Zimbabwe Fantasy XI

[maehara]

This is sort-of a follow on from the recent debate over at zimcricketnews.com about who would make uk the best current Zim side.

ZC have a "Hall of Fame" page on their website, but it simply lists everyone who's played for the national side since they got Test status. Putting all restrictions out of the way, who would make up Zim's all-time Greatest XI?

To start the ball rolling: Andy Flower (only Zimbabwean to hold #1 ranking) and Heath Streak (best bowling figures by a Zimbabwean) should definitely be there. But who else? Fire away. Any player, past or present, is eligible.

[brmtaylor.com admin]

1. Andy Flower
2. Grant Flower
3. Dave Houghton (c)
4. Mike Procter
5. Tatenda Taibu (wk)
6. Colin Bland
7. Kevin Curran
8. Heath Streak
9. Eddo Brandes
10. Peter Rawson
11. John Traicos

12th man: Graeme Hick

Good topic!

I tried to include Brendan Taylor, but after a few edits I ended up going with Mike Procter at number 4.

[tawac]

1. Andy Flower
2. Dave Houghton(c)
3. Neil Johnson
4. Grant Flower
5. Murray Goodwin
6. Tatenda Taibu(wk)
7. Elton Chigumbura
8. Eddo Brandes
9. Adam Huckle
10. Heath Streak
11. Henry Olonga

12th Man Alistar Campbell

[maehara]

8. Eddo Brandes

Hat-trick v England = one of ZIm's greatest moments...

[brmtaylor.com admin]

8. Eddo Brandes

Hat-trick v England = one of ZIm's greatest moments...

Yeah, when the chicken farmer single handedly defeated England. Great achievement.

Welcome to the forum tawac

[Dr_Situ(ZimFanatic)]

1. G Flower
2. A Campbell
3. N Johnson
4. A Flower(wk)
5. D Haughton
6. D Fletcher(c)
7. K Curran
8. H Streak
9. E Brandes
10.P Rawson
11.J Traicos

12.P Strang for turners
Coach- J Hampshire

[Detective RDS]

ZIMBABWE FANTASY 11

Zimbabwe has born many world class players.Here is an all time Zimbabwean Fantasy 11 squad made by me:

1.Neil Johnson
2.Murray Goodwin
3.Andy Flower(WK)
4.Dave Houghton
5.Brian Davison(Capt)
6.Grant Flower
7.Alistair Campbell
8.Duncan Fletcher(V-Capt)
9.Heath Streak
10.Paul Strang
11.Eddo Brandes
------------------------
Henry Olonga(12 th men)

[alan132]

What about including Brian Davison in the middle order? Scorer of of over 50 first class hundreds in a career which included playing in the County Chmpionship and the Sheffield Shield.

[Detective RDS]

BRIAN FETTES DAVISON
Born December 21,1946,Bulawayo,Zimbabwe
Current Age 62

You are right,Alan 132.I didnt know abt Brian Davison,came to know from you.He is really a legend.He was a right handed batsman,useful right-arm medium-pace bowler and an outstanding fielder.He played for over 20 years in a career starting in 1967/68 and finishing in 1987/88.He played for Rhodesia,Gloucestershire,Leicestershire and Tasmania.Fantastic first class and List A record.He has scored 27453 runs in 467 first class matches with an average of 39.96 and made 148 50s as well as 53 100s with a best score of 189.In list A matches,he has scored 8343 runs with an average of 31.24 and made 46 50s as well as 7 100s with a best score of 158*.

Its sorrowful that Cricinfo hasnt got a player profile of him.Anyway,here is a career highlights of him which I collected from Internet:

Career Span:

First Class> 1967/68-1987/88.
List A> 1970-1985/86.

Domestic Team Information:

Rhodesia Career> 1967/68–1979/80.
Leicestershira Career> 1970–1980.
Gloucestershire Career> 1981–1987.
Tasmania Career> 1979-1988.

Captaincy Span:

Tasmania First Class Captaincy> 1979/80-87/88.
Tasmania List A Captaincy> 1979/80-87/88.
*He also captained RHODESIA in 25 matches.

First Class

A prolific run scorer,he scored 27453 runs and a century 53 times,which remained the most by any Rhodesian or Zimbabwean until surpassed by Graeme Hick.He scored 37 of them for Leicestershire which puts him on equal second for most ever by a player from the county.His 18537 runs for Leicestershire puts him ninth of their all time list.His best season came in 1976 when he scored 1818 runs and he passed 1500 runs in a season for them 3 more times.

List A

Davison was also a successful one day player,making 6744 runs for Leicestershire which has been bettered by only 4 other players in his county.In 1972 he scored an unbeaten 158 which remained a record highest score for them until 1996.

Awards

He won the Walter Lawrence Trophy for fastest century in a county season with a 63 minute effort in 1971.The Walter Lawrence Trophy is an annual award made to the player who has scored the fastest century in English first-class cricket that season,in terms of balls received(not counting wides).

Later life

Following his retirement from cricket, Davison remained in Tasmania and was elected as a Liberal representative to the Tasmanian Legislative Assembly Division of Franklin in 1990, where he served until his defeat at the 1996 election.

He really deserves a place in all time Zimbabwean Fantasy 11 and I have added him in my squad now.

[alan132]

Another player you may like to consider in your squad Detective RDS, in the all-rounder slot, is Brian Davison's team mate at Leicestershire Paddy Clift.