Tatenda Taibu's return

[esatiya]

You all know that Taibu is tipped to return on the Bangladesh tour, which is in a couple of weeks time. My question is in your opinions who is he going to dislodge from the batting order since all the players seem to be playing well. Can the selectors justifying taking of one batsman to make way for him or is he going to try and win his position in the team

[StevenZim]

It is a tough call. No one deserves to be dropped but Taibu is one of Zimbabwes best batsman. If he comes in will him or taylor be the keeper?

[Conant]

As far as I’m concerned any question on wicket keeping in Zimbabwe is no question at all. When former Australian wicketkeeper Ian Healy was asked who was the best wicketkeeper in the world he singled out Adam Gilchrist and Tatenda Taibu.

[Robin]

Agreed - The only Zim player who would get into most other Test teams.

[esatiya]

Guys i am not questioning Taibu's abilities here, He is the best wicketkeeper batsman we have but my question is who makes way for him in the team.

[zimfan1]

hmm thats an intresting point.

I imagine that we all agree that our best three batsman are Hamilton Masakadza, Sean Williams and Brendan Taylor, and basing the batting around those three it looks likes it would be between Matsikenyeri, Vermulen or even Coventry. I like the opening combo of Masakadza and Vermulen with Taylor and Williams at 4 and 5 to combat the spinners. So it depends if the captain and coach want to either bat him at 3 or 6/7. It will all come down to a question of the balance of the side.

I dont think theres any suggestion that he wont come back into the starting eleven as if we remember back to the Bangladesh series, when commentating Ali Campbell said that Taibu was a world class player and needed to be in the Zim side.

So the answer to that question is either Matsikenyeri or Coventry, i think Coventry needs a score in the rest of the series or the finger will be pointing firmly at him.

[CrimsonAvenger]

This is going to be mighty tricky. I was thinking about the same, but could not convince myself on any of the exclusions.

From the playing XI: (for the first match at Bangladesh)
Masakadza: No way, he is the man in rich vein of form
Vermeulen: Yet to convert starts to big ones after he burst back to the scene with the 92
Coventry: Woefully out of nick after the 194*. But he will have that psychological edge over Bangla, similar to Taibu
Taylor: Not a chance here too, he would play as a specialist batsman
Williams: Most talented, dependable with the bat, gives a bowling option, only left hander in the line up. Can he become the scapegoat despite all these?
Matsikenyeri: Has hit some form of late, would be difficult to leave him out.

Can we go for 4 bowlers and hope to manage 5th bowler with Williams and Masakadza? I hope we dont try that, but if we do, then one of the spinners will have to sit out. It can't be Utseya as he is the skipper, and can't be Price with all the experince he has, and match winning abilities he showcased earlier in the year in Bangla. So, will it be Cremer? Hell, no!

So there we go, have I made the decision any simpler?

[CrimsonAvenger]

Agreed - The only Zim player who would get into most other Test teams.

With many test teams struggling with lack of quality spinners, I would expect Ray Price to walk into many sides too, including the once spin powerhouse, India.

[Boundary]

Tough call this. To make it tougher, does this mean that if Taibu is in then Foster Mutizwa is out?

[CrimsonAvenger]

Tough call this. To make it tougher, does this mean that if Taibu is in then Foster Mutizwa is out?

I would expect Waller to be out of 15 at this stage to make way for Taibu.