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Meanwhile, the national cricket selectors have announced the squad for the one-off Castle Test Match against New Zealand at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo, starting from Tuesday, November 1 2011.

1. Brendan Taylor (captain)
2. Regis Chakabva
3. Elton Chigumbura
4. Kyle Jarvis
5. Hamilton Masakadza
6. Tinotenda Mawoyo
7. Keegan Meth
8. Natsai Mshangwe
9. Forster Mutizwa
10. Njabulo Ncube
11. Raymond Price
12. Vusimuzi Sibanda
13. Malcolm Waller

http://www.newsday.co.zw/article/2011-1 ... neoff-test

Taibu, Mpofu and Ervine dropped! Bold steps. Taibu probably the injury and to be replaced by either Mutizwa or Chakabva? Mpofu replaced by Ncube, Vitori replaced by Meth. Ervine replaced by Waller...

Not sure what to make of it...

1. Ervine dropped. As much as I have been crying for him to find form in FC, in the Tests he only got the one run vs the Bangladeshis, and sat out Pakistan. On the otherhand, Waller would have felt hard done if he had been overlooked.

2. Taibu dropped, I do hope its just the injury that he was carrying in the ODIs, otherwise as decently as Mutizwa has performed, he hasn't surpassed Taibu, and Chakabva has some way to go...

3. Chigs survives. Is it the glimour of hope he showed with the bat in the last ODI (cause it can't be his knock in the practise match). If on the other hand he has been chosen on his bowling, fair enough, but haven't the likes of Rainsford, Chinouya performed better, or yet still item 4 below.

4. Mpofu dropped, I'm slightly stumped. He is our most experienced bowler, hasn't taken bucketloads, but then who has? (Actually his 7 is tied highest with Jarvis, at a better average of 26.71 to Jarvis' 32, and more economic, 3.4 compared to Jarvis' 3.64, and the best strike rate of 47.1 aside from pattimer Hami's 42.... ... And if we all agree Chigs is in for his bowling, then I fail to see how on QSC for that matter, Chigs is better, I am a bit suprised by this one... hopefully there is an injury...

5. Keegan Meth (I championed his cause on these forums), Njabulo Ncube and Mushangwe break through. Congratulations, but without sounding negative, and I am all for progress of youngsters, but Jarvis, Ncube, Mushangwe, Meth sounds rather green.

If anyone has followed my arguments, this is exactly what I dont think is the way forward. Yes they need to be blooded, but the A games should be where it's done. Here we need a bit of experience (and yes I know this is also a way of getting it, but I argue this could be done in a more secluded, deliberate, planned and strategic manner by introducing them first in the A team then gradually, not as a bunch all at once, into the XI...)

I was watching ESPN Classic this afternoon and Proteas v Aus 94 B&H series, you had a young McGrath, with an experienced McDermott ...fast forward to around 2000s you have young Lee joining McGrath and later McGrath exits, Lee continues with Tait, and later Johnson and co...Also the Proteas had Fannie de Villiers and Donald (new to the scene then)...fast forward Donald with Pollock, then Pollock and Makhaya, then Makhaya and Styne, then now, Steyn and Morkel...I doubt we'd ever see Parnel, Theron and Tsotsobe...all at once...never...unless Steyn and Morkel were infected by a contagious virus at the same time...moral of the story is there is great care of young players by most successful cricketing nations, and they manage them well.

We seem to be stuck with the post 2004 mentality where we had nothing else but Mpofu, Raisford and Mhawire, no matter how green they were, Heath briefly came back which helped somewhat, but point is we were FORCED that way, however now we have a choice. [EDIT] even then we had Hondo and Brent as wise heads. I advocate we use Rainsford, Mpofu and co who despite lack of Test cricket, have been around much longer and arent totally useless or finished, far from it. If it was a case of we really believed we were that close to a win then yes risk the youngsters, but without sounding pessimistic we arent close to upsetting Pakistan or NZ...so why not have a 3 year plan, to get the youngsters, who obviously have talent to the level where they are ready (by exposing them via A tours and inbound tour matches, coaching camps from Dizzy and Streak, unfortunately Donald left he too would have helped) and importantly a lot of FC cricket...

From a batting point of view I like the Jacques Rudolph story (although I am not sure it should have been at the expense of Alviro Peterson, but Biffy is captain and can't be dropped), his FC performance has got him back. Zim on the other hand will ignore good knocks from Ewing and Matsi, and preserve with some none performers...but at least with the batting if Waller is sorrounded with some experience it does help somewhat....

Can only imagine what my debating partner in crime hhm will have to say...sigh...

I would have picked Prosper Utseya as the second spinner. I think he offers more control and more batting than Mushangwe.

Yes, too upset to mention the Pro omission as well, Mushangwe is a leg spinner, and hence more an attacking option, but still, Pro out shown him...yes my friend hhm may say it was in a once off practise match, but fact is Pro would have been a safer bet...I hope these guys have the squad wrong, there's just too many holes...

Just don't seem to like the look of the squads we're producing now days i loved it when I saw ervine jnr, or williams batting alongside Taylor or Taibu. Now the likes of chagabva and ncube and mushangwe are in for utsea and taibu ?! Nah. Glad Waller is in, but would have preferred ervine instead of chagabva. Very very very young squad. I'm looking forward to seeing lamb and Cramer back in action I can tell you that! The side just isn't appealing to me ATALL at the moment

Any side that doesn't have Craig Ervine in it loses.

sloandog wrote:Just don't seem to like the look of the squads we're producing now days i loved it when I saw ervine jnr, or williams batting alongside Taylor or Taibu. Now the likes of chagabva and ncube and mushangwe are in for utsea and taibu ?! Nah. Glad Waller is in, but would have preferred ervine instead of chagabva. Very very very young squad. I'm looking forward to seeing lamb and Cramer back in action I can tell you that! The side just isn't appealing to me ATALL at the moment

Taibu must be injured. He played exceptionally in that 3rd ODI vs NZ. No way he would have been dropped.

Yeah, I agree with the above. Utseya and Ervine would have been better options than Mushangwe and Chakabva. Mpofu is very unlucky too.

1. Mawoyo
2. Sibanda
3. Masakadza
4. Taylor (c)
5. Waller
6. Mutizwa (wk)
7. Chigumbura
8. Meth
9. Price
10. Ncube
11. Jarvis

I suppose?

That is about the best that can be made of that squad, BRMT

Without adopting an "I told you so" attitude, BRMT, but I thought the bulk of the forum would be happy at an attack of Jarvis, Meth, Ncube, Mushangwe (maybe not so much him) and Price, ok drop Ncube for Vitori if he were available.

But I hope you now sort of see what I (and hhm to some extent) were driving at in terms of youngsters at the helm. I really think despite what we may perceive as due recognition for these kids, may actually be a poisoned chalice for them. Maybe against weaker opposition they may impress, but when the big boys come (and with all due respect, NZ and Pakistan are hardly big boys), they will come in get slapped all over the park and lose all confidence, and as most will know sport is half skill and half confidence. It takes a big character to come back from confidence sapping experiences, and Mpofu is a great example of such character, but unfortunately he is an exception rather than a rule. Look at Chigs with the bat, we all know he has the talent (74 vs Aus as an 18 year old), but currently the confidence isn't there. So do we really want to send these inexperienced kids to the deep-end? (Note: experience is not in the number of Tests but amount of cricket played, be it FC, A Team, or First XI).

I really think there is value in giving the older players (who really aren't that bad to be honest) a run whilst we properly prepare the next generation. No one is saying hold them back forever, or they are inferior (well I am not), I am saying they are not ready, yes they are exciting and a breath of fresh air, but we must resist the urge to unintentionally ruining a potentially good thing just because we want instant gratification. Not too sure if its applicable, but the old adage of the goose that lays the golden egg somewhat comes to mind (with a slight remix)...let the goose lay the eggs instead of ripping her open in hope of getting the golden eggs from her belly before the eggs are mature (gosh, I sound like anusha!)...or more aptly, with age wine gets better, and drinking it prematurely, despite the vine's pedigree it will taste bitter (forgive if that doesn't make logical sense, I'm a teetotaler, but point is timing is of paramount importance, and we seem hell bound on rushing these potentially good assets).

brmtaylor.com admin wrote:Yeah, I agree with the above. Utseya and Ervine would have been better options than Mushangwe and Chakabva. Mpofu is very unlucky too.

1. Mawoyo
2. Sibanda
3. Masakadza
4. Taylor (c)
5. Waller
6. Mutizwa (wk)
7. Chigumbura
8. Meth
9. Price
10. Ncube
11. Jarvis

I suppose?

The QSC track wasnt too kind to our seam bowlers so perhaps Mushangwe will get a run ahead of Ncube or to a lesser extent Jarvis if they deside to prepare a slow track. But this will also bring Vettori into business. Our seam options will then have to b Meth, Chiggs, Jarvis/Ncube.