[Match Thread] Zimbabwe v New Zealand: Test Match

[maehara]

Zimbabwe v New Zealand
Queen's Sports Club, 1-5 November 2011

Third Test of the year. Given we've been completely unable to bowl NZ out all series. I'm not holding out much hope for this one. But I'd be happy to be proven wrong...

[Jemisi]

If we manage a draw, it will be a credit to us.

[hhm]

Not a lot we can say until we know for sure what XI will be playing. As usual the home team fails to announce a fortnight in advance or at least a week in advance who makes up our squad. They simply have no idea what harm it causes players when just days before the match they are not sure if they are in the squad, let alone the playing XI. Having guys like Hamilton and Tino play in the warm up match and then fail to perform and be constatantly plagued by thought that they may have blew their chance to play in the Test, when you know they will play irrespective, can actually negatively affect their Test match! How do all these guys - selectors & coaches - do their job. This is pathetic. Not even Bangladesh are this undecided! Unless of course they think it will keep the opposition guessing. Absolute nonsense.

As for the result - NZ will be hugely disappointed if they fail to walk away with a resounding victory. I would! In Jarvis they are already assured a brisk&healthy start to their innings, Tino shouldn't be there, Vusi rusty, Hamilton out of sorts, Taylor's been hot but lacks footwork and hasn't faced Martin, Taibu not fully up to scratch, Waller might be on debut, and if Craig is there Vettori will have little trouble guiding Ross on how to despatch him swiftly.

Ryder is out and NZ have brought a bunch of nobodys to give us a sniff so let's hope we can take it

Over to Makoni and captain Taylor! Who's playing and who's not

[FlowerPower]

Meanwhile, the national cricket selectors have announced the squad for the one-off Castle Test Match against New Zealand at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo, starting from Tuesday, November 1 2011.

1. Brendan Taylor (captain)
2. Regis Chakabva
3. Elton Chigumbura
4. Kyle Jarvis
5. Hamilton Masakadza
6. Tinotenda Mawoyo
7. Keegan Meth
8. Natsai Mshangwe
9. Forster Mutizwa
10. Njabulo Ncube
11. Raymond Price
12. Vusimuzi Sibanda
13. Malcolm Waller

http://www.newsday.co.zw/article/2011-1 ... neoff-test

[FlowerPower]

From the looks of that team selected, most likely is:

1. Tinotenda Mawoyo
2. Vusimuzi Sibanda
3. Hamilton Masakadza
4. Brendan Taylor (captain)
5. Forster Mutizwa/Regis Chakabva (wkt)
6. Malcolm Waller
7. Elton Chigumbura
8. Keegan Meth
9. Kyle Jarvis
10. Raymond Price
11. Njabulo Ncube/Natsai Mshangwe

[Tom91]

Not looking forward to this match with the squad we have got. Our batting top order are all out of form except for taylor and the bowling attack cant buy a wicket agaisnt the kiwis. How is Elton still in the squad ethier? He seems incapabale of taking a wicket let alone scoring a run at the moment. Its going to get ugly down in bulawayo for us in the next few days.

[eugene]

No Taibu, crap! This team looks significantly weaker than the one that beat Bangladesh.

[ZIMFAN]

Why can't Taibu play as a batsman?

I thought Lamb was good last game - where is he???

[aydee]

I thought Lamb was good last game - where is he???

Injured. Hasn't played any cricket since the Pakistan series.

[ZIMFAN]

Thanks - didn't know he was injured. You know how some players just go AWOL sometimes without explanation!