[Match Thread] Zimbabwe v South Africa: Only Test

[AussieZimFan]

Can't believe Waller and Sibanda are still in the squad. Raza will obviously drop out so at least one of Waller or Sibanda will play. Looks like Nyumbu may debut

[foreignfield]

I don't buy this. Let's wait for the official team news tomorrow.

[zimfan1]

Looks like the following XI will be selected

1. Vusi Sibanda
2. Mark Vermeulen
3. Hamilton Masakadza
4. Brendan Taylor
5. Sean Williams/ Malcolm Waller (Remember how well Waller played against Pakistan)
6. Elton Chigumbura
7. Richmond Mutumbambi/Regis Chakabva (Have a feeling Regis may get the nod)
8. John Nyumbu
9. Tineshe Panyangara
10. Tendai Chatara
11. Donald Tiripano/Cuthbert Musoko

[zimfan1]

I don't buy this. Let's wait for the official team news tomorrow.

it's being reported by Cricinfo

http://www.espncricinfo.com/zimbabwe-v- ... 36425.html

[zimfan1]

Loks like Hamilton is going to open with Rex coming in at 3

Mark Vermeulen ready to rave
August 8, 2014 in Sport
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Zimbabwe national cricket team opening batsman Tino Mawoyo has been left out of the side that will face South Africa in a one-off Test match starting tomorrow, presenting an opportunity for Mark Vermeulen to prove his worth — a decade after his last outing.

Kevin Mapasure

National selectors yesterday named a squad of 15 players from the 25 that were in camp, with former captain prosper Utseya among those excluded.

The technical team is looking forward to giving John Nyumbu his Test debut, hoping his attacking bowling style can yield wickets, which Utseya’s lacked.

Hamilton Masakadza is likely to be promoted to open the batting with Vusi Sibanda. Vermeulen is likely to occupy number three, with Taylor at four.

The final 11 players will be announced today. but a reading from the 15-men squad shows that seamers Tinashe Panyangara and Tendai Chatara are likely to retain their places in the team while Cuthbert Musoko and Donald Tiripano will contest for another slot.

the inclusion of Nyumbu might be interesting, but Vermeulen’s return is already the story of the Test even before it begins.
Can he provide the stability and the runs that Zimbabwe craves for against probably the best attack?

The Proteas will unleash their strongest side. seamers Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel and Vernon Philander are all in the team.

The team’s captain Hashim Amla said there would be no let off.
He said the Proteas will play Zimbabwe like they were playing Australia, adding they were less concerned about the gap the rankings suggest.

Some suggested the gulf between the two nations had widened since the Proteas bowled out Zimbabwe for 54 runs in their last Test match nine years ago, but Amla said his men were not going to treat their hosts differently from other top-ranked teams in the world.

To some, it is not about where the result will go but how big Zimbabwe’s defeat would be, yet the local die-hards forsee the unthinkable.

South Africa is the top-ranked team and Zimbabwe is ranked number nine in the 10-team Test table. However, the hosts are determined to prove their doubters wrong.

Few beyond the country’s borders are giving Zimbabwe a chance to cause an upset to the Proteas as they did against Pakistan last year. The Proteas are enjoying a rich form, fresh from a series win in Sri Lanka.

Zimbabwe has not seen Test action since that famous win a year ago, and a lot has changed since then.

Steve Mangongo took over from Andy Waller as the national coach.
He is a demanding coach and has since warned his players not to be complacent. Mangongo has already shown he is determined to turn around the fortunes of Zimbabwe’s cricket team which has been failing to produce positive results consistently.

Mawoyo has been struggling with a groin injury, but even after recovering, he could not walk his way back into the team.
He will go back and work in the Zim A squad that will tour Bangladesh.

Taylor, Sibanda, Masakadza and Chigumbura are the senior members of the squad. they know they cannot afford to fail at this stage, where younger players are knocking on the door.

South Africa will be a tough opponent for Zimbabwe, but if ever they wanted to silence their critics, this is the time.

Squad: B Taylor, H Masakadza, V Sibanda, R Mutumbami, E Chigumbura, M Waller, M Vermeulen, S Williams, T Panyangara, T Chatara, D Tiripano, J Nyumbu, Raza Butt, C Musoko and R Chakabva

[brmtaylor.com admin]

No Mawoyo or Utseya? No S Masakadza? This is carnage
The bowling attack looks pretty weak now unfortunately.

Hamilton Masakadza is likely to be promoted to open the batting with Vusi Sibanda. Vermeulen is likely to occupy number three, with Taylor at four.

Is the author just editorialising or is this the word on the street?
I'd prefer Vermeulen opening rather than Masakadza, but with Mawoyo out it confuses matters a bit as we may need the steady hand of Masakadza at the top.

Squad: B Taylor, H Masakadza, V Sibanda, R Mutumbami, E Chigumbura, M Waller, M Vermeulen, S Williams, T Panyangara, T Chatara, D Tiripano, J Nyumbu, Raza Butt, C Musoko and R Chakabva

Can't imagine Raza playing after seeing that photo of his thumb in plaster. If that's the squad, I'm thinking:

1. Sibanda
2. Vermeulen
3. Masakadza
4. Taylor
5. Williams
6. Mutumbami
7. Chigumbura
8. Nyumbu
9. Musoko
10. Panyangara
11. Chatara

I can't help but feel there's been an error in judgment in playing two debutants. Nyumbu I guess I can see the reasoning behind (they're taking a chance on an attacking spinner), although I think Utseya can feel aggrieved. But the S Masakadza non-inclusion is pretty baffling given he has a pretty handy Test record. We've got a very inexperienced bowling attack now.

Chigumbura might be the weak link here given he hasn't been bowling much and his batting at Test level has been disappointing. Waller at 6 and Mutumbami at 7 could be a last minute surprise to strengthen the batting?

I guess between Musoko and Tiripano I'd go for Musoko on the off chance he might be quicker, but I don't know much about either bowler. Maybe the strategy is to catch SA off guard with someone they've never seen (ala Vitori vs Bangladesh, 2011) but I don't think SA will fall for it in quite the same way...

This seems like a really interesting and risky strategy. Very interested to see which XI will play tomorrow. As an aside, it looks like the Vermeulen comeback story is almost complete...

[foreignfield]

What can you say? Where is bayhaus to make any sense of this?

If this is true, our "selectors" have, in one stroke of genius, managed to weaken both the bowling and the batting. Who will bat at eight? Neither Nyumbu nor Panyangar are up to it.

Nyumbu over Mushangwe -- that's straightforward: Mangongo hates Mushangwe's guts!

Shingi again on the receiving end of ZC's never ending vendetta against the Masakadzas. If they can't get at Hami for the time being, let's take it out on junior (do not, ever expect to see the three Masakadzas playing together for Zim).

And do not even get me started on leaving out Tino Mawoyo. I guess he's too smart for those ### !!!

I'm almost certain now that Regis will be picked ahead of Richie Mutumbami. That would again make "sense".

I'm so angry right now, I can't even feel happy for MV.

[zimfan1]

It's not that bad I would rather Nyumbu play than Utseya and Vermeulen is in better form than Mawayo.

a choice between Musako and Tiripano is the interesting one

[zimfan1]

Squad down to 12 now with Musoko, Raza and Waller getting the chop

@tristanholme: Zim squad down to 12 now: BT, Chakabva, Chatara, Chigumbura, H Masakadza, Mutumbami, Nyumbu, Panyangara, Vusi, Tiripano, Vermeulen, Williams

Mark gets ever closer

Choice seems to be over the WK or 2 out of Williams, Vermeulen and Chakabva

[brmtaylor.com admin]

So what does it come down to?

Mutumbami vs Chakabva?
Chakabva vs Vermeulen?
Vemeulen vs Chigumbura?
Chigumbura vs Chakabva?