1st Test | Zimbabwe V/s Pakistan | Harare

[jaybro]

Honestly how unlucky can Zimbabwe be, Williams, Ervine, Burl, Raza & Madhevere (hamstring) all injured whilst Moor unavailable!!!

I agree with the sentiments about Nyauchi, he really looks like a ‘horses for courses’ type of bowler. If the pitch will assist the seamers he will be useful, but he isn’t consistent enough to deal with unfavourable conditions.

The positive thing is we will see the debut of Milton Shumba, hopefully he does well I really like this kid and have been filling his progression for a while now.

[Jemisi]

So bad to be missing so many. This could well be a train wreck. Taylor really needs to avoid brain fades.

[CrimsonAvenger]

Honestly how unlucky can Zimbabwe be, Williams, Ervine, Burl, Raza & Madhevere (hamstring) all injured whilst Moor unavailable!!!

Yeah, every one of those 5 names would have been in the starting XI. Moor would have been next in line.

This would probably be the weakest side we fielded, worse than what we did in the last test series - at least we had two seniors there in Williams and Raza.

Not to forget we are also missing Chatara and Jarvis at their best (and Cremer if you want to add). This is not even a B team at best.

Chakabva has to step up, play at number 5 and score consistently. High time.

[Kriterion_BD]

So everyone agrees with me that Madhevere should be given a long run in all formats if he is expected to be the future of Zimbabwe's batting. Good to see common sense prevailing.

Anyone can fail in an innings or even in a series, but talented players will always come good if given the opportunity.

[zimbos_05]

So everyone agrees with me that Madhevere should be given a long run in all formats if he is expected to be the future of Zimbabwe's batting. Good to see common sense prevailing.

Anyone can fail in an innings or even in a series, but talented players will always come good if given the opportunity.

Not everyone. I do not agree.

Zimbabwe is to most other nations. Our youngsters have not the system, coaching, infrastructure, domestic scene, or games that most other teenagers have had. Talented? yes. Ready for this format? No.

[Rajkumar Sharma]

Zimbabwe can go hard against Pakistan only if there is seam & swing, if pitch starts assisting spinners then Pak will bat out Zimbabwe in first innings in both tests.

[Kriterion_BD]

Not everyone. I do not agree.

Zimbabwe is to most other nations. Our youngsters have not the system, coaching, infrastructure, domestic scene, or games that most other teenagers have had. Talented? yes. Ready for this format? No.

I think most of the guys do at least now.

With the attacking fields of Tests, and his busy style of batting...Madhevere can do well in Tests if he applies his skills properly. It only takes one innings early in your career to set you up. I'll use Bangladeshi players as examples.

Tamim, Mushfiq, and Shakib all had to play themselves in. None of them started Test cricket with a bang, but they were given all the chances, and they gradually improved their games. Mominul debuted at age 21, and had success from the beginning and a bit of a rough patch in between (probably due to conflict with coach Hathurasighe) but seems to be bouncing back now. And now we have Shanto. I was a big advocate of his, and he's repaid that faith with a big hundred in Pallekele early in his career which should set him up for the future as well. But a guy like Saif Hassan (age 21) I won't put in the same bracket because I don't think he has the intrinsic skillset to be a Test level batter.

[zimbos_05]

Tamim, Mushfiq, and Shakib all had to play themselves in. None of them started Test cricket with a bang, but they were given all the chances, and they gradually improved their games. Mominul debuted at age 21, and had success from the beginning and a bit of a rough patch in between (probably due to conflict with coach Hathurasighe) but seems to be bouncing back now. And now we have Shanto. I was a big advocate of his, and he's repaid that faith with a big hundred in Pallekele early in his career which should set him up for the future as well. But a guy like Saif Hassan (age 21) I won't put in the same bracket because I don't think he has the intrinsic skillset to be a Test level batter.

Yes, but even Bangladesh has a better grassroots structure and system to bring through young players. They also had proper coaches to develop and coach them through the whole process.

I know he has skill and talent, but the reasons you are giving for playing him in this format are weak.

[CrimsonAvenger]

I know he has skill and talent, but the reasons you are giving for playing him in this format are weak.

But given that Ervine, Williams, Burl and Raza are injured, wouldn't Madhevere be an automatic choice in the playing XI?

[Marshmallow]

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