Another massive downside of Williams/Raza/Burl potentially all missing…..so we have to pick two specialist spinners?
Ideally we’d want three seamers and at least two spin options. If we are going to pick, Ervine, Ballance, Chibhabha, Maruma, Madande as our middle order - where are the bowling options coming from?
Mavuta and Masakadza would take us down to number 9, only room for two seamers? Not enough.
No idea how we are going to line up next week. I imagine the selectors currently have no idea either and desperately trying to work something out.
This warm up match has been a disaster in terms of selections.
I don’t think we can now pick any of Maunze/Gumbie/Makoni.
Wes has pretty much nailed his coffin and neither Shumba or Munyonga have impressed.
.....is an extremely long tail. Thats putting a huge pressure on the top 5, and considering we don't have an opener - even more so.
Ideally we'd bring Burl back for one match and let him swap for Raza for the other match. That would be a big help. Sounds like Williams is definitely going to miss both.
Not sure about Muzarabani. I hear he is pretty much back to fitness - but throwing him straight into a 5-day match when he hasn't played for 3 months is probably not wise.
We can't risk Blessing in a year with two qualifiers which unfortunately are much more important than these tests.
Burl has just hit 21 not out off 11 balls in the BPL, he needs to be back for the first test. It is difficult to see Mavuta playing in a 4 man attack but with Burl as the 5th bowler there is a chance that he can play.
I would rather they sit Raza down and agree that he can miss the Netherlands matches because I think the IPL starts in March as well. We need him here. There has to be a compromise.
Tsiga did ok as well. Might get a chance if Madande flops in the first match. This is one of the very few times I actually can't pick a team in my head.
The sensible thing is to tell Raza to come and play the 1st Test. Then swap him for Burl for the 2nd.
That doesn't affect their respective commitments tooo much - seeing as it allows Raza to be available for 100% of the PSL and it allows Burl a few extra matches in the BPL.
1 Kaia
2 Anyone who can vaguely hold a bat
3 Ervine
4 Ballance
5 Anyone else who can vaguely hold a bat
6 Burl / Raza
7 Madande (Wk)
8 Evans
9 Mavuta
10 Ngarava
11 Nyauchi
Raza has a game on Thursday and on Sunday. Sunday would be the last game before the playoffs of which Dubai Capitals might not make it. There is a chance I believe. Just speculating but it's possible. He must be fatigued with all the travelling now but he is achieving his goals.
Very Very long tail but I don't see any other batsmen doing better than these guys and I'm picking Wes as the offspinner. Surely we need somebody who can spin it the other way. Any run Wes scores would be a bonus.
I don’t think you can pick Wes as a specialist off spinner at 8!!! Masakadza is a much better offie. Ndlovu is better too and knows the ground . Wes would be down the list in terms of specialist spinners
Also the guy everyone is forgetting is Marumani. They might give him the gloves rather than Madande. Neither are locked in..
Why do people want Chamu to open? When was the last time he opened in red ball cricket? Years ago?
Madhevere is only a part time spinner. He could play at 8 as an all rounder but his bowling is far to weak for that and he’s have to be reliable for 20-25 runs with the bat.
If he plays he has to bat in the top 6.
Raza, Williams, Burl missing out will complicate things a bit.