT
Raza
Chakabva
Tiripano
Cremer
Jarvis
Chatara

Do Jarvis and Taylor have any pink ball experience from England? If so, their inputs become invaluable.

[Stoneman Returns]

Playing XI

Ryan Burl
Brendan Taylor
Craig Ervine
Sikandar Raza
Sean Williams
Peter Moor ( wkb)
Malcolm Waller
Nathan Waller
Graeme Cremer
Kyle Jarvis
James Bruce

[Black Mamba]

Hamilton Masakadza
Solomon Mire
Craig Ervine
Brendan Taylor
Sean Williams
Sikandar Raza
Peter Moor ( wkb)
Chamu Chibhabha
Graeme Cremer
Kyle Jarvis
Tendai Chatara

[pariah]

This is a massacre waiting to happen no matter who we choose. Plus SA would be looking to get game time into their best, so we are staring down the barrel already.

However, yes, I agree we need to somehow stonewall and draw this out and show the middle finger to CSA and ICC.