[Pro50] Tuskers-v-Goats & Rocks-v-Eagles

sloandog wrote:I dont know about everyone else but if i saw Sean Williams and Craig Ervine batting at 5 and 6 in the test match, I'd feel much more assured

I'm glad you do qualify it in your next post as personal preference, because I definitely think both players on their day are class acts, and maybe having one higher up even gives us the nice right-left right-left combo.

However on current form, I'm baffled at how this becomes a preferred choice, currently Test is 1. Mawoyo 2. Sibanda 3. Taylor 4. Masakadza 5. Ervine 6. Waller 7. (wkt) Chakabva?

Ervine is struggling, Sean is hardly setting the world alight, yes acknowledge one century and a half ton in Logan cup, but besides the 48 today, not much in the Pro50...

sloandog wrote:

Sean Williams is in a lot of people's bad books because of how he treated Zimbabwe Cricket and the Franchise System last season, I can just tell through the way people are writing and saying how he doesn't deserve to be in, however his class is undeniable.

My assumption is you feel I may be an anti-Williams, which couldn't be further from the truth, over a year ago I took on the anti-Williams crew, ...and even in a post in this thread I categorically stated :

Make no mistake a form Sean is a must for us,....

... and

Really? (And this is a comment from a Sean fan)

sloandog wrote:

Waller would be in my squad for sure, he's done superb up until the New Zealand tour where he (and the rest of the side) were exposed.

But later you have a right go at Waller ... slight confusion (on my part)...

sloandog wrote:
I don't care about SR or what his average is this season so far, if Sean Williams was in the squad it would look a lot healthier than if he wasn't, if any would like to argue that then by all means do, but i'll be interested to see what your points are.

But I did give points...

...He has no fifty nor hundred....

...and for good measure I stress he is even behind some bowlers...

scored less runs than Creamer at a lower SR (Pro50), Logan cup is better a 100 and a fifty from 6 innings,....

... and you say you:

I don't care about SR or what his average is this season so far, if Sean Williams was in the squad it would look a lot healthier

...so all one needs to do is "look good" and make the squad "look healthier" :? Forget making runs? :? :?

sloandog wrote:
Waller would be in the ODI team before Williams if Ervine was also in the squad. I'd have Waller at 6 and Ervine at 5, and then Coventry and 7 in the ODI side. Test wise, I would have Williams ahead of Waller at 5, Ervine at 6 and Chakabva at 7.

We actually don't differ much, on second thought this is what I have, Sean for Craig (Waller keeps his spot over Craig), and Raisnford for Vitori...

sloandog wrote:
My point is, Williams is a naturally born test cricketer because of his technique and his ability to stay at the crease. Waller will be a good test player, but right now I would much prefer to see Williams in the test side ahead of him because he brings real class to the side.

That's your preference, and it is welcome (will fight for it to be heard), despite my take being slightly different, I go on substance over looks, Matsi may be a technically correct player of the cut shot, but what's the point if he has after 100 ODIs, an average of sub 25 as a top order batsman, I mean there are bowlers with better (one could argue the same of Vusi in fairness!)....therein lies the danger in ignoring stats and runs on the board and going with who "we like better", "looks better"....my point even when Sean threatened to come back a year ago is, he will need to CONVINCE and not waltz back in ahead of those who have put in the yards.

Make no mistake I am a Sean fan, I want him back, and I do believe he will be back, but on current form, not quite there yet...we cant have sacred cows or preferential treatment, if Hami could be dropped for two WCs, Taylor ditched for discilinery reasons, Sean should earn his place, "looking good" isn't enough....and I really wish him well...

sloandog wrote:I don't care about SR or what his average is this season so far, if Sean Williams was in the squad it would look a lot healthier than if he wasn't

That say a lot now doesn't it!

1. Sibanda,2. Mawoyo,3. Mazakadza,4. Taylor (Cpt),5. Williams,6. C.Ervine,7. Chakabva (Wkt),8. Querl,9. Vitori,10. Price,11. Jarvis,12th man :Waller

The fact of the matter is my friend, Craig's 4 day form is so poor, that u should be embarrassed about even suggesting he be included. This is especially tru when you consider that he was dropped from the squad for poor form in the first place so he can go and prove himself - which he hasn't! Secondly, Williams has proved that it will take a lot more from him to convince that he's still good enough. Meanwhile other players have been putting in the performances so it's not about what we think so and so can do but about rewarding their efforts. Apart from these two failures you've thrown in an unproven bowler whose loyalty is questionable(Querl) ahead of the likes of Eddie, Panyangara, Mpofu, Mpariwa & Shingi - who have toured and proven themselves against international opposition! There's no way Querl will ever be a better all rounder for Zim than Elton!

What's even more shocking is your inclusion of both Jarvis & Vitori in a Test side in West Indies wickets. The ghosts of Pakistan clearly didn't teach you anything about those two!

The only thing I can say really is that for some guys, that White name is what adds comfort, never mind the capabilities of the rest. Craig and Williams are far nehind the pecking order of a lot of players.

FlowerPower wrote:[Sean] will need to CONVINCE and not waltz back in ahead of those who have put in the yards.

...on current form, not quite there yet...we cant have sacred cows or preferential treatment, if Hami could be dropped for two WCs, Taylor ditched for discilinery reasons, Sean should earn his place....

Precisley!