Northerns vs Southerns | List A | 14 and 16 November 2024

[Googly]

Let's have an honest discussion about Faraz.
Fantastic wonderful guy. His family, and by extension himself, are multi-millionaires. He doesn't have to worry about finances for the rest of his days...nor his kids. This cricket is just a hobby for him.

What is his role in the national side?
Presumably as a seaming all-rounder. Of late his bowling has been shite. He needs swing conditions, like today (doesnt get better), and he needs to be bowling mighty tidily to contain and take wickets at 115kph. Do they take a chance and pick him hoping it's going to swing (he won't have the new ball either) and that he's bowling really accurately and he scores some runs coming in at 7 or 8. There's no doubt he's a decent bat, but there are plenty with a much higher ceiling.

If the planets don't align and he doesn't bowl damned well and conditions don't suit, then surely to God pick a pure batsman, a pure bowler, or Jongwe or Evans, who are better all-rounders. He is also a poor fielder.

He's a good club cricketer and a decent franchise cricketer (by Zim standards), but he is NOT an international cricketer. Of course he can have a decent outing because that's the nature of cricket.
I mean Muchawaya (no disrespect to the man) can roll Warner for nothing twice! It does not make him a world beater...makes him decent though!

Everyone knows that his selections are not ok, and everyone knows what and who is involved.
Remember the story of Whittal throwing his toys out of the cot when he perceived one guy to be a passenger? This is no different, except this team is nowhere near as competitive (might be comparatively as good but the rest of the world has moved forward) and the nucleus of good players are generally having to carry 2 or 3 guys that should be replaced by better options.

I wish absolutely no ill of the man, but there are people playing for their lives and living here. Aside from the "selectors" and Raza's involvement everyone knows its been green lighted by Mr Big. Can the other players receive a poorer message?

[Googly]

Overlord out for a duck. That's 3 in a row for the man. Eeish.
If they're really going by stats and a bit of form, or is it form and a bit of stats (we'll never know ) then he needs a 100 next game.

They should be going by guys who can play!! And he can.

[Googly]

Maru running at Blessing because he's getting bogged down and chops on. Run rate now over 6.

Wes and Craig at the crease and Burl, Campbell and Faraz to come.

Larry would have taken wickets today! Unless someone really puts their hand up it's hard to discount him.

[Pat_Bee]

Faraz is the main man. he’s like some super rich amateur gentleman cricketer from long forgotten days gone by, he’s literally living the dream. If I had a Faraz kind of bank balance then I’d be playing for the national side as well, absolutely no qualms. Half the posters on here would be. Zimbabwe the land of opportunity

[Googly]

Ngarava and Burl looking like they are carrying some timber...

.Burl has lost at least 10kg. Never seen him look in better nick.
Richie has always had a big toilet

[tawac]

Disappointing from Gumbie he had a wonderful 23/24 season but it's like back to normal settings for him. Perhaps it's time to have a look at other players because we actually have players waiting in the wings who can get out there and do a better job.

[Pat_Bee]

Ngarava and Burl looking like they are carrying some timber...

.Burl has lost at least 10kg. Never seen him look in better nick.
Richie has always had a big toilet

Ya Ponzo looked in fine athletic trim at the sub qualifiers.

[Googly]

Disappointing from Gumbie he had a wonderful 23/24 season but it's like back to normal settings for him. Perhaps it's time to have a look at other players because we actually have players waiting in the wings who can get out there and do a better job.

You're being like a Zim selector
He's earned the right to be there..for now.

[Donald]

It's a lean spell he will come good again

[Googly]

Campbell definitely batting for a spot, and possibly Burl. If they take this deep and possibly win it in theory they'd have done themselves a favor. I say that because you just don't know with these "selectors"

Faraz should in theory have to win the game on his own from here to be in with a shout.

It will be interesting to pick our best 11 after these 2 games based on how they played and compare it to the actual starting eleven.

I'm not sure why Campbell didn't get to bowl? He's a good bowler. Does he make it as a pure batsman?
Not for me.