Match Thread: Only Test Zimbabwe v Ireland (6th -10th February 2025)

[Andy31]

Would have walked this in if we were full strength.
So frustrating

I think one of Williams or Ervine
Maybe a tactic change or two

Ie a specialist spinner

[sam_ahm]

Zimbabwe sink further at international level.

They are now properly behind Ireland and Afghanistan as a test nation. That is a real shame.

[Kriterion_BD]

Zimbabwe sink further at international level.

They are now properly behind Ireland and Afghanistan as a test nation. That is a real shame.

Thats not news, or shouldn't be anyway. Zimbabwe have been behind since 2019 I would say (when they toured Ireland and Scotland and lost 5-0 with Taylor, Williams, Ervine, Raza, Hamilton, and Jarvis).

The real issue is will ZIM be able to arrange regular Tests per year? You will need to play 5-6 a year to improve. And the bulk of them have to be against Afghanistan and Ireland, with one series a year against the lower ranked WTC sides (BD, WI, SL, PAK).

Plenty of next gen players have stepped up in recent times (Wez, Bennett, Welch, and Curran).

[Andy31]

Zimbabwe sink further at international level.

They are now properly behind Ireland and Afghanistan as a test nation. That is a real shame.

Yes and no
I would say each game got game 5.

I think a big difference is we don’t have an A grader.
Like Rashid or Tector.

Debuting 3 blokes in a game is never easy. I was up with a newborn for most of the test so I might do a run down of each player.

[mnelson68]

Would have walked this in if we were full strength.
So frustrating

I think one of Williams or Ervine
Maybe a tactic change or two

Ie a specialist spinner

You bring in Williams or Ervine for Gwandu or Nyamhuri and it's a victory for sure.

[TapsC2]

To be honest I genuinely believe at full strength with the right selection we can beat them. Can't really fault anyone when Williams was injured the day before and Craig having to be with his wife. In fact I would say had Ireland lost here it would have been a bad look as we were missing the senior batsmen. Raza wasn't even needed here. It's a matter of mentality and keeping pressure when you have momentum

[TapsC2]

Selecting Gwandu and Nyamuri was the strange one. I was certain Masekesa was going to play. Not only because we didn't have a specialist spinner, he can bat too and is not 18 years old. I'm beginning to wonder what Sammons really is up to. That was way too risky especially considering they picked Mayavo too

[Googly]

Well that was bitterly disappointing. We should never have lost that. Good innings from Wes, probably should have gone forward to that. Showed a lot of fight, and he's gone up considerably in my estimation, always looks like he doesn't give a shit, but very clearly he does. Let's hope we see the new Madhevere, because he will have something to offer.

I hate seeing the tail enders having a hit, especially in the air, ffs grind it closer at least.

[ZIMDOGGY]

Plenty of next gen players have stepped up in recent times (Wez, Bennett, Welch, and Curran).

We wont know until they are tested against elite teams.

ireland are the weakest attack in world cricket.

[mnelson68]

Well that was bitterly disappointing. We should never have lost that. Good innings from Wes, probably should have gone forward to that. Showed a lot of fight, and he's gone up considerably in my estimation, always looks like he doesn't give a shit, but very clearly he does. Let's hope we see the new Madhevere, because he will have something to offer.

I hate seeing the tail enders having a hit, especially in the air, ffs grind it closer at least.

Allowing Ireland to score 260 in the first innings after being 5/31 is the real killer. Wes was organised and looked really composed. He was unlucky in the first innings and put up a great fighting knock in the 2nd. Let's hope he builds on this new found form. I think he realises now that with other players coming through he was no longer a walk up start.