T20I WC what would you have changed (given the available resources)

[CrimsonAvenger]

Was just wondering how we could have approached things differently. I haven't watched a lot of action, but clear where we were suffering through the failures. Just my thoughts on what could have been tried out differently, especially after some of the tried and tested formulas failed in the first couple of matches:

1. Would have picked Marumani in the squad to begin with. This was a no-brainer and everyone here agrees with. In place of undercooked Shumba who was away with a longish injury / out-of-form layoff. That is the only team selection blunder I'm addressing. Rest had to be managed with what we had at hand.

2. Would have begun the campaign opening with Wes and Ervine, with Regis at 3. Wes would have had a couple of good knocks at the top hopefully heading into the tournament proper that way and might have acclimatized better and produced more runs that way. This assuming Marumani wasn't picked anyway. If he was, I would have dropped Regis midway based on form and punted on Marumani as keeper and opener. Nothing to lose.

3. I think Sam suggested this elsewhere, I would have tried Jongwe at 3 in the old "pinch-hitter" role in some cases - this was win-win. Even if he failed, we had a death bowler in the lineup anyway.

4. I would have bowled Chatara his full quota of overs within the first 14-15 overs (and he was excellent throughout with his economy) and had him go back to the dugout and have Wellington field in the last 5-6 overs in his place. A win-win. You get the best of your experienced bowler, and also get possibly your best fielder on the field in the business end of the innings. Wellington probably did not have any reason to get a first XI look-in, but why not use the excellent fielder in him to our best advantage?

5. Evans would have played every game given Jongwe batted higher up. We would be one batter less, but Jongwe the batter + Evans the batter are anyway looking better in this format than Shumba / Munyonga + add bowling dimension.

6. Would have ensured we maximized Blessing and Ngarava (and Chatara as already highlighted in point 4) in every game as bowlers. No compromise. And this is also a no-brainer.

[Googly]

Some interesting and good points.
If Evans, Marumani and Chatara had played every game then who would you have dropped?

[Googly]

I think they got trapped into believing that surely the next game Reggy would deliver. It eventually went on so long they were relying on the law of averages and even that didnt kick in.
Dropping Reggy for Marumani would have been an option, but firstly they were worried about Marumani's keeping and secondly he's equally capable of doing as poorly as Reggie.
Hindsight is a fine thing.
Replacing Milton with Marumani would have been the more sensible option. Again hindsight.

If you're going to pick Chatara he surely needs to open with the new ball to extract as much swing as possible. Having said that he bowled well twice at the back end when he got the ball to nip back.

Wes and Craig is our best opening combo I would think.
I would have tried Burl at 3, but would have done that in the qualifiers.
Jongwe as a pinch hitter I don't think would work

[CrimsonAvenger]

Some interesting and good points.
If Evans, Marumani and Chatara had played every game then who would you have dropped?

Yeah, I would have not begun with Marumani anyway and he would have come in after some failures of Regis. But it would have been something like this:

Wes
Ervine
Regis / Marumani
Jongwe
Williams
Raza
Burl
Evans
Ngarava
Blessing
Chatara

Of course some of it is hindsight, some of it is quick reactions to what's happening during the tournament. For example, now we know Burl may not be ideal that low at all.

[Googly]

The guy that can steady the ship for me is Williams. I'd have him at 3

[CrimsonAvenger]

If you're going to pick Chatara he surely needs to open with the new ball to extract as much swing as possible. Having said that he bowled well twice at the back end when he got the ball to nip back.

Yeah, he has gone under the radar. He's been very good although a lot of us thought he was pretty close to being not very useful in this format. He is like a phoenix - comes back time and again and does well.

[Googly]

Wes
Craig.
Sean
Ryan
Raza
Brad !!
Maru
Reggie
Richard
Chats
Blessing

Maybe luke for chats?

[zimstarr]

1.kaia he is comfortable against pace bowling
2.craig
3.williams
4.raza
5.wesley
6.burl
7.regis
8.evans
9.ngarava
10.muzarabani
11.chatara only if he loses weight


My preferred line up including everyone.

1.marumani/kaia/kamunhukamwe
2.moor( wk)
3.ervine
4.willo
5.raza
6.wes
7.burl
8.evans
9.ngarava
10.chatara. or jongwe but he has to bat at 10 and lose weight
11.muzarabani

[secretzimbo]

1.kaia he is comfortable against pace bowling
2.craig
3.williams

Jeez. Guaranteed to be about 15-0 from the powerplay.

[slcricfan1]

1.kaia he is comfortable against pace bowling
2.craig
3.williams

Jeez. Guaranteed to be about 15-0 from the powerplay.

Take that over 30 for 3 tbh. Least they see off the good bowlers.