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"Zim players you've seen live" XI

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Opening post

Jarvis is better than Strang. Strang doesn't have the international record. But domestically he would be getting better returns than Jarvis, I reckon - sort of in the way that Meth was unplayable at times.
The Third Innings

Jemisi wrote: ↑Sat May 11, 2019 9:12 am

Chappie we must have been at all the same games. Did you see Carlisle's ton in Sydney? If they ever come back we'll have to have a zcf ticket.


I missed Carlisle's ton at the Sydney test yet to see a zim test match live.
ZCF OriginalZCF Hall of Famer
John, thanks. Have wanted to read your XI for ages!
The Third Innings
ZCF OriginalZCF Hall of Famer

chappie coventry wrote: ↑Sun May 12, 2019 12:55 am


Jemisi wrote: ↑Sat May 11, 2019 9:12 am

Chappie we must have been at all the same games. Did you see Carlisle's ton in Sydney? If they ever come back we'll have to have a zcf ticket.


I missed Carlisle's ton at the Sydney test yet to see a zim test match live.


I went to the whole thing. The vibe was good. Zim got cheered for everything. Most relaxed and interactive crowd I have ever been in.
The Third Innings
Veteran
I thought I had forgotten somebody - Eddo Brandes! Not as consistent as the other two pacemen, but world-class and devastating at his best. He and Paul Strang could alternate in the team according to the conditions.
ZCF Hall of Famer
Thanks John great insight

Can you give us a run down on who Tony Pithey is?
ZCF Hall of Famer
Ward has a unique perspective because he’s observed or been up close and personal with the teams for 50 years, whereas ZCF tends to be limited to the test era, as I sense the average age of regular forumites are thirties and forties and got on the wave during either the golden era or various tours in their native country.

Although forcing Taibu in the team with Houghton and Andy glove capable is a little quota PC! Fantastic servant in his time but he only averaged mid twenties with the bat. Not with the people being left out.
Veteran

jaybro wrote: ↑Sun May 12, 2019 8:55 am

Thanks John great insight

Can you give us a run down on who Tony Pithey is?


There is a brief, accurate biography of him on Wikipedia at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Pithey. He was the ideal opening batsman with his excellent solid defence, but preferred number three. He had a reputation as a slow scorer, but I did see him play a dazzling innings of (I think) 75 not out in a club match in his final season.
Veteran

jward wrote: ↑Sun May 12, 2019 10:31 pm


jaybro wrote: ↑Sun May 12, 2019 8:55 am

Thanks John great insight

Can you give us a run down on who Tony Pithey is?


There is a brief, accurate biography of him on Wikipedia at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Pithey. He was the ideal opening batsman with his excellent solid defence, but preferred number three. He had a reputation as a slow scorer, but I did see him play a dazzling innings of (I think) 75 not out in a club match in his final season.


Actually I cannot understand why so many batsmen are willing to go in at three but not open. I often opened at club level(not particularly well, but nobody else wanted to), but one match was sent in at three and much preferred opening. I remember restlessly pacing the boundary awaiting my entrance. Opening, you know exactly when you're going in - at three you could be in second ball or wait an age to go in, and you can't relax while you are waiting like even number four and below can.
Veteran

ZIMDOGGY wrote: ↑Sun May 12, 2019 9:09 am

perspective because he’s observed or been up close and personal with the teams for 50 years, whereas ZCF tends to be limited to the test era, as I sense the average age of regular forumites are thirties and forties and got on the wave during either the golden era or various tours in their native country.

Although forcing Taibu in the team with Houghton and Andy glove capable is a little quota PC! Fantastic servant in his time but he only averaged mid twenties with the bat. Not with the people being left out.


I put Taibu in simply because we are choosing the best, and I rate him a better keeper than Houghton or Flower.
Veteran
Cool thread , only Zimbos I’ve seen play live at a ground are Sean Ervine , Murray Goodwin and Hilton Cartwright all playing for Western Australia
ZCF Hall of Famer
Following on from the all time thread, this one is to create an XI from Zim players you have seen play live.

(if you haven't seen any Zim games live, post an XI of the players you've seen live on TV)

Live XI

1 Stuart Carlisle

2 Hamilton Masakadza

3 Sean Williams

4 Brendan Taylor

5 Tatenda Taibu (wk)

6 Sikandar Raza

7 Sean Ervine

8 Andy Blignaut

9 Heath Streak (c)

10 Brian Vitori

11 Ray Price

12th: Graeme Cremer

This was a damn tough XI to pick. Carlisle's spot could have easily gone to Vermuelen or Mawoyo. Craig Ervine is unlucky but I couldn't find a place to slot him in. You can't go past Sean Ervine in the middle order because of the extra bowling option he offers.

On the bowling front, Blignaut and Streak are automatic selections. I almost went with one of Panyangara or Jarvis, but I figured between Ervine and Streak there are enough medium fast options. Vitori makes the cut over Chatara because of his pace and swing.

I really wanted to get Cremer in there, but you can never forget just how good Price was. If it was a turning deck you could replace Ervine with Cremer and bat Blignaut at 7.
Veteran
I have only ever seen them live on TV. I think I have a lot less players to choose from because I started watching cricket in 2006.

Here's my XI for Tests:

1 Hamilton Masakadza

2 Sikandar Raza

3 Craig Ervine

4 Brendan Taylor

5 Sean Williams

6 Tatenda Taibu (wk)

7 Peter Moor

8 Graeme Cremer

9 Tinashe Panyangara

10 Kyle Jarvis

11 Tendai Chatara

For ODIs:

1 Hamilton Masakadza

2 Chamu Chibhabha

3 Craig Ervine

4 Brendan Taylor

5 Sean Williams

6 Tatenda Taibu (wk)

7 Sikandar Raza

8 Elton Chigumbura

9 Ray Price

10 Tendai Chatara

11 Blessing Muzarabani
1.Grant Flower- SCG,2001/SCG,2004

2.Brendan Taylor- Canberra,WC 2015

3.Craig Ervine- Canberra,WC 2015

4.Andy Flower- SCG,2001

5.Sean Williams- Canberra,WC 2015

6.Sikandar Raza- Canberra,WC 2015

7.Sean Ervine- SCG,2004

8.Heath Streak-SCG,2001/SCG,2004

9.Andy Blignaut- SCG,2004

10.Ray Price- SCG,2004

11.Blessing Muzarabani- Bulawayo,2018
ZCF Hall of Famer

chappie coventry wrote: ↑Sat May 11, 2019 12:55 am

1.Grant Flower- SCG,2001/SCG,2004

2.Brendan Taylor- Canberra,WC 2015

3.Craig Ervine- Canberra,WC 2015

4.Andy Flower- SCG,2001

5.Sean Williams- Canberra,WC 2015

6.Sikandar Raza- Canberra,WC 2015

7.Sean Ervine- SCG,2004

8.Heath Streak-SCG,2001/SCG,2004

9.Andy Blignaut- SCG,2004

10.Ray Price- SCG,2004

11.Blessing Muzarabani- Bulawayo,2018


Wow you’ve gotten to the ground a fair bit to watch them
ZCF Hall of Famer
I haven’t been to a live Zimbabwe game, personally I don’t like watching the games live I’d rather it on TV, but here is my Zim XI I’ve seen on TV

Hamilton

Alistair Campbell

Andy Flower

BT

Williams

Sean Ervine

Taibu

Streak

Blignaut

Cremer

Rainsford

Hard to leave out Carlisle, Jarvis, Chatara, Price & Raza but tbh I could probably put up 3 lineups, there aren’t many Zim players I didn’t like.
ZCF OriginalZCF Hall of Famer

chappie coventry wrote: ↑Sat May 11, 2019 12:55 am

1.Grant Flower- SCG,2001/SCG,2004

2.Brendan Taylor- Canberra,WC 2015

3.Craig Ervine- Canberra,WC 2015

4.Andy Flower- SCG,2001

5.Sean Williams- Canberra,WC 2015

6.Sikandar Raza- Canberra,WC 2015

7.Sean Ervine- SCG,2004

8.Heath Streak-SCG,2001/SCG,2004

9.Andy Blignaut- SCG,2004

10.Ray Price- SCG,2004

11.Blessing Muzarabani- Bulawayo,2018


This but swap blessing for b Strang scg 2001. And I have seen a few of them in Harare.
The Third Innings
Every time they come to oz i make sure I never miss seeing my beloved Zim! Unfortunately it's not very often ☹️

Getting over there to watch it in Bulawayo last year was a special moment for me, even tho the best players were on strike 😡
ZCF OriginalZCF Hall of Famer
Chappie we must have been at all the same games. Did you see Carlisle's ton in Sydney? If they ever come back we'll have to have a zcf ticket.
The Third Innings
ZCF Hall of Famer
The one and only time I’ve watched Zimbabwe play “in the flesh” they were still Associates.

1986, versus English Minor Counties XI at HSC. So that’s your XI - it’s on Cricinfo somewhere...

I’ll get my second live game in a few weeks in Belfast... :D
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