Zimbabwe Vs West Indies | 1st Test | 4-8 Feb 2023 | Bulawayo

[Jemisi]

Yeah with recovered overs it was only two sessions or so lost. So we held on into the 5th day well to save it.

Kaia is the one who has shifted the most in my thinking. He seems to be comfortable enough at this level.

I'm not happy with Tsiga at 6. He did well on the last afternoon but he should be lower.

Yes, agreed, may as well put Chivanga in for any of the seamers.

[mnelson68]

Sad that Williams is out for the second Test according to Ervine. You have to wonder how many more opportunities he will get to play Test cricket in his home town.

I expect Chivanga will come in. Ngarava was injured? Id probably bring him in for Nyauchi though. Although none of the seamers were impressive.

Masakadza gets no credit but he bowled superbly in the 1st innings and contributed to Mavuta’s 5fer at the other end for sure. Good with the bat and ball, deserves more credit.

Mavuta fantastic!

Kaia belongs in international cricket. Cemented his place in another format.

Disappointing performance from Ervine but still have to back him.

I still don’t want Chamu anywhere near the team but I suppose they’ll keep him in the side with Willo still out. They probably won’t risk Shumba.

Tsiga, although he did well blocking today, has looked largely out of his depth and I really wish they’d call Madande back.

Agree with all of the above

[secretzimbo]

Yeah with recovered overs it was only two sessions or so lost. So we held on into the 5th day well to save it.

Kaia is the one who has shifted the most in my thinking. He seems to be comfortable enough at this level.

I'm not happy with Tsiga at 6. He did well on the last afternoon but he should be lower.

Yes, agreed, may as well put Chivanga in for any of the seamers.

Ya Tsiga isn’t good enough for 6. But the lack of all rounders necessitates picking 5 bowlers so unless you want Brad or Mavuta to bat at 6 we don’t really have much choice sadly.

[ZIMDOGGY]

Doesn't matter, we've got to be realistic.

Houghton’s teams are different. And I’m here for it

The way he's coaching them...as a Man United fan it feels nice to see another bald head coach changing a team in red for the better!

Would much rather risk a win that aim for a feeble draw.

If we angleshot for the draw from day 4, that's the equivalent of raising the white flag and not having balls.

If we lost so be it. The boys would go down like men and not kneel on their knees to them. Makes it more exciting for the fans, and test cricket is in real jeapordy, and shooting for draws does not help.

The boys will feel more confident for it.

[Donald]

We didnt have the firepower to go for the win when we were 83-4. With the consolidator ballance and block fest Tsiga followed by the tail we did the right and sensible thing.

[andrea lanzoni]

Better to lose trying to win, than spending 3 days clinging on to a draw

I don't agree. A draw has a meaning: it means that none of the contesters has been able to prevail.
In a Zimbabwe without Musarabani, Raza, Williams and Burl, having not been overwhelmed by opposition and achieving a draw is a more than satisfactory result.

[Googly]

We would have been walloped if we'd had 5 full days of cricket. We have to find a way of getting through their openers early because they don't look too sharp after.
Our seamers don't look threatening, not assisted by a very flat deck. They've got a lethal opening combo with Joseph and Roach and our openers also navigated them well so we can't be too harsh on our seamers.

I wonder if Ballance will stay at 5 or drop to 4?
Chamu's woes against spin will surely mean they will bring on a spinner as soon as he gets to the crease, even if the ball is only a few overs old?

[Googly]

I really thought Makoni wouldn't cope, but he did well.

[Donald]

Yea when i saw Makoni name on teamsheet the word 'Nepotism' came to mind.
However looks a compact little player. Keeps his head very still and some very pleasing shots in first innings.
Couple more games like this as well as big runs we can forget the name association and just concentrate on the player.

[mnelson68]

Houghton’s teams are different. And I’m here for it

The way he's coaching them...as a Man United fan it feels nice to see another bald head coach changing a team in red for the better!

Would much rather risk a win that aim for a feeble draw.

If we angleshot for the draw from day 4, that's the equivalent of raising the white flag and not having balls.

If we lost so be it. The boys would go down like men and not kneel on their knees to them. Makes it more exciting for the fans, and test cricket is in real jeapordy, and shooting for draws does not help.

The boys will feel more confident for it.

There was never a chance of a win and it wasn't a feeble draw either