[MATCH THREAD] 2nd Test Afghanistan v Zimbabwe @Abu Dhabi
Posted: Tue Mar 09, 2021 4:10 am
A day out from the start of the 2nd Test, no talk about it here on the forum and not even a match preview from espncricinfo yet !!! Considering this is could be Zimbabwe's first Test Series win since 2004 (excluding one off tests) I find this a tad disappointing, I myself have been counting the sleeps.
Looking at the match I can't see Zimbabwe winning inside two days again, Afghanistan will be smarting and surely they can't bat any worse? Also I find it hard to believe the curators will serve up another pitch that suits the Zimbabwe seamers so much again, and if they did Afghanistan won't be silly enough to play three spinners on it.
The pitch will be the biggest factor towards who will have the upper hand in this match, both teams are fairly evenly matched but the nature of the deck could tilt the weight heavily either way. The second biggest factor will be the return of Rashid Khan, there's no doubt Rashid would have had some joy on the 1st test wicket, spinners Hotak, Zahir & all the Zimbabwe guys got lots of turn and purchase. Zimbabwe will need to find a way to combat the t20 superstar over the duration of the match, otherwise the result could have a massive swing.
You'd assume Afghanistan will make quite a few changes to their XI, Rashid will come in for Wasi, who barely got a bowl anyway, Zahir might also make way for an extra seamer if the deck has any resemblance to last week's one. We could see changes in the batting too, the opener on debut Malik got a pair, so he might make way, whilst no one in the middle order made runs and Bahir Shah has a 1st Class average of 72!!!!
For Zimbabwe it's hard to see them making any changes to a side that won so empathically, all the seamers bowled well and they got good service from all four spinners, If the pitch is totally different and it looks flat and bare, they might think about playing a front line spinner, either Wellington or Mavuta, but I doubt they will. Batting wise despite four of the eight batsman failing in the first dig, I can't see them making any changes, mostly because Richmond Mutumbami is the only batsman left on the bench.
It's hard to see Afghanistan being able to rebound from such a bad defeat to win only a week later, but the inclusion of Rashid and the likely hood that the pitch will be different does make it not only possible, but probable that Afghanistan can not only bridge the gap, but actually win the match.
https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/zim ... cket-score
Looking at the match I can't see Zimbabwe winning inside two days again, Afghanistan will be smarting and surely they can't bat any worse? Also I find it hard to believe the curators will serve up another pitch that suits the Zimbabwe seamers so much again, and if they did Afghanistan won't be silly enough to play three spinners on it.
The pitch will be the biggest factor towards who will have the upper hand in this match, both teams are fairly evenly matched but the nature of the deck could tilt the weight heavily either way. The second biggest factor will be the return of Rashid Khan, there's no doubt Rashid would have had some joy on the 1st test wicket, spinners Hotak, Zahir & all the Zimbabwe guys got lots of turn and purchase. Zimbabwe will need to find a way to combat the t20 superstar over the duration of the match, otherwise the result could have a massive swing.
You'd assume Afghanistan will make quite a few changes to their XI, Rashid will come in for Wasi, who barely got a bowl anyway, Zahir might also make way for an extra seamer if the deck has any resemblance to last week's one. We could see changes in the batting too, the opener on debut Malik got a pair, so he might make way, whilst no one in the middle order made runs and Bahir Shah has a 1st Class average of 72!!!!
For Zimbabwe it's hard to see them making any changes to a side that won so empathically, all the seamers bowled well and they got good service from all four spinners, If the pitch is totally different and it looks flat and bare, they might think about playing a front line spinner, either Wellington or Mavuta, but I doubt they will. Batting wise despite four of the eight batsman failing in the first dig, I can't see them making any changes, mostly because Richmond Mutumbami is the only batsman left on the bench.
It's hard to see Afghanistan being able to rebound from such a bad defeat to win only a week later, but the inclusion of Rashid and the likely hood that the pitch will be different does make it not only possible, but probable that Afghanistan can not only bridge the gap, but actually win the match.
https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/zim ... cket-score