[Match Thread] Zimbabwe Pakistan 2nd test

[Dr_Situ(ZimFanatic)]

tho Doc ... we cannot keep experimenting with openers. there are a few eyebrow-raising selections but for me the #1 & 2 spot are not amoung them yet

When was the last time our No.2 played a good test knock?

[betterdays]

tho Doc ... we cannot keep experimenting with openers. there are a few eyebrow-raising selections but for me the #1 & 2 spot are not amoung them yet

When was the last time our No.2 played a good test knock?

by zims standards what do consider a good knock as opener?

[Dr_Situ(ZimFanatic)]

tho Doc ... we cannot keep experimenting with openers. there are a few eyebrow-raising selections but for me the #1 & 2 spot are not amoung them yet

When was the last time our No.2 played a good test knock?

by zims standards what do consider a good knock as opener?

Occupancy at crease ans seeing off new ball. Certainly no flashy 14 or 30

[betterdays]

before this test he went past 30 in 4/8 innings - and agaonst ok oppo. not great, but we've had worse...at least he's not turning the number 3 into an opener as zimbabwe have been accustomed to

[Dr_Situ(ZimFanatic)]

Zim's test keeper faced just 13 balls. Hope this test last 5 days.

[CrimsonAvenger]

But Sibanda, IMO, is better than Mazakadza and is on equal with Sean Williams and Brendan Taylor.

Well, records at the highest level will tell you a completely different story if you are comparing Sibanda and Masakadza. And history will judge them, and as of now, Hamilton is way ahead in all formats. Vinod Kambli was seen as one possessing better technique than Sachin Tendulkar when they played together in their school days. Look what happened later. Technique is just one specific aspect.

We have messed up our selection for this match. Let us face it. If the pitch had cracks and we were planning to bat first, Williams must have been selected as a spinning all rounder. Raza was a must based on his previous test match.

Chigs is copping a lot of criticism for his batsman only selection, and rightly so, but he has looked the only one who can be trusted to score some runs ever since he found a purple patch in the India series. So, hope he does well again, and he has to.

Mutumbami is an emotional selection, but wish he comes good now, it would do great things to his confidence. EDIT: He got out as i typed this

I would have definitely dropped Vusi / Mawoyo for Williams / Raza at least. Hamilton opened anyway.

Shingi, well, they must have something against him too, similar to Rainsford.

[betterdays]

When was the last time our No.2 played a good test knock?

by zims standards what do consider a good knock as opener?

Occupancy at crease ans seeing off new ball. Certainly no flashy 14 or 30[/quote]



ok, when was the last time he lost his wicket before the other opener? as soon as you throw in a part time opener (or a match unfit one) you see the merit of sticking with what you have ... for a while longer still imo

[Dr_Situ(ZimFanatic)]

How long will our inexperienced Utseya (just into 4th test) last? Missing Shingi here

[brmtaylor.com admin]

We need one of those famous 20 off 45 type innings (or better) from Utseya now.

[foreignfield]

The argument for dropping Vusi or Tino with Hami opening looks a good one only as long as one does not adress the question of who should bat at three. Imo none of the middle order candidates have the necessary technique to be successful against the new ball, not even Williams, let alone 'no footwork'-Taylor or Raza who has a terrible record in domestic cricket when he bats in the top three.