Vusi Left out of Squad, Matsikenyeri returns

[betterdays]

I'm so angry that it has cut my interest in the NZ tour by half I might not even tune in.

luckily, it's a good few days away ... we're well practiced at normalising the abnormal ... Vusi is one man -who''ll be back ... we'll all be watching i'm sure (even if angrily) ... it rankles like f**k!!

[Jemisi]

Nonetheless, everything suggests that I'm right.

Hhm, this should really just be your tag line, mate. It would save some typing.

[brmtaylor.com admin]

This is a big opportunity for Matsikenyeri. Let's look at it from his perspective:

1. Sibanda will be back for the next Test (if he wants it)
2. The middle order is not going to be easy to break into - he's not in competition with Taylor, Taibu or Chigumbura so that means he'd need to dislodge Malcolm Waller, a guy who has thrived at international level in the last couple of months.

Assuming Matsikenyeri opens in the Test against New Zealand - which seems like the only option to me as anything else would require a middle order reshuffle - in order to retain his spot he needs to score a century. Hence the Love/Gillespie rule comes into play; that is unless your name is Martin Love or Jason Gillespie, guys who score centuries don't get dropped.

While it would have been better if Sibanda was playing (obviously), this presents an opportunity to Matsikenyeri. This is his opportunity to show that he is an international quality batsman and that he deserves a spot in this Test side.

[FlowerPower]

This is a big opportunity for Matsikenyeri. Let's look at it from his perspective:

1. Sibanda will be back for the next Test (if he wants it)
2. The middle order is not going to be easy to break into - he's not in competition with Taylor, Taibu or Chigumbura so that means he'd need to dislodge Malcolm Waller, a guy who has thrived at international level in the last couple of months.

Assuming Matsikenyeri opens in the Test against New Zealand - which seems like the only option to me as anything else would require a middle order reshuffle - in order to retain his spot he needs to score a century. Hence the Love/Gillespie rule comes into play; that is unless your name is Martin Love or Jason Gillespie, guys who score centuries don't get dropped.

While it would have been better if Sibanda was playing (obviously), this presents an opportunity to Matsikenyeri. This is his opportunity to show that he is an international quality batsman and that he deserves a spot in this Test side.

You'd have to be specific in your argument. Personally based on performance alone (which should be the case) Matsi has earned a shot at ODI and T20 his FC has been very ordinary. So I wouldn't discuss him in terms of the Test team. Also Sibanda's demise is actually Chigs gain (again Im speaking for those that think rationally) with Sibanda in I'd go with any of Waller, Mutizwa or Taibu in the middle order, however his departure allows Chigs in at 7 and an upward domino effect leaving Hami to open with Mawoyo....I dont think that is good as it weakens the batting somewhat with Chigs being like next general elections ( no one knows when they'll happen)...indeed your idea of sacrificing a batter (Chigs in my books) for Matsi to open is an option, but for someone who hasnt opened in a while and struggled in FC...I'm apprehensive.

As for ODI he actually deserves his chance, and I have no qualm my Mutizwa giving way. Chigs has a definite role here at 7 as the fifth bowler and late slugging.

Test: 1. Mawoyo 2. Hami 3. Taylor 4.Waller 5. Mutizwa 6. Tabu (wkt) 7. Chigs 8.Vitori 9. Jarvis 10. Cremer/Meth/Shingi 11. Price

ODI: 1. Hami 2. Taylor 3. Matsi 4. Taibu (wkt) 5. Waller 6. Mutizwa 7. Chigs 8.Vitori 9. Jarvis 10. Utseya/Meth/Shingi 11. Price

[Zimfanatic69]

Hammie should open, the living legend that is Matsi should come in at number 5.

He should also be used as fourth change bowler.

This is simply the best, belated, Xmas present ANY Zimbabwean or Zimbabwe cricket fan could want. Matsi back in the national squad. Go Matsi.

Matsi FTW.

[Conant]

Nci nci nci... *smh*. Really, I am lost for words. What begins very well, ends very badly. For an extraordinarily intelligent person, you can really offer some dumb theories and explations...

At the risk of courting your wrath, I feel accusing some one of dumb theories because they don't align with yours is a bit below someone as extraordinarily intelligent as you sir.

No ways Flower, calling a theory dumb is not the same thing as calling someone dumb. One (the latter) is very personal while the other attacks merely his reasoning at that moment. I do not think hhm, whose intellect and I respect very highly, but whose shortcomings and opinions (is this juxtapositioning and contradictory?) I have never hesitated to point out when I feel they are glaring as they were when he once made Tatenda Taibu bat at number 8 in one of his very first posts, has made the come to the same conclusions as my statement as you have.

You may deny the existence of the evil, but trust me, there'll be many situations where the validity of this fact will be proven.

True, but not in this instance.

Nci nci nci... *smh*. Really, I am lost for words.........some dumb theories and explations...

Sorry you feel that way. Unfortunately, that's my observation! I know there's a lttle voice inside of you that wants to yell in agreement but your tribal allegiance won't allow it.
You may not agree with me Conant, but I bet you his family does, and with justification! I can go so far as to say a lot of his team mates feel far less deserving to be on that plane to NZ than he does, and it will eat a lot of them! They know exactly what's happening!

There is certainly no tribal allegiance here, hhm -- and if any, then it belongs to the Ndebele.

About 80 percent of my blood is Ndebele, my gandfather and his wife having immigrated -- rather ejected by the white regime -- from the Midlads province in the fertile Fort Rixon in which they had settled after of course the great trek from Transvaal by their ancestors. They setttled in Mwenezi, Masvingo Province, where the locals there nicknamed them Madinga (sidinga indawo yokuhlala). Even now there's great pockets of Ndebele speaking families, Dube, Mangena, Sayi, etc in that Province - area specifically -- together with the Ndebele subject as an option, dating way back in 1990 when I left the province. Since then I was entirely schooled in the poor Matebelenad South district of Kezi, and Bulawayo, so I have felt your pain very keely indeed. Where then do my loyalities lie? My father is Shangani, with a Ndeble mother. You of course shall have to take my word for all this, though, as you would appreciate this shouldn't be necessary in an earnest argument.

No, I feel there had been some knee-jerk reaction to the whole thing, but I don't blame you for it

[Zimfanatic69]

Nci nci nci... *smh*. Really, I am lost for words. What begins very well, ends very badly. For an extraordinarily intelligent person, you can really offer some dumb theories and explations...

At the risk of courting your wrath, I feel accusing some one of dumb theories because they don't align with yours is a bit below someone as extraordinarily intelligent as you sir.

No ways Flower, calling a theory dumb is not the same thing as calling someone dumb.

Absolutely right. Even the brightest of people can say dumb things and come up with dumb theories. Doesn't mean they are being insulted when this is pointed out.

[eugene]

There is no conspiracy here, Vusi took a risk and decided to go to Australia knowing full well that it would make him ineligible for selection. Vusi gambled and lost.

[Boundary]

There is no conspiracy here, Vusi took a risk and decided to go to Australia knowing full well that it would make him ineligible for selection. Vusi gambled and lost.

Actually I disagree with that. There isn't a rational, stable system upon which Vusi could have calculated risk before deciding to take it on. No. The people involved are not consistent; they vindictive, they believe admin is a more important component of the sport than players, they are not rational. My evidence? Butcher - the coach for Christ's sake - gave positive assurances (not concrete, but good enough). Sean Ervine was a precedent strong enough. On top of that, Vusi's performances were so good and so welcome after the lengthy, disastrous search for an opener (now we are back to square one) and he did play domestic cricket even if those ZC suits wish it weren't so. They are just pissed that Gayle and Tait signed up for the T20 and Vusi didn't. So like anyone with a good lawyer, they find an excuse to bar him even after including him in the initial squad (how do they defend that one?). The only risk Vusi took was to try to expand his game, to try to get exposure to the kind of pace he won't get at home and so be a more reliable opener. The only risk was to believe that ZC is full of rational human beings who would support such an endeavour.

[Jemisi]

Not sure how Sean was a precedent. They were trying to lure him back for the WC. Once back he would have been expected to play domestically and internationally. Situation with Vusi seems to be different. Though I don't disagree with what you've said about risk analysis.