Gary ballance bombshell switch

[jaybro]

Interesting to see where he does slot in, and where he plays in each format (assuming he plus all three)

In tests I think it’s a given he will bat at 3, allowing Ervine to move to 4 where I feel he’s more comfortable in the longer format. But in ODIs it gets a little more complicated, Ervine likes batting 3 and his numbers show ultimately that is the one and only spot he has had real success.

Williams at 4 and Raza 5 are also their preferred and most successful spots, so where does Ballance fit in without moving everyone else out for their preferred position?

I think Ballance should open in both ODI and of course t20 (which makes the most sense) this will help give Zimbabwe a quality opener who can face a new ball that moves, and keeps the other trump players in their best spots.

Happy to have him back, but as I said I would have been more happier if it were one of the younger guys with more ‘tomorrows’

As for the local guys getting peeved, I understand their disappointment, but they only have themselves to blame. If these guys were knocking down hundreds and pairing great numbers, I’m sure ZC wouldn’t have went down this route again which they obviously weren’t happy to do so last time around.

[CrimsonAvenger]

Wonderful news and hope he can rekindle his touch and contribute to some of our successes in the near- and medium-term future.

A less touched upon topic - who bowls better leg spin between him and Burl? . Whatever I remember of Ballance, he looked quite useful on pitches that helped...

[Train Driver]

A less touched upon topic - who bowls better leg spin between him and Burl? . Whatever I remember of Ballance, he looked quite useful on pitches that helped...

Are you sure you've got the right Ballance? his cricinfo career stats show 162 balls bowled, 154 runs conceded and 0 wickets taken, I know Burl isn't the same class as Mushtaq Ahmed but ........

[grant]

A less touched upon topic - who bowls better leg spin between him and Burl? . Whatever I remember of Ballance, he looked quite useful on pitches that helped...

Are you sure you've got the right Ballance? his cricinfo career stats show 162 balls bowled, 154 runs conceded and 0 wickets taken, I know Burl isn't the same class as Mushtaq Ahmed but ........

Ballance used to bowl during his U-19 days, IIRC (https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/icc ... -scorecard).

[ZIMDOGGY]

So what does our stock batting line up look like now?

1. Kaia (?)
2. Ballance
3. Ervine
4. Williams
5. Raza
6. Madhevere
7. Chakabva
8. Burl?
9. Evans
10. Ngarava
11. Blessing

[CrimsonAvenger]

A less touched upon topic - who bowls better leg spin between him and Burl? . Whatever I remember of Ballance, he looked quite useful on pitches that helped...

Are you sure you've got the right Ballance? his cricinfo career stats show 162 balls bowled, 154 runs conceded and 0 wickets taken, I know Burl isn't the same class as Mushtaq Ahmed but ........

Yeah, memories from the U19 days, and also some bowling he did in an Ashes test - seemed to have quite decent control...

[TapsC2]

So what does our stock batting line up look like now?

1. Kaia (?)
2. Ballance
3. Ervine
4. Williams
5. Raza
6. Madhevere
7. Chakabva
8. Burl?
9. Evans
10. Ngarava
11. Blessing

Yes. Something like that but maybe a different order. I'm suspecting Regis will be there for the qualifiers and maybe even the Test matches against the West Indies. Maybe. I dont think Regis is a bad player, attacking cricket just isn't his thing.

I would say for the qualifiers we should lineup like this

Kaia/Marumani
Regis(wk)
Ballance
Ervine
Williams
Wes
Raza
Burl
Evans
Ngarava
Blessing

If SA qualify directly I think we have a decent chance now.

[Googly]

Why would they qualify directly? Have I missed something?

[TapsC2]

Why would they qualify directly? Have I missed something?

https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/2023 ... 23-1338430

Looks like they will squeeze the England ODIs in and forfeit the Australia ODIs. That plus 2 ODIs against the Dutch. Sri Lanka is going to play their final 3 against NZ in NZ and they need to win twice to overtake the West Indies. SA needs 3 wins out of 5.

This all depends on Firdose being accurate but if it is going to happen this way I think SA have a good chance. Rain willing.

[TapsC2]

Ireland have Bnagladesh at home. They would need 2 wins to overtake the West Indies on NRR. So that could get interesting