I reckon Zim can pull off a few wins in the tri series sure, Its good to have hamilton masacadza back ( hopefully opening) and am looking forward to seeing Mutizwa get amongst the runs with a bit of luck
My All-time Zimbabwe XI
Neil Johnson, Brendan Taylor, Murray Goodwin, Andy Flower (w), David Houghton, Sean Williams, Heath Streak (c), Andy Blignaut, Paul Strang, Eddo Brandes, Blessing Muzarabani
we will win half the matches, the important thing is being very competitive, the A sides are very strong, for sure. Anyone going to watch any of these matches to update us how good they are for real. Will be in Zim for the test myself.
I'm with Eugene, I'm done with expecting us to win. I think we'll win one game and lose the rest. Sorry to be so negative chaps but it's been the norm with Zimbabwean Cricket over the past 2 years...so much expected...yet so little produced
I don't know if picking Zimbabwe to win one match or lose them all is necessarily negative - I think it is being realistic. The talent in the Australia A and South Africa A squads is immense - Zimbabwe could only dream of having such talent. I have learnt from past disappointments not to expect too much from Zimbabwe. In any series I expect them to maybe win one match or at least compete in a couple, I also however expect them to get drubbed in a couple too.
My All-time Zimbabwe XI
Neil Johnson, Brendan Taylor, Murray Goodwin, Andy Flower (w), David Houghton, Sean Williams, Heath Streak (c), Andy Blignaut, Paul Strang, Eddo Brandes, Blessing Muzarabani
I can't see us getting anything against SA A, they should give us a drubbing to nothing in all our games against them.
I think a lot of the guys here are confusing the AusA one day squad and the AusA four day squad. Perhaps you haven't taken a good look at both sides. The Aus A four day side should beat us handsomely, but this one day side has enough inexperience to give us a bit of a look in. We should run them close if we bat well (against a 'weak' attack), plus our spinners are good enough to strangle them to a low total. In fact, we should really fancy our chances against them. I would be disappointed if our XI (really first team) were to lose to them.
At the end of the day I think the SA selectors will be disappointed if their guys were to lose a game against us, while the Aus guys won't mind too much considering this squad is far less experienced in comparison to ours. Final SA A vs Zim XI.
I'm more interested in the 4-day games (wish I was at home!), very happy that AUS sent a strong team (there are 56 Tests between Hilfenhaus, Hughes, Khawaja, Beer, Krejza, Paine and Siddle) that can upset other Test playing nations WI/NZ/BAN so it will be a true test on what we can expect come August.
I am very optimistic - we are playing at home; Harare is very foreign to the visitors (I believe none of the touring squad has played in Zimbabwe), Taylor will be leading the squad out for the first time, the mood is good - Mpofu "can't wait" - (Facebook) and I am sure this applies to the rest of the squad. Generally we have a few things going our way that we can build upon.
My All-time Zimbabwe XI
Neil Johnson, Brendan Taylor, Murray Goodwin, Andy Flower (w), David Houghton, Sean Williams, Heath Streak (c), Andy Blignaut, Paul Strang, Eddo Brandes, Blessing Muzarabani