[Match Thread]: 1st ODI: Zim vs Pak

Sounds like Mutumbami wont be opening after all. Should have brought another keeper into the squad but hey ho...

Lets go with something like this:

Masakadza

Chibhabha

Chari

Williams

Chigumbura

Raza

Mutumbami

Jongwe

Cremer

Mupariwa

Panyangara

jaybro wrote:What makes you think Mutumbami isn't opening ?

This from the preview:

The idea of opening the batting with wicketkeeper Richmond Mutumbami had been discussed within the team prior to this series, but that seems unlikely now and the player himself is apparently unwilling to make the move.

tawac wrote:Winds of change are coming. Guess who will fall by the way side.

Nice to see this Kenyon Ziehl fellow agrees with me to some extent...but contrary to his thinking Whatmore must go.

foreignfield wrote:Yep. It's understandable to prepare slow pitches for Aus/Sa but it doesn't make sense against opposition with quality slow bowling.

That's why Whatmore must go - can't even tell the groundsman what pitch to prepare. Plus he doesn't use stats to understand where best to place players (bowl out Panyangara, bat Williams and Raza higher etc) or who to pick or not to pick in ODIs (Cremer, Mutumbami). Making Chari open is stupid even if he comes good later!

bavuma_rabada wrote:

foreignfield wrote:Yep. It's understandable to prepare slow pitches for Aus/Sa but it doesn't make sense against opposition with quality slow bowling.

That's why Whatmore must go - can't even tell the groundsman what pitch to prepare. Plus he doesn't use stats to understand where best to place players (bowl out Panyangara, bat Williams and Raza higher etc) or who to pick or not to pick in ODIs (Cremer, Mutumbami). Making Chari open is stupid even if he comes good later!

I just don't get it. Who really does call the shots. Because at the end of the day if the team doesn't perform one blames the coach. So the coach as the brain trust must lead. It will definitely be interesting to watch the Ireland and Afgan tours. These will well and truly show were we stand in the world stage. Ziehel is making bold statements like that yet they still continue picking Utseya with his unproved action ignoring all the youngsters. For now I will call him a bluff. Basically trying to coax the senior players into stepping up.

tawac wrote:I just don't get it. Who really does call the shots. Because at the end of the day if the team doesn't perform one blames the coach. So the coach as the brain trust must lead. It will definitely be interesting to watch the Ireland and Afgan tours. These will well and truly show were we stand in the world stage. Ziehel is making bold statements like that yet they still continue picking Utseya with his unproved action ignoring all the youngsters. For now I will call him a bluff. Basically trying to coax the senior players into stepping up.

Unfortunately there's not much of a "Brains Trust" between Whatmore & Ziehl...and Alistair Campbell.

Losing to a full strength Ireland & Afghanistan, who have slayed full strength Test nationas before, is supposed to be better than losing to 3rd string Indian side and 2nd string NZ side while the world still hungover the CWC was not paying any attention. They should have blooded in the youngsters then and they would have been ready to compete against the Associates.

Because Zimbabwe has already lost to those very weak teams, and continues to lose to a weakened Pakistan - heavily - people now won't care who the personnel is when Zimbabwe loses to the Associates. To them it will just be the continuation of a bad losing streak. Whereas the narrative could have been "Zimbabwe's bench strength competed while losing and also beat the Associates, so they would have thumped them with Hami, Williams, Panyangara & Chigumbura there", it will be they are useless and IRE+AFG deserve Test status.

Those three are under pressure now. they have no choice but to stick to the seniors so yah he's bluffing. Even worse if they lose. Mangongo will be literally over the moon.

Seeing as I've long been accused of defending mediocrity, I personally can't wait to hear what guys here will say when AC&Whatmore lose to Ireland for the 2nd time in a year, plus Afghanistan too.

bavuma_rabada wrote:
Seeing as I've long been accused of defending mediocrity, I personally can't wait to hear what guys here will say when AC&Whatmore lose to Ireland for the 2nd time in a year, plus Afghanistan too.

Losing to IRE or AFG at home will be bad bad bad :oops: :oops: :oops: We cant really afford to do that. Its better to show the world we cant beat any of the top 8, but we are not associate material.