Your XI vs South Africa (Test match cricket)

[Jemisi]

yeah, even getting to day 4 will feel like an accomplishment

[CrimsonAvenger]

If
If we win the toss and put them in first
if there's a lot of zip in the track for the first hour
if Chatara and Shingi bowl really well
if we take every chance we get
if the Saffers are complacent and not expecting it
if the track flattens out
if our boys dig deep and bat with real guts

then we could take the game deep into day three!

And Skipper Taylor better think like this:

Our line-up doesn't seem to bat too deep,
But I also have wickets to keep
And tons to score before I sweep
And tons to score before I sweep...

[zimfan1]

Caught BT being interviewed on Dirks radio show this evening

Some pointers he made.....

- Team are confident when playing at home with good recent record at HSC behind them
- No expectations so can go hard at South Africa
- The wicket at HSC will be prepared to help Zim batsman and used our spinners, I.e maybe a bit flat
- Hint that Mushwangwe is in with a chance of playing and sounds like a frontline spinner will play
- BT will not be keeping and will bat 4
- Squad has been narrowed down to 15 and final 12 will be named tomorrow (didn't say who the 15 were)
- rumour that one of steyn or Morkel will be rested
- Toss is very important and will look to bat first
- The wicket is not green so after the morning session should get better for batting and the test goes on

[zimfan1]

Biggest hint was that they are not going down the green seemer route

[foreignfield]

Thanks for sharing those bits of info, zimfan1.

Can't imagine BT playing any mindgames, so it looks as if we're definitely playing a specialist spinner then.

I believe we batted first in all three Test matches we've won, so no surprises there.

[Conant]

With Raza out of the Test match and Mangongo hinting at a Vusi recall, I have a feeling we might not be seeing him open but bat at four, possibly five.

I Think Vermeluen will open, certainly with Mawoyo, but see, Hamy's favourite spot is three so no moving him there, even to accommodate Mad Mark, who batted at three in the practice game. So Vusi will bat at four (hhm finally gets his wish), Brandon five Williams six.

Richmond will definitely keep wicket and I would rather have him earlier than Chigumbura to be honest.

So line up for me looking like this.

1 Tino Mawoyo
2. Mad Mark
3. Hammy
4 Vusi
5. Brendan
6. Williams (Hate to se him batting lower than five)
7. Richmond
8. Elton
9. Tinashe
10 . Shingi
11. Chatara

Fork, no place for Prosper???

Okay then, so no place for Vusi. Dropped!

[brmtaylor.com admin]

With Raza out of the Test match and Mangongo hinting at a Vusi recall, I have a feeling we might not be seeing him open but bat at four, possibly five.

I Think Vermeluen will open, certainly with Mawoyo, but see, Hamy's favourite spot is three so no moving him there, even to accommodate Mad Mark, who batted at three in the practice game. So Vusi will bat at four (hhm finally gets his wish), Brandon five Williams six.

I'm not sure what's to gain by batting Taylor and Williams out of position to accommodate Sibanda (or Vermeulen).