ODI predictions

[maehara]

It'll be interesting to see what happens when we have to bat first. Not nearly so comfortable territory for us, that. Also, Queen's Sports Club is not exactly a happy hunting ground - or record there is notably poorer than "Fortress HSC".

[eugene]

agree.
I remember watching that series, and like you say he looked awful.
I also rememebr a champions trophy match in 2006 against Sri lanka, where he opened with Kasteni (that's how desperate we were at the time ). Perera, the left arm fast bowler, bowled a 79 Mph yorker which he just dug out first ball. Second ball he made a feeble attempt of a cover drive, and then third ball he was bowled trying to defend the ball without moving his feet.

Evertime i saw the bloke bat, he was out for either a duck, or was out through a lack of footwork.
Hope Raza lives up to his expectations domestically

Didnt rinke open with Mufambisi? another player who came to the squad too early

anyway im sure he is very good playing in the english league but not international standard

Rinke was unfortunate that his best innings weren't televised. His innings against the Kenyans must have been entertaining. I agree he did indeed look like a amateur club cricketer against real opposition but we should at least credit him for a couple of good knocks.

[sloandog]

Fair enough, but still, he wasn't good

[Conant]

OK, so one game done and I think the boys did better than I expected. That creates another problem, I have raised my expectations now
My observations from the first game, we surprised them by our bowling upfront (or they surprised us by being so so so careful). Either way, the pressure led to wickets and they got to 43 for 5 in 16 overs. Vitori and Mpofu had bowled about 8 overs each by then (specifically I think Mpofu had 7). So change of bowling, and in comes Chigs, then Utseya, Price and part timer Masakadza; and their score improves to 162 for 8 at the 45th over. The period between 16th and 39th overs when Masakadza took Shakib's wicket represents a recovery from then. Truthfully though, it represents us removing our foot off the gas, taking the pressure away when we should have been applying more. This isn't a criticism of any player on the field, nor of the selectors either but somehow team misread the situation by naming two spinners.

So the selection for tomorrow must have only one spinner and my bold proposal is to drop Price for one game. I expect Jarvis to replace Vitori, and with Mpofu, Chigs staying put. I want to put Meth in for Price because Utseya can bat a bit. The rest of the team stays as it was for the 1st ODI. I'd change the batting order though, with Mutizwa coming in at 4. What do you guys think?

Since you so nicely ask Boundary, I will respond. Since the departure or temporary self exile of the much maligned hhm, the forum, regrettably, has become much less livelier; but at least the is still Boundary and a few others to create some talking point

I noted that in one of your earlier post a few days back you included Tino Mawoyo in your one day squad and I wondered quietly why him, instead of Vusi.
No matter: Vusi included is less a talking point now,: a week or two ago I did state that one awaits the day when he shall rightfully claim a number four spot and leave the dogged opening spot for others, at least for the tests.

Forster, I strongly believe is being grossly underutilized at 6. He perhaps doesn’t have the ascetic beauty of Sean William, nor the dash of a Matsikenyere, nor even the dogged insistence of Craig Ervine; but he knows how to make runs, and has been making them plenty for three seasons now, for his club at three.

Hamilton Masakadza, we know has had his best succes in both tests and one dayers either opening or at three, so he must never be moved, certainly not shuffled downwards. This makes the number four spot open then, since nobody will take it. So who better than Forster, who is too skinny and still too upright as a batsmen to be used in the slog overs at six.

So the selection for tomorrow must have only one spinner and my bold proposal is to drop Price for one game.

This is the gem of the day so far. The legend will not be here forever and he must be managed carefully, preferably for the marathon sessions of Test, which one must assume he will bowl with Cremer.
So whenever an opportunity presents itself, such as now, rest him, rotate these bowlers around, because none of them have done nothing remotely wrong to be drooped; it’s just that there is only space for no more than two spinners at a time.

This talk of dropping Prosper FOR ANYBOY is both puzzling and quite unfair. Quite what he has done to deserve such treatment from forumers is a mystery.

I expect Jarvis to replace Vitori, and with Mpofu, Chigs staying put. I want to put Meth in for Price because Utseya can bat a bit. The rest of the team stays as it was for the 1st ODI. I'd change the batting order though, with Mutizwa coming in at 4. What do you guys think?

But now, how do you expect Jarvis to replace Vitori? For what earthly reason? Vitori will play in all matches until the series is won, hopefully before we go on to Bulawayo where we can one again play two spinners.
Which is why the selectors were disingenuous by playing two spinners then in a seaming pitch in Harare: how do they justify playing both Utseya and Price together later in Bulawayo once it has become necessary because they didn’t have the balls to drop Ray Price for the ODIs?

[eugene]

Is hhm gone for good?

[Boundary]

hhm, please come back!

Conant you make many interesting points as well.
Firstly, Vusi Sibanda. I dropped him from my ODI line up because I think he has been consistently been treated like a Test specialist, captaining the Intercontinental side, for example. Now I've always been a fervent supporter of his, me and Sloandog at times have seemed like the only two people backing him. I said this on January 13:

Totally agree with Sloan here Vusi Sibanda is underrated. Now that we're returning to Tests people will appreciate his cricket. I'm starting a campaign to make him Test captain as well so yeah Sibanda FTW

Well, I'm happy with Taylor's captaincy and if I'm not mistaken Vusi is the VC, so no complaints from me. It's not surprising therefore that he has convinced me that he deserves a place in the ODI side after only one innings. I liked his controlled aggression but mostly I liked that he had clarity of thought, how he'd bat and how he'd approach different situations.

I'm glad you agree with me that we need to start recognising that Price needs to be managed well, fitnesswise. We have a test and 5 ODIs in August, a Test and 5 one dayers (3 ODIs, 2T20s) in each of the next two months. There's no use running him to the ground. It works tactically as well. With Cremer injured, in Bulawayo we are going to need two spinners, unless we get a surprising wicket. Before then though, the HSC wicket has proven to have something for the seamers and I think we should push the advantage that our faster bowlers are better than theirs.

But now, how do you expect Jarvis to replace Vitori? For what earthly reason? Vitori will play in all matches until the series is won, hopefully before we go on to Bulawayo where we can one again play two spinners.

Jarvis was left out of the first match, presumably, to preserve his fitness. By the same token, Vitori needs to be rested. If Jarvis is as successful on his debut as Vitori, then no worries. The problem is that, as you argue, why fix what's not broken? Vitori is on a roll, so why stop it? I totally understand this this, which is why I believe Jarvis will benefit from the added pressure, rather than resting Vitori after we are 3-0 up, then bringing Jarvis for the dead rubbers in Bulawayo. Is it a risk, yes but the team benefits for the long term.

[eugene]

I'm gonna say it....5-0!

[sloandog]

I'm gonna say it....5-0!

I'm calling a 4-1 series win for us Zimbabweans!

[Boundary]

3-2 for us. Win on Tues, then they come back in Byo when we relax.

[Shasha]

Do'nt know abt the Bulawayo pitch,bt 5-0 whitewash a huge possibility