[Match Thread ] Tri Series Game 4 | ZIM VS BD

[Googly]

Are you calling for Cephas’ return to side? Eeish.

[Conant]

This is the Richmond Mutumbami we saw and topped the run scoring charts for Southern Rocks four years ago but people bracketed him as wicketkeeper batman - the later skills of which he was inadequate - rather than the specialist batsman that he was.

[Conant]

What a shower of utter crap batting wise. Zooming out now. Why play chakbva and mutunbami. They are test players at best. Williams has been very poor also. Zhuwayo would have been a great pick at the top of the order. Masakaza probably top scoring today but his innings isnt worth celebrating. Let's get in shumba madhevere murray and Jackiel

Half the players in that squad are actually Test players, that include Craig Ervine and Burl too. Chakabva is playing because he top scored in the last match and they have no choice because meh....

[encore]

Why play chakbva and mutunbami.

Probably the same reason they play Sikander Raza-Butt who averages 13 at a 105 strike rate after 32 matches, and PJ Moor who averages 18 at a 117 strike rate after 19 matches (and they are consistently in most forumites' XIs). Craig(who was rightly dropped), and Burl(who was fortunate to be selected) are both considered more Test(and ODI?) batsmen, but have a better T20 record than the former pair. Maybe they are following that theory.

They may as well recall Malcolm Waller and Cephas, and drastically change the T20 side. This really isn't and hasn't been working!

XI: Zhuwao, Kamunhukamwe, Chari, Kasuza, Malcolm Waller, Chigumbura(c), Murray(wk), Jongwe, Mashinge, Chisoro, Chatara
RESERVES: Maruma, Mavuta, Ngarava, Sauramba(wk)

I know in this tour Burl and Mutumbami got some good knocks, and Mutombodzi was ok with bat and ball, but clearly specialists are needed. I still have a lot of faith in Maruma's hitting abilities.

In hindsight, it was a blessing in disguise that Zimbabwe was culled from the T20CWC Qualifiers.

LESSON LEARNT FROM THIS SO FAR?
1. Elton Chigumbura remains Zimbabwe's most dangerous T20 batsman(more so with Hamilton Masakadza's & Solomon Mire's retirement).

2. Tendai Chatara is literally, statistically, form+consistency-wise undoubtedly Zimbabwe's only remaining player of international worth in all 3 formats. He is Zimbabwe's best cricketer!

[Black Mamba]

T Musakanda / M Shumba
W Madhevere
B Taylor
S Williams (c)
S Raza
P Moor
W Mashinge
L Jongwe
B Mavuta
C Mumba
D Jakiel

[encore]

Zimbabwe is a lost cause, sorry to say this but I'm done.

I think Zimbabwe would have won the first two games if Rajput strategised better, plus Elton Chigumbura was not injured and was part of the XI. So it's not all bad.

Having said that, both AFG & BD had captained, bowled and batted extremely poorly in those two games, so the wins would have been viewed within context.

There's been times in situations when the opposition had similarly given Zimbabwe a sniff in away conditions (eg vs SL, WI & BD), and Zimbabwe took that chance. Lately Zimbabwe has also had very little luck in key moments. Luck is very important in sports. Just ask the 2019 English cricket team and the Raptors!

[ZIMDOGGY]

Are you calling for Cephas’ return to side? Eeish.

I wouldn’t mind him just in T20s.

Going forward we could do worse than a top 7 like this;

Richmond
Cephas
Taylor
Williams
Raza
Elton
Burl
Mutumbodzi
Jarvis
Chatara
Mpofu/off spinner

* Craig E as reserve.

And if he hasn’t retired, I’d have Waller in there too.

[zimbos_05]

Have you been promised land or something that the Chataras own?

[TapsC]

Mutombodzi has actually looked ok with both bat and ball. Not as bad as I thought.

I honestly dont think we would have qualified for the t20 world cup anyway because we make the same selection mistake every time. Remember when Mire and Musakanda played a test match because they had done well in ODIs? Test cricket and T20 require specific skillsets.

Zimbabwe will rarely chase down scores above 170 because the current squad is filled with players who cant hit over the fence. When scoreboard pressure is on so quickly they will try something they cant do. They will have decent knocks here and there but will never be consistent.

I am talking about Ervine Chakabva Burl Mutombodzi Mutumbami and to a lesser extent Williams. Williams can be considered an all rounder in the format so its fine. I guess Burl and Mutombodzi too. Bangladesh has the exact same problem by playing good ODI players who cant hit clean sixes. They will have good days but clearing the ropes is not their stregnth.

Why is the west indies a dangerous t20 team but struggles in other formats? Its because almost all of their top 7 or 8 in that format can hit a clean 6. Once you are chasing 180+ guys who score 25 ball 30s actually slow you down.

From what I have seen the cleanest Zimbabwean hitters in no particular order are Elton PJ Mire Zhuwao Waller BT and Raza. These guys should be the top 7 in this format. On their day they can beat anybody in a 3 hour match. This is why you saw Elton in Europe hand Zimbabwe a victory even though he has been terrible for years. He did this against India as well 3 years back. This is how PJ destroyed Shamzi in 4 deliveries and almost made the impossible look possible. They only need to take a liking to 1 bowler and that can win you the match

Seeing nudgers trying to smash the ball all over yesterday really hurt me. Regis double stepping and getting cleaned up second ball. Williams trying a pull he knows he struggles with. At least I know if Zhuwao connects the ball it stays hit. Yesterday was pathetic.

[TapsC]

And please dont talk about averages in t20s. Its like talking about strike rates in test cricket. Raza is by far our best t20 player because he can hit a 6 off any kind of bowling and he can score 2s and 3s and he can field and bowl. This is why he gets booked all over the world and the rest dont