Netherlands ODI Series - Discussion

[jaybro]

So the next deployment for national duty will be a home ODI series v the Dutch, which is more important in regard to preparation for the CWCQ later in the year in Zimbabwe, than it is for the Super League points up for grabs. This series also provides the Dutch with some very crucial exposure to Zim conditions, and yet could be a precursor or dress rehearsal for an all important Super 6s clash in June or July.

For Zimbabwe, they're likely to be without Raza, but this could be a a positive for Zim as it gives Dave the chance to try different players and combinations whilst Raza is hopefully learning some tricks off the world's finest at the IPL. It seems as though we should see the majority of the best talent available with Burl back from BPL and the likes of Chatara, Williams & hopefully Blessing fit once again. I did see somewhere that Brad Evans has a hand or wrist in a cast (?) but again this provides a chance to try out someone else, and ultimately we know what Evans can bring to the side.

I'm probably more interested to see what combos Dave tries out, more so than the actual personal. We've been wondering what type of line-up they will actually go with when the crunch games come, but so far Dave hasn't had to make the big-call as of yet, as there always seems to be 2-3 guys out injured. I expected Ballance to come into the top order, as in the top 3, but so far he seems to be taking his 'white privilege' and hiding in the middle order at 4 or 5.

This will provide a selection headache for Dave when he's got all hands on deck with Ervine, Williams, Raza & Burl all locked for spots in the middle order as well. So, the way I see it Dave has the following options to align his batting order -

Option A)
Kaia
Ballance
Ervine
Williams
Raza/ Wes
Burl
Madande

Option A is IMO the best option, this provides Zim with the best quality Top 4 on offer and leaves space for Raza, Burl, and Madande in the middle, and also the room for four front-line bowlers. I also truly believe that Ballance is best suited to bat in the Top 3 in ODIs as he's got a good technique and is more of an accumulator of runs. He seems to struggle to really accelerate his innings with boundaries from the few ODI games I've seen him play for England & Zim.

Options B)
Kaia
*Wicket-keeper
Ervine
Williams
Ballance
Raza
Burl

If they are committed to playing Ballance in the middle order and shuffling Raza & Burl down, they'll need to find a brother to sacrifice at the top, and one that can also keep wicket. I'm not convinced Madande will be a good opener, so this leaves someone like Mutumbami or possibly a return of Regis to open. The other option of course is Marumani, but he's not an accomplished keeper and he's also struggled with the bat at this level. But this series does provide the best chance to try him out in this role.

Options C)
Kaia
Wes/ Chamu
Ervine
Williams
Ballance
Raza
Burl
Madande

If they want to stick Ballance in the middle, but also don't want to have makeshift opener, they could decide to run with Chamu or Wes up top, and play an extra batsman with Madande coming in at No.8. This provides Zim with an extra long batting line-up, but also reduces their front line bowling options leaving them with just the 3 spots remaining. This would put a lot of pressure on the bowling of Raza, Williams, Burl & possibly Wes to make up for at least 20 overs if not more in an innings. I myself would rather see a more conventional 7-4 line-up with an all-rounder at No.8.

The other option is that they just kick this problem down the road a bit and play the conventional 7-4 line-up with Ballance in the middle and a traditional opener up to top, but this still leaves the issue of 'what to do' when Raza returns.

[TapsC2]

Since we will be trying out combinations I think Madande should try open. Then we should also see Marumani keep for 1 or 2 games.

My concern with Madande at 7 is that yes he did pull off a victory for us once in that position but it's such a high pressure position when it matters. We experienced this in 2018. I don't want a repeat. 6,7 and 8 should be reserved for players who can clear the ropes. Ideally whoever the wicket keeper is in the end has to open.

The obvious solution here is Mutumbami and to be honest I'm very surprised that they are not selecting him. Something is definitely not right there.

[TapsC2]

In my opinion qualifiers are not the place to be developing players. There is a lot on the line

[Kriterion_BD]

In my opinion qualifiers are not the place to be developing players. There is a lot on the line

I don't think anyone has suggested that. Jaybro was suggesting experimentation during the NED series since the Super League (and points) are now irrelevant.

[TapsC2]

In my opinion qualifiers are not the place to be developing players. There is a lot on the line

I don't think anyone has suggested that. Jaybro was suggesting experimentation during the NED series since the Super League (and points) are now irrelevant.

Yeah I get that. I'm saying let's experiment in these 3 games and see what happens. Have 1 game each where Marumani, Madande and Mutumbami are the keepers. Make them play at least 2 games each. Let's see what happens. All 3 of them need to open too because that's the only position that will be available come the qualifiers.

In my opinion Madande will make the squad as a keeper. The real question is between Mutumbami and Marumani for me. Then the starting spot will be up for grabs between whoever makes it and Madande.

I'm more in favour of Mutumbami because i think he can offer what Regis offered. Regis was not a world beater but on a good day he did his job. I think Mutumbami is capable of that and also because there is no doubt that Mutumbami is a better keeper than Marumani

[secretzimbo]

There’s experimenting and then there is experimenting for experiments sake.

Madande has never opened in his life and is likely therefore to have less capacity to do so than either Wes or Marumani - and they’ve struggled too.

If you ask Madande to suddenly open in international cricket you might as well just take him out onto the avenues and literally throw him under a Zupco.

[secretzimbo]

The Dutch have announced their squad and all of their county players are in

[jaybro]

There’s experimenting and then there is experimenting for experiments sake.

Madande has never opened in his life and is likely therefore to have less capacity to do so than either Wes or Marumani - and they’ve struggled too.

If you ask Madande to suddenly open in international cricket you might as well just take him out onto the avenues and literally throw him under a Zupco.

Yeah I have to agree, Madande isn’t an option to open in ODIs yet, although I won’t be surprised if he’s tried there at some point. That’s why I mentioned Mutumbami or Marumani is the likely options along with Regis.

Mutumbami seems to be playing with the type of freedom you get when the pressure is off cause you don’t give a f&@$ anymore. He’s probably too old to care if he gets out cheaply, so he’s going for his shots & playing without weight on his shoulders.

[jaybro]

The Dutch have announced their squad and all of their county players are in

The squad consists of: Scott Edwards (captain and wicketkeeper), Colin Ackermann, Musa Nadeem Ahmad, Shariz Ahmad, Wesley Barresi, Tom Cooper, Aryan Dutt, Brandon Glover, Vivian Kingma, Fred Klaassen, Ryan Klein, Bas de Leede, Roelof van der Merwe, Paul van Meekeren, Teja Nidamanuru, Max O'Dowd and Vikram Singh.

Of the above players, Bas de Leede, Brandon Glover and Colin Ackermann will not be available for the matches in South Africa; Wesley Barresi and Aryan Dutt will not be playing in Zimbabwe.

[pillowprocter]

The Dutch have announced their squad and all of their county players are in

The squad consists of: Scott Edwards (captain and wicketkeeper), Colin Ackermann, Musa Nadeem Ahmad, Shariz Ahmad, Wesley Barresi, Tom Cooper, Aryan Dutt, Brandon Glover, Vivian Kingma, Fred Klaassen, Ryan Klein, Bas de Leede, Roelof van der Merwe, Paul van Meekeren, Teja Nidamanuru, Max O'Dowd and Vikram Singh.

Of the above players, Bas de Leede, Brandon Glover and Colin Ackermann will not be available for the matches in South Africa; Wesley Barresi and Aryan Dutt will not be playing in Zimbabwe.

Those are 3 key players missing the tour, sure SA is a stronger side but their players will miss out on acclimatizing for the qualifiers.