1st Test | Zimbabwe V/s Pakistan | Harare

[secretzimbo]

I was hoping we would come out fighting with the ball but this has been abject.

Blessing & Ngarava are quality - good pace, bounce and decent line (apart from straying down legside a bit). But they are just bowling way too short today. Pitch it up ffs!

Tiripano is a very average bowler nowadays. He's really lost something compared to 3-5 years ago. Chisoro doesn't look too threatening either. Shame we didn't see at least a little bit of Kaia's bowling.

Pakistan will end up posting around 600+ and declaring here.

[zimlover]

Chisoro is rubbish at this level, we need a leg spinner. We really miss Cremer.

I would give the ball to Kia and see what happens.

[Mr Twig]

I swear that was bat

RoyKaiaLBW.jpg (382.78 KiB) Viewed 1486 times

Roy Kaia robbed
Not a good start from umpire Rusere.

[sloandog]

I swear that was bat

RoyKaiaLBW.jpg

Roy Kaia robbed
Not a good start from umpire Rusere.

Yea that was a really poor decision from Langton. It even sounded woody

[Donald]

Chivanga in for the second test match and I would even get tiripano opening.
Some of his shots have been sublime and we all know he has a good defence. Problem is his bowling is now lower club level innocuous.
So how to fit him in the side is get him opening the batting. Don't think he could do much worse than kazuza

[WayneKerr]

don't really understand why BT decided to bat first.
HSC notoriously offers some movement in the first session and then flattens out.
Our best chance of making inroads was in the first hour or two - surely?

[Kriterion_BD]

Tiripano opening would be a good idea. He's got to be better than Prince (still a bit early to rate Kasuza, although I think he's probably no better than a Chibabha).

Musakanda, Madhevere, Shumba, Myers is where the investments should lie for now.

[secretzimbo]

I think calling for DT to open is a bit mad, isn't it?! I realise Masvaure & Kasuza are useless and we have few alternative options, but really?

Don does well because he comes out at number 8 after the top order has failed. His team mates and all of us fans think "if he scores 20 or so here it will be really good". If he opens, that very quickly becomes "20 runs is rubbish for an opener - get rid of him!". I realise Don is a nice guy and fans seem to like him, but 'Square pegs in round holes' comes to mind here.

Wes & Shumba are the future openers of this team and will be for many years. The selectors will stick with Prince/Kasuza until they feel Wes & Milton are ready.

[Kriterion_BD]

Wes & Shumba are the future openers of this team and will be for many years. The selectors will stick with Prince/Kasuza until they feel Wes & Milton are ready.

Are Wes and Shumba natural openers? Otherwise it makes little sense to force them to open, especially if they would be more valuable batting in the middle order.

What would a Test XI look like say 5 years from now (circa 2026)?

Opener 1
Opener 2
Musakanda
Wesley
Shumba
Myers
Murray (WK)
Jongwe/Mashinge
Blessing
Ngarava
Mavuta/Chivanga

I might not just know enough of the domestic/upcoming players to know about a pair of decent openers...but looks like most of the rest of squad has potential candidates lined up.

[secretzimbo]

Wes & Shumba are the future openers of this team and will be for many years. The selectors will stick with Prince/Kasuza until they feel Wes & Milton are ready.

Are Wes and Shumba natural openers? Otherwise it makes little sense to force them to open, especially if they would be more valuable batting in the middle order.

What would a Test XI look like say 5 years from now (circa 2026)?

Opener 1
Opener 2
Musakanda
Wesley
Shumba
Myers
Murray (WK)
Jongwe/Mashinge
Blessing
Ngarava
Mavuta/Chivanga

I might not just know enough of the domestic/upcoming players to know about a pair of decent openers...but looks like most of the rest of squad has potential candidates lined up.

Yep, Wes consistently opened for the U19's and in school cricket. He is an opener for sure.
Shumba generally bats 3 but definitely possesses the technique and talent to open when he matures, I'm confident of that.


For the rest of your XI, Burl should still be around. Will be interesting to see Marumani mature and develop and see if he can carve out a red ball career too.

Emmanuel Bawa is the most talented of them all.

Wes
Shumba
Bawa
Myers
Marumani
Musakanda
Burl

.....is a very exciting batting lineup. And thats not even including the next batch of U19's...