Franchise Round 5 - Logan Cup & Pro 50 (4th-9th January 2025)

[aydee]

Both Bawa and Madhevere out within minutes of each other. They could have made a big statement by batting long here.
Munyonga and Kamwemba with the same opportunity.
It's a long shot having to bat for 2 days on this wicket, but that's what gets you noticed.

Both soft dismissals again. Been a lot of that this game.

Chatara was excellent with the new ball again. He is comfortably the most skilled swing bowler in the country. No one else close. (Obviously that is not the only useful attribute for a seamer!)

[Googly]

Absolutely he is. He must look at the Big 3's selection and be wondering how that doesn't apply to him as well.
I'm also wondering.

He'll be bowling with special venom today, have heard a rumour that he's levelled some accusations that will potentially have some repercussions for himself.

[aydee]

Absolutely he is. He must look at the Big 3's selection and be wondering how that doesn't apply to him as well.
I'm also wondering.

He'll be bowling with special venom today, have heard a rumour that he's levelled some accusations that will potentially have some repercussions for himself.

Absolutely no way that Nyamhuri is one of the 3 most effective seamers in Zim right now.

Maybe he will be sooner, rather than later. But add Chatara or Nyauchi or Chinouya, and that 2nd test might have had a different look.

[Googly]

Well neither is Gwandu. These "selectors" have a lot to answer for and the bosses for buying into their nonsense.

[aydee]

Well neither is Gwandu. These "selectors" have a lot to answer for and the bosses for buying into their nonsense.

You're right, certainly in terms of red ball cricket.

Don't get me wrong, there are other considerations in selection other than who is the most effective player right now. If they see Nyamhuri as a really important player for the long term, then this could be extremely useful experience.

Personally, I'd rather someone else is the third seamer against Ireland. He has the opportunity to get in a volume of red ball overs in the Logan Cup now.

[Googly]

Well neither is Gwandu. These "selectors" have a lot to answer for and the bosses for buying into their nonsense.

You're right, certainly in terms of red ball cricket.

Don't get me wrong, there are other considerations in selection other than who is the most effective player right now. If they see Nyamhuri as a really important player for the long term, then this could be extremely useful experience.

Personally, I'd rather someone else is the third seamer against Ireland. He has the opportunity to get in a volume of red ball overs in the Logan Cup now.

Well if you're going to play Nyamhuri and Gwandu ahead of "better" players because they're looking to the future then pick Campbell ahead of Raza. There are different rules for different people.

[aydee]

Well neither is Gwandu. These "selectors" have a lot to answer for and the bosses for buying into their nonsense.

You're right, certainly in terms of red ball cricket.

Don't get me wrong, there are other considerations in selection other than who is the most effective player right now. If they see Nyamhuri as a really important player for the long term, then this could be extremely useful experience.

Personally, I'd rather someone else is the third seamer against Ireland. He has the opportunity to get in a volume of red ball overs in the Logan Cup now.

Well if you're going to play Nyamhuri and Gwandu ahead of "better" players because they're looking to the future then pick Campbell ahead of Raza. There are different rules for different people.

And there always will be. Each and every decision needs to be considered on an individual basis.

Eg, you may have had no faith in any of the seam options, therefore decided to go with the youngster for development purposes. At the same time, you may have thought that Raza had a lot more to offer than Campbell, which overrides the age factor.

They're all distinct conversations, that don't need to overlap.

Regardless, my personal opinion would be that you should 9 times out of 10 pick your strongest XI for that week, regardless of age or other considerations. I think Raza makes that side, I don't think that Nyamhuri or Gwandu does.

[Googly]

Aah the science behind it all

[Googly]

Actually that's worth more than a flippant remark from me.

It typifies ZC's thought process where they think one guy (or 2,3,4) can "carry" the others. It has never worked and never will. We can't afford one passenger, yet we're often saddled with 3 or 4 of them.

[aydee]

Actually that's worth more than a flippant remark from me.

It typifies ZC's thought process where they think one guy (or 2,3,4) can "carry" the others. It has never worked and never will. We can't afford one passenger, yet we're often saddled with 3 or 4 of them.

I would agree. In my opinion, you would always want to be putting what you consider to be your strongest XI on the field.

Youngsters can get volume elsewhere. Nyamhuri would have learned a lot bowling on that pudding at Takashinga for the last 3 days (whilst simultaneously providing the batters with more challenge than Murombo managed). Unfortunately, he didn't get that chance.