eugene wrote:Sibanda would be lucky to make the team even if he was in form. I think we have many batsmen who are of a higher quality than Vusi Sibanda.
I think that there may be a certain arrogance to Vusi Sibanda, I remember when Zim were at their low period 2006-2008 when Sibanda was constantly going to australia to play club cricket during Zim's domestic season as he believed it was ' more competitive'. He is a talented batsman sure but I think maybe there is a tendancy to overestimate his talent in some quarters
eugene wrote:I think we have many batsmen who are of a higher quality than Vusi Sibanda.
But...but... he's our Batsman of the Year!!
...yeah, I never understood why either...
Sibanda as batsmen of the year never did make sense. Perhaps this season Grant Flower will be awarded newcomer of the year.
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 acknowledge that sibanda may have a good technique and such...but when did he ever have it?
i cant recall a time him being in blistering form.
He seems a very nervous player, i understand it as cricket is a game of pressure and its hard not to buckle (i think williams has this issue as well, i think he is mentally weak but has more of a fighting quality).
Sibanda needs the aid of a sports psychologist. Thats my honest criticism and its not a blight on his name.
Lets think about the domestic scene.
taylor- kills the attack
masakadza- rapes the teams
lamb- seems to score a century ever game
williams- seems to score a century every 2nd game
vermeulen- very consistently gets scores of 50-100
taibu-ditto vermeulen
mutizwa/marillier/ervine/mawoyo/duffin- very closely getting to the above.
the other dominant figure is garry ballance but he seems like he is on the fence at the moment.
all these players have to be ahead of sibanda at this point of time.
Although you can be controversial ZIMDOGGY, you make some great points.
Sibanda does have a lot of talent. I remember when he scored two superb 60's against Pakistan in 2008. Some of his coverdrives and flicks through midwicket were a pleasure to watch. And the T20 innings against Australia in 2007. He was scoring quicker than Taylor, and really laid into Brett Lee.
But, those performances are too few and far between. He needs more consistency now there's a wider pool of players to choose from.