Your XI for Boxing Day

[foreignfield]

Chamu
Moor
Hami
Ervine
BT
Raza
Regis (wk)
Mire
Cremer
Jarvis
Chatara

I can live with a lot of the line-ups above (and it's astonishing with how many different combinations we can come up), but that's my pick: PJ opening is a punt (and is not going to happen), for sure, but not a bigger punt than Mire, and PJ's impressed me with his temperament in the last Test.

[strikerlube]

Mire
Chibhabha
Masakadza
Taylor
Ervine
Raza
Chakabva (WK)
Cremer
Jarvis
Chatara
Mpofu

Not too many changes from the last couple tests. Protect Hammy, as he is crucial. This lineup also has 3 front line quicks and 2 quick bowling allrounders. Plenty of flexibility there. Spin can be cremer with a bit of help from Raz.

Chakabva over Moor please. Unless Moor happy to open, they shift chibhabha/mire and only have 1pace allrounder

Edit..... Ervine just looks like he needs an older ball lol. 5 for him.

[Kriterion_BD]

8-3 is a good idea beacause a drawn match would earn a lot of points on the ICC table given SA's rank. It would also build on the success of the last few Tests where Zimbabwe competed for large portions and had realistic chances at winning on a couple of occaisions.

My XI

Chibabha
Hamilton
Burl
Taylor
Ervine
Raza
Moor (WK)
Regis (WK)
Cremer
Jarvis
Chatara/Muzarabani

Mire I don't think is a Test class batter, and certainly not an opener. Hamilton has done better opening vs playing in the middle order. Put Burl in to protect Taylor and Ervine a bit more as they are the best players in the side.

You can make a 7-4 if you drop Moor or Regis and slot in a third seamer. Mpofu is not Test class so the unknown Muzarabani would be ahead of him in the pecking order, IMO. Obv, Chats is the first choice if he's fit enough (and if he isn't fit enough, why is he in the squad?).

But Moor and Regis both did so well in the last game, it would be harsh and dumb to drop them, so Burl should make way in a 7-4.

[eugene]

Mpofu may not be the most destructive bowler but he does serve a purpose in test cricket - he can keep things tight and limit runs from one end. Chatara, Jarvis, and Cremer typically go for a few so having someone who can limit runs the other end is useful.

[pariah]

Mpofu may not be the most destructive bowler but he does serve a purpose in test cricket - he can keep things tight and limit runs from one end. Chatara, Jarvis, and Cremer typically go for a few so having someone who can limit runs the other end is useful.

Your comment is almost entirely accurate except for Chatara typically going for a few runs...
http://www.espncricinfo.com/series/1166 ... est-match/
.

PanyangaraTestSA - Copy.png (13.1 KiB) Viewed 3258 times

Nb: I'm surprised guys are overlooking Mpofu in their XIs to be quite honest. Yet another heart-before-mind masochistZIM fan approach. Chatara clearly not fit. Jarivs and Cremer fetching. They are basically asking Jarvis to be a holding bowler, while Blessing does the strike bowler role?

Flashback .. "Useless" Vusi vs SA

VusivsSA - Copy.png (32.88 KiB) Viewed 3257 times

[jaybro]

Mpofu may not be the most destructive bowler but he does serve a purpose in test cricket - he can keep things tight and limit runs from one end. Chatara, Jarvis, and Cremer typically go for a few so having someone who can limit runs the other end is useful.

Your comment is almost entirely accurate except for Chatara typically going for a few runs...
PanyangaraTestSA - Copy.png

Nb: I'm surprised guys are overlooking Mpofu in their XIs to be quite honest. Yet another heart-before-mind masochistZIM fan approach. Chatara clearly not fit. Jarivs and Cremer fetching. They are basically asking Jarvis to be a holding bowler, while Blessing does the strike bowler role?

You do realise one innings doesn’t make or break a player? this idea you have of showing one innings is pointless and again shows how little knowledge of the game you have.

[pariah]

Mpofu may not be the most destructive bowler but he does serve a purpose in test cricket - he can keep things tight and limit runs from one end. Chatara, Jarvis, and Cremer typically go for a few so having someone who can limit runs the other end is useful.

Your comment is almost entirely accurate except for Chatara typically going for a few runs...
PanyangaraTestSA - Copy.png

Nb: I'm surprised guys are overlooking Mpofu in their XIs to be quite honest. Yet another heart-before-mind masochistZIM fan approach. Chatara clearly not fit. Jarivs and Cremer fetching. They are basically asking Jarvis to be a holding bowler, while Blessing does the strike bowler role?

You do realise one innings doesn’t make or break a player? this idea you have of showing one innings is pointless and again shows how little knowledge of the game you have.

ChataraJarvisCremerTests - Copy.png (207.41 KiB) Viewed 3252 times

.
An old man walks into a bar and asks a bunch of Aussie adolescents ... "If all three of Cremer, Chatara and Jarvis bowl 30 overs against the Proteas, how many runs will they have each conceded?"

[jaybro]

Now you’re learning that’s a much better example

Too bad you only have 14 more posts

[zimbos_05]

Hamilton Masakadza
Chamu Chibhabha
Brendan Taylor
Craig Ervine
Ryan Burl
Peter Moor (wk)
Sikandar Raza
Graeme Cremer
Kyle Jarvis
Tendai Chatara
Blessing Muzarabani

[Zero76]

Mire
Moor
Hamilton
BT
Ervine
Raza
Chakabva (WK)
Cremer (C)
Murzarabani
Jarvis
Chatara

Bit worried about the top order batting, especially Moor batting out of position, but I didn't want to go back to Chamu yet again. It is probably worth protecting Hami from the new ball.