Test selection strategy

[eugene]

I have been thinking about what should motivate selections for our test lineup as opposed to the other two formats.

In ODI and T20 formats we obviously have future tournaments and qualifiers etc driving selections - a need to build for the future in the intervening years in the hope we peak during qualifiers and the tournaments themselves.

In test cricket however we don't have such a trajectory, we aren't part of the test championship and there is seemingly no pathway to gain access, other than I guess beating India, England, Australia both home and away in a test series and then hoping it isn't simply decided to eliminate test cricket as a solution to the Zimbabwe problem!

It's hard to build for the future with so few tests on the calendar so are we simply just picking the best team for the moment and not really worrying about the long term? I like the selection for the first test and continuing to play Ervine and Williams, whereas in limited overs stuff you could argue they are simply slowing down the move to the next generation. I have no problem with Raza missing out given he doesn't really play the longer format anymore. It seems like the best way to get more test cricket on the calendar is to win more tests, so I think playing the best team in the moment is the way to go.

[ZIMDOGGY]

Yes. We don’t play enough to play games with selection. We already do with quotas.
In tests we have to take it series by series and pick the very best team every time. It has to be the pinnacle.

Also remember we have also quietly moved on the Don, Chatara and maybe even Burl, although I hope not him.

[sloandog]

Burl still has a lot to offer but needs to get himself sorted. He's being over taken massively

[TapsC2]

Winning tests against Afghanistan, Ireland, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and the West Indies is a priority. I really do think if we pick the test team on merit we can be competitive against these teams. Being a competitive test team might be the only thing that saves us in the medium term. Compete in tests and claim a rebuild in the other formats.

We have so many tests lined up for next year that I think if we show some guts and determination it will buy us a few years

[tawac]

Today's team has all of 3 debutants. Seems every time we are putting out a different team altogether. Ben is there on merit whilst Nyahumwi and Gwandu is going to be hit or miss. We are disparately missing Chivanga.

[Mueddie28]

I have been thinking about what should motivate selections for our test lineup as opposed to the other two formats.

In ODI and T20 formats we obviously have future tournaments and qualifiers etc driving selections - a need to build for the future in the intervening years in the hope we peak during qualifiers and the tournaments themselves.

In test cricket however we don't have such a trajectory, we aren't part of the test championship and there is seemingly no pathway to gain access, other than I guess beating India, England, Australia both home and away in a test series and then hoping it isn't simply decided to eliminate test cricket as a solution to the Zimbabwe problem!

It's hard to build for the future with so few tests on the calendar so are we simply just picking the best team for the moment and not really worrying about the long term? I like the selection for the first test and continuing to play Ervine and Williams, whereas in limited overs stuff you could argue they are simply slowing down the move to the next generation. I have no problem with Raza missing out given he doesn't really play the longer format anymore. It seems like the best way to get more test cricket on the calendar is to win more tests, so I think playing the best team in the moment is the way to go.

So your reasoning is not to play the best available team but put Musekiwa, Akram, Wez ( out of form) and Muramani whilr leaving Welch brothers , the Campbell brothers, Kaitano and
Innocent Kaia..
Zimbabwe of the 90s Wishart, Gavin Rennie and Carlsie fought for they jerseys not just being fast tracked into a squad because of nepotism or age..
Sean And Craig are the only 2 players besides Ben Curran who have scored half centuries in the 6 games against Afghanstan and Pakistan but are forced to retire from T20..
Now Qualflies are the talk of the day..
We will see when Uganda and Nambia beat us in the qaulfies then when ..Fire Mutendera and put Chigumbura or Chibhabha..
Fire Coaxh Justin and put Prosper or Matsi..
This is ridiculuos

[eugene]

I have been thinking about what should motivate selections for our test lineup as opposed to the other two formats.

In ODI and T20 formats we obviously have future tournaments and qualifiers etc driving selections - a need to build for the future in the intervening years in the hope we peak during qualifiers and the tournaments themselves.

In test cricket however we don't have such a trajectory, we aren't part of the test championship and there is seemingly no pathway to gain access, other than I guess beating India, England, Australia both home and away in a test series and then hoping it isn't simply decided to eliminate test cricket as a solution to the Zimbabwe problem!

It's hard to build for the future with so few tests on the calendar so are we simply just picking the best team for the moment and not really worrying about the long term? I like the selection for the first test and continuing to play Ervine and Williams, whereas in limited overs stuff you could argue they are simply slowing down the move to the next generation. I have no problem with Raza missing out given he doesn't really play the longer format anymore. It seems like the best way to get more test cricket on the calendar is to win more tests, so I think playing the best team in the moment is the way to go.

So your reasoning is not to play the best available team but put Musekiwa, Akram, Wez ( out of form) and Muramani whilr leaving Welch brothers , the Campbell brothers, Kaitano and
Innocent Kaia..
Zimbabwe of the 90s Wishart, Gavin Rennie and Carlsie fought for they jerseys not just being fast tracked into a squad because of nepotism or age..
Sean And Craig are the only 2 players besides Ben Curran who have scored half centuries in the 6 games against Afghanstan and Pakistan but are forced to retire from T20..
Now Qualflies are the talk of the day..
We will see when Uganda and Nambia beat us in the qaulfies then when ..Fire Mutendera and put Chigumbura or Chibhabha..
Fire Coaxh Justin and put Prosper or Matsi..
This is ridiculuos

Did you read my post? I said we should always select the strongest team.

[Mueddie28]

Yes. We don’t play enough to play games with selection. We already do with quotas.
In tests we have to take it series by series and pick the very best team every time. It has to be the pinnacle.

Also remember we have also quietly moved on the Don, Chatara and maybe even Burl, although I hope not him.

I got a question
Did Mutendera and Alistair Campbell cross path..
Played club cricket or provincial cricket together..

[ZIMDOGGY]

Yes. We don’t play enough to play games with selection. We already do with quotas.
In tests we have to take it series by series and pick the very best team every time. It has to be the pinnacle.

Also remember we have also quietly moved on the Don, Chatara and maybe even Burl, although I hope not him.

I got a question
Did Mutendera and Alistair Campbell cross path..
Played club cricket or provincial cricket together..

Yes.
Mutineers played a few games at the turn of the century as a quota selection while Ali was in the team.
Dave was very much out of his depth. Which makes his comments about ‘racism kept me out of the team’ at a time anything black and half good would have been perfect, so much more striking.