Our Zim team for the ODI Tri-Series

[CrimsonAvenger]

Time for team selection again, for the ODI tri-series. How do the selectors go about it, given that the whole batting line up is woefully out of form?

My effort to pick a team: (8 batsmen including 'keepers, 4 spinners, 3 pacers)

4 spinners - easy as a pie
--------------------------

Prosper Utseya
Ray Price
Greg Lamb
Graeme Cremer


3 pacers - not very difficult given our limited choices
-------------------------------------------------------

Elton Chigumbura
Chris Mpofu
Ed Rainsford (He's got to be there, no more fooling ourselves)


8 batsmen
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Sureshots
---------
Tatenda Taibu (looked good when he opened, may that is a good responsibility for him)
Hamilton Masakadza (getting back into nick when got runout in both T20Is, no question marks yet)
Sean Williams (Bring him back, solidity is what we are lacking)
Andy Blignaut (Firepower, he hasn't had too many chances at the highest level yet, and he is a proven matchwinner)

Options for other 4 slots
-------------------------
Brendan Taylor (Woefully out of form for too long now)
Chamu Chibhabha (Cant make an impact if he is not playing as an opener)
Vusi Sibanda (Need solidity in 50 over version, which he can probably provide, compared to others)
Craig Ervine (Yet to get a decent opportunity to show his mettle)
Charles Coventry (Very unpredictable, risky option)
Forster Mutizwa (must be getting more opportunities as he can be a real find)
Stuart Matsikenyeri (we might be looking beyond him, he has had many opportunities already)

At this point, I would go for Ervine, Sibanda, Coventry and Taylor. Chibhabha misses out because I'm worried if he is in the team, he will be miscast into middle order and would be made to bowl, which are both highly dangerous things to do.

What do you folks think?

[PSR]

1) I Wud like to bring in Gavin Ewing in place of chibhaba to open the innings
2) Dion Ebrahim to replace b Taylor to provide stability in the middle

[sloandog]

Good thread Cimson Avenger, the topics on this forum were beginning to go a little stale. My squad would be the following:

1. Hamilton Mazakadza
2. Brendan Taylor
3. Sean Williams
4. Tatenda Taibu (Keeper)
5. Craig Ervine
6. Elton Chigumbura
7. Andy Blignaut
8. Gavin Ewing
9. Graeme Cremer
10. Prosper Utsea (Capt)
11. Ray Price

I'm giving Taylor one last chance to perform, if he doesnt fire I'd get him to go away and get some runs under his belt.

Hammie deserves a slump in form after all the runs he scored last year. There's no pressure on him.

Sean Williams must be in the side. I cant emphasise how important he is to our fragile looking batting line up. Not only will he bring stability to our team, but also class.

Taibu Is a proven performer, no questions asked.

Craig Ervine looks to be in the moled of Williams. A tall left hander with a solid looking technique. Alan Butcher has certainly seen something, i reckon he could be the next best thing.

Chiggs has been our best player recently. With both bat and ball.

Bliggy has a chance to show the selectors what he's capable of once again. Score runs, stay in the side. Simple.

Gavin Ewing gets in ahead of Lamb purely because i think we need an extra spin/batting option. Lamb isnt a batter of any quality, but Ewing has a good technique, and can hit the ball hard ! I'd like to see him play for sure.

Cremer looks good, just needs to keep his direction when bowling. But he'll get that with time.

Prosper Utsea has really impressed me recently. His bowling has come on leaps and bounds, and i feel he's a much more improved cricketer to say the man we saw 6 years ago. Hope he can continue his good work

Price is just a legend

The rest of my squad would be :
Foster Mutizwa
Greg Lamb
Charles Coventry
Ed Rainsford

Mutizwa will get his chance, but not yet.

Lamb deserves to be in the squad atleast, but again I'd have Ewing infront of him.

Coventry is our wild card, and like you said Crimson, he's a risky option (But oh so dangerous!)

Ed Rainsford is a tricky one. I dont know where to fit him in at the moment. He's a genuine new ball threat, and possibly the quickest in the country, but he doesnt make my side....yet

[jamthala]

1) I Wud like to bring in Gavin Ewing in place of chibhaba to open the innings
2) Dion Ebrahim to replace b Taylor to provide stability in the middle

ebrahim can play all 50 overs,

[ZIMDOGGY]

1. hamilton
2. taibu
3.taylor
4.williams
5.Elton Chigumbura
6. GREG LAMB (despite what everyone says i think he is a good batsman and he ran out of partners against NZ in the T20
7.blignaut/crAIG ERVINE/gAVIN ewing
8.cremer
9.prosper
10. rainsford
11.ray price

[brendantaylor_fan]

should be a good series if we fire. here would be my lineup
BAT
1.H.Masakadza
2.T.Taibu (WK)
3.S.Williams
4.C.Ervine
5.B.Taylor
6.E.Chigumbura
7.A.Blignaut
8.G.lamb
9.G.Cremer
10.R.Price
11.E.Rainsford

12th man .P.Utseya

BOWL
1.E.Rainsford
2.R.Price
3.E.Chigumbura
4.G.Lamb
5.G.Cremer
6.A.Blignaut

[sloandog]

Is Bliggy still classed as a bowler though ??

[kingviv]

were has sean williams scored runs consistenly?

[CrimsonAvenger]

were has sean williams scored runs consistenly?

http://www.cricinfo.com/ci/content/player/55870.html

10 fifties in 40 ODI knocks. I can't see anyone else being more consistent than him. Probably it is not so obvious because he has had too many breaks in between those knocks due to injury and other unavailabilities.

If you are looking for someone who puts a price tag on his wicket, then look no further than Sean Williams.

[sloandog]

were has sean williams scored runs consistenly?

http://www.cricinfo.com/ci/content/player/55870.html

10 fifties in 40 ODI knocks. I can't see anyone else being more consistent than him. Probably it is not so obvious because he has had too many breaks in between those knocks due to injury and other unavailabilities.

If you are looking for someone who puts a price tag on his wicket, then look no further than Sean Williams.

Ya Williams has been one of the most consistent batters for us of late. And plus, even if he's not in form, he's still such a valuable asset to this quad. Quality is rare in Zimbabwe at the moment, but Sean certainly has that about him