Tawanda Mupariwa makes the list

[brmtaylor.com admin]

I think perhaps Tawanda Mupariwa could be the most underrated player in Zimbabwe cricket. Certainly he hasn't achieved the recognition he deserves, and certainly I've never listed him alongside the big name players like Taylor, Masakadza, Taibu, even though his performances have been very good.

http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/magazin ... 70533.html

Highest proportion of career ODIs when taking a wicket (qualification: 20 matches)
Player Span Mat Wkts BBI Ave SR 5 mat w/ wkt %
AIC Dodemaide (Aus) 1988-1993 24 36 5/21 20.91 36.8 1 21 87.50
MS Kasprowicz (Aus) 1995-2005 43 67 5/45 24.98 33.2 2 37 86.04
C Pringle (NZ) 1990-1995 64 103 5/45 23.87 32.1 1 54 84.37
T Mupariwa (Zim) 2004-2008 23 40 4/46 26.32 31.1 0 19 82.60

In other words, he has taken a wicket in over 80% of his matches... the best consistency of any current international bowler. His bowling average is only 26.32. Glenn McGrath's was 22 in ODI's, so really Mupariwa with 40 wickets in 23 matches, is only two or three five wicket hauls away from an average up there with the best.

Mupariwa is the guy that replaces Gary Brent, pure and simple. Speed wise they are not all that different, Mupariwa just needs to work on hitting the same line and length that Brent did consistently, which will in turn lower his economy rate (currently around 5, it would be better if it was 4.5 or so). Mupariwa is a very important player for the team, he and Chigumbura are now the only good pace bowlers. Mpofu is too inconsistent, and averaging only a wicket an ODI is not damaging enough, although he has the potential to improve. Ed Rainsford has to come back into the team at some point too... ordinary average, but a very good economy rate (4.5), and a star player in First Class matches averaging just 21.

Ideally, we would see Chigumbura, Utseya, Price, Mupariwa and Rainsford as our bowlers. Chigumbura to open, and Rainsford (attacking tactics, looking for wickets) and Mupariwa (defensive tactics, trying to restrict runs - but the added bonus is that in all likelihood Mupariwa will take a couple of wickets) alternating between opening and first change, with Utseya and Price to start during the powerplay overs if the quicks are too expensive, or once the powerplay ends if the quicks are doing well.

What would be fantastic is to have a bit more depth in the fast bowling stocks, so a lot of development time should be going into anyone with a bit of raw pace. Khawulani Ntuli needs to get more games under his belt (I think he was injured during the Logan Cup)... from what little game time he's had his First Class bowling average is only 19. Kyle Jarvis - if he hasn't been lost to the rugby team - should have been playing for Northerns this year, and most certainly should be playing for Mashonaland next year. The selectors seem to like Taurai Muzarabani, which is disappointing because his name never comes up when I talk to the players about good fast bowlers and he didn't even have the form to back up his selection - I think that was a Takashinga thing to be honest. But his List A bowling average is only 26 or so, so he's got potential and I wouldn't write him off in becoming a handy bowler for Zimbabwe.

[zimfan1]

i agree on what you think our bowling attack should be but will we get that? i don't think so

i am afraid after speaking to people who play club cricket in Zimbabwe and coach the general vibe is that kyle jarvis wont be playing cricket this year but may do in the future

this is a new era for Zimbabwe cricket as it looks like we will get more games and at last we are starting to show that we have depth in our system with the board x1 giving some decent performances against Pakistan A

muparia is key our future as he is experienced and along with rainsford should take the new ball

[jimbo]

Im a big fan of rainsford myself and think that he has what it takes at international level. A good foil for mupariwa too as they are different types of bowlers.When rainsford was playing regularly we really didnt have the batsmen to lay solid foundations. I remember in the ICC champions trophy when we had the likes of mufambisis and rinke and we get bowled out for 87 against the west indies. Can we reasonably expect rainsford to do a job when opposing teams were chasing such low targets? With the likes of sibanda,Taibu,Williams back in the fold we are much stronger proposition altogether batting wise and the bowlers can bowl their line and lenghts knowing that in the last few matches batting zimbabwe have put up quite a lot of reasonable totals