ZIM-BD-SL Tri Series 2018: Pre-series Discussion

[Jemisi]

Williams passes fifty more than anyone else in the team. His problem is conversion - but that is a better problem to have than someone who can't turn 20s into 50s.

[sloandog]

What is Williams' career-defining innings? Does he have one? Ervine, Taylor, Masakadza we can all recall the games they have won with the bat, against major nations, the only Williams knock I can think of is against the UAE in the CWC. There are probably others but it seems like quite some time since he played a match-winning knock.

Pakistan 2013 ODI series

[TapsC]

Lol HHM really did get into our heads. Williams has many flaws but he is still better than most of our players. His bowling makes him an automatic pic for me in this format especially when we are playing an 8-3. I saw him in Bulawayo on Tuesday and I was wondering why he wasn't in Harare where I assume everybody else is training. I guess he is the kind of guy who needed a bit of of a kick so that he can focus. Hami seems to have taken being dropped a few times ok. He now knows this is very serious. We are no longer at the development phase

I really do hope Zhuwao is in the mix. I think he should take Chamu's place in the squad and let's see what happens. We might be far away in tests but I'm telling you if we get Cephas to kick on we could become a very competitive team in the shorter stuff. An on form opening pair of Cephas and Mire would be absolutely lethal. Chamu just doesn't seem to have that spark for me.

[jaybro]

Williams usually plays the supporting role in such partnerships, he played two really good innings ( both not ours I think ) against Bangladesh in our 2013 winning ODI series.

His 60 odd against Sri Lanka where we chased 300 never gets any credit either because of Mire’s innings.

The argument that scoring a 50 whilst the rest of the side gets out for jack shit isn’t worth anything is the biggest load of crap I’ve heard. If it wasn’t for Williams we’d would have been bowled out for under 100 on numerous occasions.

Kriterion you’re wrong not everyone made runs that World Cup, only BT & Williams made serious runs for Zimbabwe. Chamu Hami & Ervine passes 50 once whilst Raza, Mire & Chigs might as well of stayed home.

[jaybro]

Again the UAE game where Williams guided us home he gets no credit because it’s against UAE, well if it wasn’t for Williams we lose to UAE and get embarrassed on the world stage.

No one else passed 50 that game

[The Robot]

Solomon Mire
Hamiton Masakadza
Tarisai Musakanda
Craig Ervine
Brendan Taylor ( wkb)
Sikandar Raza
Sean Williams
Malcolm Waller
Graeme Cremer
Kyle Jarvis
Tendai Chatara

[CrimsonAvenger]

Yes, Williams is a utility player whose bowling has come up pretty well in the last couple of years - specially giving us a decent balance in the shorter formats, but eugene's point stands in the sense that there is not even one innings that makes Williams stand out - against top opposition. He hasn't carried us home while the other big names have. And it is not for the lack of opportunities too. Heck, even Waller has that 99* vs NZ to talk about and a couple of T20 blitzes against an improved BD. It is not a mere coincidence that it gets difficult to remember his match winning knocks.

Having said that, he is still an asset for the shorter formats, especially in spinning conditions.

[Kriterion_BD]

Kriterion you’re wrong not everyone made runs that World Cup, only BT & Williams made serious runs for Zimbabwe. Chamu Hami & Ervine passes 50 once whilst Raza, Mire & Chigs might as well of stayed home.

I meant the tournament as a whole was a run fest, similar to the recent Champions Trophy.

I thought Williams had turned a corner in the WC, but clearly not. Taylor, regardless of form, has the class to dominate for an entire series (2011 vs NZ where he averaged 300+), Williams will be brilliant once or twice a year, and usually when there is no pressure of winning left.

But Williams still walks into the XI due to a) his bowling ability and b) his batting is still better than a Chigs, Vusi, Jongwe, Chakabva, Chari, or Chamu. Id have him at 7 as an all rounder slash finisher with Raza batting at 5.

[Black Mamba]

Advantage Zimbabwe

70% of the first XI players plays domestic cricket in Bangladesh & BPL
nearly every year.

Heath Streak's stinct as an ex Bangladesh Bowling Coach, knowing the conditions very well.

[strikerlube]

Advantage Zimbabwe

70% of the first XI players plays domestic cricket in Bangladesh & BPL
nearly every year.

Heath Streak's stinct as an ex Bangladesh Bowling Coach, knowing the conditions very well.

I like this. This excites me. But they all will be fairly knowledgeable, just thinking about it.