We need to up the game: GF

sscricket wrote: Its surprising Jarvis and Vitori are not included in this converstation. Jarvis regularly wastes the new ball by directing it way outside the off stump and every time G Manatsa (forgive my spelling) has to bail out the eagles because Jarvis cannot bite.

:) there are two reasons why they're not included in this conversation.

- those here who are not bowled over by the two are fairly resigned to the fact that Streak and Butcher are (and it seems the selectors too).

- the rest here don't want to hear the down sides of this pair.

I think Shingi has more ability to bowl long spells and still maintain his fast pace, whereas Jarvis and Vitori can't. Considering all of them can take a pasting, I said Shingi should replace one of them because the guys WILL be on the field for a long time! All the mileage he's built up in FC cricket suggests so. As for Mpofu's replacement, only Meth fits that role.

In my opinion, if Shingi comes in, it should be for one of Jarvis or Vitori, preferrably Vitori since Jarvis did ok last time around. As betterdays has aptly put it, both of them are untouchable so that WON'T happen!

Personally I'd like to see Jarvis, Vitori, Shingi, Cremer(instead of a batsman/allrounder) and Price of course. NZ going at 4.5! That should pave the way for Rainsford, Panyangara, Meth & Price with Elton insupport for our next batch of matches.

:D

Untouchable is about right! Jemisi I am ok with watching how they go and that's mainly becasue it's so hard, imo, to compare the bowlers with each other except in FC cricket.. Since his first over to Gayle in the Stanbic T20 [yeah, not FC i know but it started a run of good form i think] Vitori has bowled really well. He looked quick and accurate and got the ball moving laterally ... I don't really have a big problem with the two of them opening for this test - i can say though that he 'failed' in Bulawayo and we can judge bowlers against each other FC. If domestic FC is the litmus test then Jarvis is not up to the others, but you could argue he's done a job in Tests so far and has therefore earned another viewing! I can't put my finger on why Vitori failed so terribly in Bulawayo, and don't know how hollow the 'injury' excuse was, so I'm not overly concerned with them starting. I don't see how we can win this one but if neither Vitori nor Jarvis (but particularly Vitori ... Bulawayo 'n all) perform in this one we may see "a way paved" for a change in scenery... in any case, we're resigned to it in this test...

Shasha wrote:(Shingi and Meth) why choose Meth,neither of them have really played a match winning innings...i'd opt for a 2nd spinner(Cremer) now there's a guy with experience,he gets the job done

I suppose you haven't checked out last season's Logan Cup championship game he played against the Mountaneers ;)

On the topic of our opening pair I don't think BV and KJ can be displaced right now, they hunt better as a pair and they take wickets. Mpofu complimented them very well because he is mainly about control and can hold one end while one of the pair rests. Since Mpofu is injured Meth and Shingi can both legitimately claim the spot but maybe Butcher and Taylor should be bolder and give them BOTH an outing, leave Chigs out for the ODIs. I really really really would like to see Jarvis, Vitori, Meth and Shingi in one line up - these are the current best bowlers we have and I don't think they've lined up in one team before. But that means the tail is long (with Price in there) and that puts a lot of pressure on Meth, Waller and Taibu. Given that we don't know the opening partnership, that's a lot of risk. So it depends on the pitch: if it's a batsmen paradise then put Chigs in. But after seeing the SA/Aus, Aus/NZ, SA/SL and Aus/India series I wonder if having a strong bowling line up is what we should be aiming at.