Road to the England Test 2025

[ZIMDOGGY]

Quota broken?

The unofficial quota of 4+ Raza.

[Kriterion_BD]

I’d take chats wouldn’t bother with a specialist spinner.

I think we can cause an upset bazball has a 50% win rate and 0 draws, so 50% loss rate.

We could see a 1 day Test, especially if its 100 overs per day. England could win the toss and declare at 200-5 at lunch...You'd think 60-70 overs is plenty of time to take 20 wickets if the ball is moving around a bit.

[jw2]

I’d take chats wouldn’t bother with a specialist spinner.

I think we can cause an upset bazball has a 50% win rate and 0 draws, so 50% loss rate.

We could see a 1 day Test, especially if its 100 overs per day. England could win the toss and declare at 200-5 at lunch...You'd think 60-70 overs is plenty of time to take 20 wickets if the ball is moving around a bit.

The ball often swings about at Trent Bridge, and if so our batsmen will struggle.

[ZIMDOGGY]

Not that huge a deal.

If we are going purely on best team at present, maybe this?

1 Prince
2 Curran
3 Welch
4 Williams
5 Ervinator
6 Raza
7 Bennett
8 Joylord
9 Evans
10 Blessing
11 Ngarava

Probably wont happen because quota is broken.

Alot of strain on Raza too as he is basically being picked as front line spinner here.

Having Higgins in would actually be very benificial here. I think we need to look at a 4th seamer and Newman ain’t there yet.
Possibly Prince gives way in that scenario with Welch moving to opener.

[Kriterion_BD]

I’d take chats wouldn’t bother with a specialist spinner.

I think we can cause an upset bazball has a 50% win rate and 0 draws, so 50% loss rate.

We could see a 1 day Test, especially if its 100 overs per day. England could win the toss and declare at 200-5 at lunch...You'd think 60-70 overs is plenty of time to take 20 wickets if the ball is moving around a bit.

The ball often swings about at Trent Bridge, and if so our batsmen will struggle.

Ball can also completely stop swinging within 30 mins when the sun comes out!

[zimbos_05]

Call me crazy, but I wouldn't complain if they found a spot for Timycen Maruma somewhere in that lineup. The guy has scored some runs in Logan Cup and that should count for something.

I don't get this love fest for Maruma. Ok, he is scoring runs in the domestic game, but we've already gathered that our domestic set up is not on the level we want it at. Not to mention he is 37 next month and whenever he has been an international slot, he has failed miserably.

Yes, domestic form should count for something, but it should also be considered within the whole context.

In saying that, I can almost guarantee that at least two of the spots will be for 'the boys'.

[Kriterion_BD]

Call me crazy, but I wouldn't complain if they found a spot for Timycen Maruma somewhere in that lineup. The guy has scored some runs in Logan Cup and that should count for something.

I don't get this love fest for Maruma. Ok, he is scoring runs in the domestic game, but we've already gathered that our domestic set up is not on the level we want it at. Not to mention he is 37 next month and whenever he has been an international slot, he has failed miserably.

Yes, domestic form should count for something, but it should also be considered within the whole context.

In saying that, I can almost guarantee that at least two of the spots will be for 'the boys'.

At 37, a guy would only be the 5th oldest person in this squad...so thats not a valid reason. Somewhow, the ZIM geriatrics are all in the best form of their lives. Mahmudullah and Mushfiqur Rahim are a similar age, and they're both struggling for form and consistency and have retired from 2 out of the game's 3 formats.

[zimbot]

Call me crazy, but I wouldn't complain if they found a spot for Timycen Maruma somewhere in that lineup. The guy has scored some runs in Logan Cup and that should count for something.

I don't get this love fest for Maruma. Ok, he is scoring runs in the domestic game, but we've already gathered that our domestic set up is not on the level we want it at. Not to mention he is 37 next month and whenever he has been an international slot, he has failed miserably.

Yes, domestic form should count for something, but it should also be considered within the whole context.

In saying that, I can almost guarantee that at least two of the spots will be for 'the boys'.

Everything you said is true. Maruma is 37 and his failures in international cricket are well documented.I still think he is in mixer for that number 6 spot if Raza opts to play in the Uzbek Premier League instead. The common sense move is to go with the younger guys like Madhevere or Myers, but like I said, I wouldn't complain if Maruma was considered just for the England test.

As for giving 2 spots to 'the boys', you think they can afford to do that? Such a low IQ move could make what is likely to be a short test match even shorter.

[zimbos_05]

At 37, a guy would only be the 5th oldest person in this squad...so thats not a valid reason. Somewhow, the ZIM geriatrics are all in the best form of their lives. Mahmudullah and Mushfiqur Rahim are a similar age, and they're both struggling for form and consistency and have retired from 2 out of the game's 3 formats.

Difference being that those guys have pulled their weight their whole career and even now in their current state.

Everything you said is true. Maruma is 37 and his failures in international cricket are well documented.I still think he is in mixer for that number 6 spot if Raza opts to play in the Uzbek Premier League instead. The common sense move is to go with the younger guys like Madhevere or Myers, but like I said, I wouldn't complain if Maruma was considered just for the England test.

As for giving 2 spots to 'the boys', you think they can afford to do that? Such a low IQ move could make what is likely to be a short test match even shorter.

I don't like the idea of picking people just for a specific match because it's a nice holiday. It should be based on who can perform and do the role.

ZC have made low IQ moves since 2003, what's to stop them from doing that again now. We know that some of the execs will go for the holiday and shopping spree, so why not take some of their boys to experience a famous venue and all that.

[Googly]

The best examples of holidays are when the Olympics roll round. Our delegates outnumber the athletes by about 20:1