Is Foster Mutizwa Banned From Playing for Zimbabwe

[CrimsonAvenger]

The foster hype is somewhat justified as he's had a solid start to the season but I'm not convinced this isn't anything other than a statistical spike. Next two Logan games will show us if he's the real thing or not.

I clearly remember a year ago everyone was saying that foster is 'so bad' now. Everyone was wondering how he could drop so far.

Don't always be so quick to jump on the bandwaon.

He is doing the right things though

There is probably some truth in this. However, I think the key point is that his career record is long and unusually strong. In light of that, he has been afforded surprisingly few opportunities at international, or even A-team, level.

Yeah, these two posts just sum up the whole thing.

[eugene]

I emailed John Ward to ask about Foster Mutizwa and his lack of recognition from the selectors, I received this reply:

Yes, Foster is scoring more runs nowadays, but I think the selectors consider him a past player, when they would have great difficulty slotting him into the strong (on paper) Zimbabwe middle order in any case.

He is scoring runs in domestic cricket, but he is not the dominant batsman he used to be, and I wonder (but cannot say) if he is batting selfishly. He often seems to bat too passively, and if there is a crisis he just hangs in there without trying to take charge of the situation or protect his less capable partners.

In the match that finished yesterday he scored a century, but I was very disappointed that in the final session of the third day, when he played most of his innings, Mountaineers should have been trying to pile runs on quickly so as to give themselves enough time to bowl out Eagles a second time. I spoke to their coach about it, and he said he wanted to make sure they did not lose quick wickets and give the game away – at a time when his team was well ahead. Not the sort of positive play that wins championships! By the time they eventually declared, just before lunch, a draw was the most likely result on a placid pitch, and so it happened. So Foster was probably batting under misguided instructions there, but that seems to be the way he prefers to play at the moment, when a batsman of his talent should be seeking more to lead from the front.

[tawac]

Well thats just the type of player we need in the Zimbabwe team right now. Someone who puts a price on his wicket and occupies the crease all day. Passive or not that's just the missing link in Zimbabwe. If he plays that way and we push to draw games. That would be a massive effort. That just ticks another box in pushing for Mutizwa's selection. Now with regards a packed middle order, it bags the question. If you are in that middle order and not performing with the team losing because of its batting. Then you may as well make room for someone else because you don't deserve your spot.

[pariah]

I emailed John Ward to ask about Foster Mutizwa and his lack of recognition from the selectors, I received this reply:

Yes, Foster is scoring more runs nowadays, but I think the selectors consider him a past player, when they would have great difficulty slotting him into the strong (on paper) Zimbabwe middle order in any case.

He is scoring runs in domestic cricket, but he is not the dominant batsman he used to be, and I wonder (but cannot say) if he is batting selfishly. He often seems to bat too passively, and if there is a crisis he just hangs in there without trying to take charge of the situation or protect his less capable partners.

In the match that finished yesterday he scored a century, but I was very disappointed that in the final session of the third day, when he played most of his innings, Mountaineers should have been trying to pile runs on quickly so as to give themselves enough time to bowl out Eagles a second time. I spoke to their coach about it, and he said he wanted to make sure they did not lose quick wickets and give the game away – at a time when his team was well ahead. Not the sort of positive play that wins championships! By the time they eventually declared, just before lunch, a draw was the most likely result on a placid pitch, and so it happened. So Foster was probably batting under misguided instructions there, but that seems to be the way he prefers to play at the moment, when a batsman of his talent should be seeking more to lead from the front.

John Ward is confused. There is nothing strong on paper or otherwise about this middle order.

Craig had never been consistent or convincing. Williams and Raza even worse,

If the was talking about 3Hami, 4Taylor, 5Taibu then yes.

[pariah]

Agree with this. His last few years have been solid, rather than spectacular. He hasn't had that one season that demanded attention since he was last involved with the national team. It's also fair to say that he isn't first choice keeper for the Mountaineers, so he is unlikely to come into national consideration with the gloves.

spectacular?? Fellas name one player who has been selected on the back of a "spectacular" domestic season. Its all fits and starts. In most cases if a player manages to string up two or three good innings. They get the call. Why bench mark Mutizwa only. Why does he need to be spectacular when the incumbents are just above average.

You can say that again!!!

[eugene]

Ervine has never been consistent or convincing? He averages 37 with the bat in tests which is higher than Taylor, Masakadza, and Taibu. For a Zimbabwean he is quite convincing.

[pariah]

Ervine has never been consistent or convincing? He averages 37 with the bat in tests which is higher than Taylor, Masakadza, and Taibu. For a Zimbabwean he is quite convincing.

Don;t get excited.

He's played well at home and away against SL. That's all.

[eugene]

Ervine has never been consistent or convincing? He averages 37 with the bat in tests which is higher than Taylor, Masakadza, and Taibu. For a Zimbabwean he is quite convincing.

Don;t get excited.

He's played well at home and away against SL. That's all.

No that isn't all, he scored 146 against New Zealand's Southee, Boult, and Wagner.

[sloandog]

He's scored a mammoth century against Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka, a place where the mighty Aussies not long ago struggled, in a test match.

And that ton against New Zealand was brilliant.

Such a weird bloke..

[eugene]

Ervine is our best player of spin, a commanding presence in the middle order.