Zimbabwe Vs Ireland | 3rd ODI | 18 Feb 2025

[Andy31]

Finally watching the second innings.

I feel like we are starting to have a solid side and some depth.

When was the last series we have won without a raza winning a motm ?

[Jemisi]

Wow.

Century stands for the first AND second wicket

Curran getting the breakthrough knock he needed.

2 openers now with hundreds this summer.

Some encouragement ahead of further challenges this year.

Hopefully we can take the T20 series

[Googly]

Our batters should be doing an hour a day of sweeps, reverses, touches, paddles etc etc .

They should only be doing this if the pitches are square turners, which I doubt they will be. There will be some purchase for the spinners perhaps, but I'm expecting a deck which will favor seamers. You're much better off practicing your cuts, late cuts, and dabs behind square.

On surfaces where the ball is turning sharp, playing the assortment of sweeps becomes a less risky proposition because the ball is less likely to hit the stumps thereby significantly reducing lbw as method of dismissal. You could still get bowled and caught...but if you play the shot well/judiciously you can minimize those risks as well. I would put the reverse sweep away for good...its too much of a high risk stroke unless, there's a HUGE gap from gully to cover - which is almost never. Nothing wrong with touch and paddle sweeps, if they are played on merit (eg half volley ball sliding down leg). But sweeping because you don't have the technique to play straight, rarely ends well for any batter. More so if the wicket is keeping low, has variable bounce, or if the pitch isn't turning that much (leaves you vulnerable to an arm ball).

If there is significant turn, by all means sweep but do it judiciously. If its a flattish track with a modicum of turn, you are FAR BETTER off playing straight. And reverse sweeps should be kept to an absolutely bear minimum.

The focus should be rather on playing quality pace since, Bangladesh will likely have 3 seamers in the XI who all bowl at notch above the Afghan and Irish seamers. Its just a matter of how many "first choice" seamers we decide to rest and I use quotations only because the top 6 quicks in Bangladesh are all basically at the same level...there isn't really a first string or second string anymore. They are all "same string" now.

Fair enuf. Kohli is always the best example of not having to sweep, but the various sweeps should be in your arsenal just in case. We are terrible at playing quality spin simply because we're not exposed to them. The excuse for sweeping is because you're not reading the turn.

Who are the 6 seamers and spinners do you think they'll play?

[Kriterion_BD]

Who are the 6 seamers and spinners do you think they'll play?

The top 6 red ball seamers are Taskin, Hasan Mahmud, Nahid, Shoriful, Khaled, and Ebadot, in my opinion. The latter hasn't played since July 2023 and has had knee surgery (pretty sure it was an ACL tear). Ebadot is back in domestic cricket, and seems he hasn't lost too much pace as he was clocking up to 140 in the BPL. I don't think I've forgotten anyone. I can't see them resting all 6, but obviously only 3 will fit into an XI at any given time. If they did rest all 6, I don't know of any backups from the first class circuit who might then get the call up, besides Musfik Hasan.

As for spinners, Mehidy is obviously there, but he's a genuine all-rounder now so there's room for one more specialist. Taijul Islam is sure to get the nod there. If we did play a third spinner or have one in the squad it would almost surely be Nayeem Hasan.

[Conant]

Great series win for Zimbabwe, so glad for them. Would have been nice to get that Test victory as well, after putting Ireland under the cosh earlier on but nice consolation either way.

Haven't seen any o the players in well over four years so really cant comment about them. I know Madhevere was our most exciting prospect before he went off the rails, great he's coming back to some decent form at last. Wishing Zim a better future ahead.

[andruid]