Indian Tour Report Card

Seen enough....my report card is ready midterm, don't see any improvement in sight:

Batting:

Opening batsmen for me failures aside were the only bright spot. Yes first match could have been faster rate, but I'm happy with it, their job is to see off the new ball and set a foundation, save today's innings, I'd say they did sufficiently well.

Vusi: still frustrates not because he doesn't contribute, but because he is capable of more. Always manages to get out when looking good. Overall fair series, Third highest Zim runs getter, modest average of 28...in context of rest of reports to come, decent (and that on it's own speaks volumes) ...6/10

Butt: decent performance second highest runs, modest average of 27, should have gone on to get a ton....6/10

Middle order was horrible, and that's putting it kindly. Can't fined kinder words. And the worst is this is the best we have. Ervine (who isn't much better) is Irish these days, Mutizwa is horribly off form, nothing in the cupboard...big worry...

Hami. Send him to Bangladesh for a season, to learn to play spin or send him back to open (can't see that helping much as the two up there are equally clueless against spin). We simply can't do the same and hope to get different results. Surely it's time this problem was addressed. High score of 38 and average of 23...again in the context of what's to come, limited but contextually relatively decent (that's really scraping) ...3.5/10

Taylor: shocking year, that astonishingly gets worse. That Chatara has a higher innings average doesn't begin to tell the story. And to cap it off this is our finest....glove work is, to put it kindly, average. Captaincy, on the evidence of THAT Williams spell, is, to put it euphemistically, probabilistically inclined ( plain English, personification of a gambler)...I'd like to clutch on "form is temporary and class permanent" but after half a year of no score over 39, Im drowning on my straw....2/10

Waller: I feel for the lad. I truly do. The pressure of proving that your position is based on merit and not dad's benevolence seems to be weighing on him after a brilliant tour of the Carrebian. He should take a huge breath relax, and play the game, there is nothing to prove....horror show...2.5/10

Williams: in this case class is permanent and he will rise again, I've seen flashes, albeit sparse, of brilliance here and there, but not sufficient to raise him above the status of terrible (and that is relatively speaking, a decent grade!)....3.5/10

Chigumbura: this chap has taken a lot of flack from me in the past 3 or so seasons, but in a war zone, Rambo-like or for the younger readers, Shea Lebeauf like (in the transformers) he has stood heads and shoulders above all. He has played his all rounder role with aplomb whilst all around is falling apart. Some have are accused him of playing for his averages, I, the most unlikely defender will defend him to the hilt, .....star performer...7.5/10

Bowling:

Our bowling has been total opposite of our batting, much more competitive despite the relative inexperience and despite/in-spite shocking usage by the skipper.

Utseya: never been a wicket taking challenge. Has done his fair bit, and taken cheap wickets in the end, and a bit more with that unbeaten 50, something that has alluded more accomplished batters...was critical of his inclusion, but if I am to be fair and limit my rating to just his performance in this series; decent show....5.5/10

Vitori: each time I want to dismiss him he convinces me otherwise, a real find, and at 23, plenty to come. Zim for once has a battery of quicks, and very interestingly still young and able to learn and improve (Jarvis is 24, Chatara 22, spare a thought for my personal favorites Mpofu 27, and Rainsford 28, who aren't dinosaurs by any stretch of the imagination either). I digress, back to Vitori, he has shown huge potential, and great pressure exertion up front and asking questions and keeping things quiet, if any criticism, he should have more wickets, but currently atop with 3, at an average of 29, in the context of things we could be called fussy.....7/10

Chatara: despite being overlooked for new ball duties has really equated himself well and shown heart with the bat....7/10

Jarvis: he has age on his side, and at the risk of rotten eggs at me, he is my number one bowler in TESTS, but he is hardly our best limited overs bowler, economy of over 6 rpo, and 2 wickets to show from our STRIKE bowler (and yes Waller and Taylor did contribute to this) but it is hardly a sufficient return, and it's not just this series, just go through his ODI and T20 numbers and you will see what I mean. And it's no indictment on his abilities overall, even TEST number one Steyn is relatively less astonishing in ODI, I think he isn't even in the top 10....4/10

Chinouya: nothing against the lad, and to be fair has done alright, But is he really better than Rainsford and Mpofu? Anyways, again I digress. On the basis of what is on the ground, I'd say pass mark without being spectacular....5.5/10

Mutombodzi: Tino had a horrible outing, he's young and he'll learn....3/10

PS maybe I've been harsh, and doing in in the state of mood I'm in (due to events non-cricket), wasn't a good idea, what's your take?