[Match Thread] OnIy Test: SL vs ZIM

[pariah]

Hope Prince Masvaure returns again, done well in four dayers and was unlucky just like Chisoro after doing well against Kiwus

Chisoro definitely! Prince, no no.

Mowayo,Chari, Chibhabha now Chakabva. Test opening option is still unsolved.

You forgot Matsikenyeri, and Utseya and Timecyn Maruma. They're better openers and have "superior match intelligence" than Craig, Malcolm, Waller and Williams

Another one...Hamilton Masakadza averages 11 as an opener, but apparently he's a better option to open for Zimbabwe too. Better than Raza who averages 43 opening.

Our dear friend Chakabva who averages 40 in 7 matches batting between 5-7, is a weaker middle order batsman than Williams who averages 20 also in 7 matches batting 5-7. He simply had to open today.

Poor Tino Mawoyo slayed a spin-heavy Bangladesh and an doosraAjmal-infused Pakistan within his first 2 Test matches, it's a miracle he wasn't automatially reassigned to the middle order. Averaging significantly lower against pace than he does against spin did little to change or suggest anything until he was dropped. . Strangely enough Vusi averages almost 10 runs more against spin than he does against pace.

[CrimsonAvenger]

Another day of exceeding expectations in the end. Such has been the tour. Ervine has clearly leapfrogged both Williams and Masakadza as the leading test player (at least) in the last year and a half. This is the kind of stuff we expected from Williams for long, but he does not seem to have the patience or desire for such encores.

Dreading tomorrow though, with the bowling line up we have. Our best chance for wickets is most likely Raza.

[PSR]

Any highlights?

[pariah]

These black boys should be on their hands and knees thanking people like me for the opportunity to open for Zimbabwe. Seeing hungry young black players leading the charge for Zimbabwe makes the struggles of the revolution worthwhile.
-watermelon.

It's not a racial problem, it's a Southern African (or Southern Hemisphere?) probem.

We have Kuhn selected and struggling, yet logic dictates that Quinton de Kock should be opening with Elgar. They even sent wicketkeeper Klaasen away form the squad, now Kuhn is 34 years old, battling to open, and will be dropped, pick up a Kolpak deal then they blame the selectors, with Domingo crying they were used again. Stephen Cook waited patiently for several years dominating County and SA FC cricket as an opener while watchign middle order bats Gibbs, Prince, Rudolph and Alviro open. Then he had to endure watching Bavuma do the same.

For AUS I'm not entirley clued up, but Simon Katich kept Phil Jacques and others out of the side (while Watto did the same later), yet one could argue that the AUS middle order was rather weak during that period. They eventually solved that problem by picking Voges when he getting a review from his pension fund manager. The Black Caps have multiple examples of their own as well in this regard.

We do funny things in the Southern Hemisphere. You only need to look at Super Rugby. Add, Subtract, Add, Add, Add, Subtract. Nothern Hemisphere Rugby is catching up, not becasue they've improved, but because we've been too busy confused about which direction to travel we've remained on the same spot. Right now the ignorant Australian cricketers are too busy striking "in solidarity" to ensure that the national team players get paid even more money while they get peanuts...same like what happens in Zimbabwe - perennially underperforming ZIM players now earn more than most superiror established internationals, while a Forster Mutizwa is no richer than he was 10 years ago in terms of take home.

[jimbo]

Would have liked to have seen mumba in the squad for mpofu. Even ngarava who ripped up an England county 2nd team yesterday

[pariah]

This is the kind of stuff we expected from Williams for long, but he does not seem to have the patience or desire for such encores.

Which Sean Williams? This one?

http://www.espncricinfo.com/icccont2010 ... 38901.html

[Kriterion_BD]

Dreading tomorrow though, with the bowling line up we have. Our best chance for wickets is most likely Raza.

It doesn't look like Ervine or Tiripano will get dislodged ever

Day 2 may see ZIM still batting on 700-8 with Ervine closing in on Lara's record and Tiripano threatening Gillespie's heroics.

[jaybro]

The question needs to be asked is Tiripano are better batsman than a bowler ??

Great innings by Ervine just a shame no one went with him, from what I've read sounds like it's a 500 pitch and our middle order have thrown their wickets away .....

[jaybro]

Funny how people are crying over Regis & Hami opening against the new ball but it was the spinners who got them out

Even when the second new ball came the seamers did no damage on this pitch so one could assume facing the new ball is the best time to bat on this pitch ?

[jaybro]

Short highlights package here, Regis & Waller playing all around the spin real poor stuff ......

Looks to be a lot of turn out there, I have a feeling Waller might be the surprise package ...,.


http://www.cricket.com.au/video#videoId=5507725224001