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2021 Zimbabwe Test team Watch

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Opening post

At least 4 matches scheduled this year (2 vs PAK, and 2 vs AFG I think), so its a big year in the greatest format. We should discuss all things related to ZIM's 2021 Test season here, except for the actual match threads themselves.

I will discuss by picking what I think is the leading 15 players that should be picked, and I trust the rest of the forumites to discuss those picks, add their own lists, and perhaps most importantly pick out guys from outside that bunch that could/should also be given a look or two.

OPENERS:

Prince Masvaure, Kevin Kasuza

Masvaure IMO has neither the batting repertoire nor the fitness to be a viable long term solution. However, a guy who can reliably bat out the first session or even first hour of a Test could still be very handy given that ZIM still has experienced hands in the middle order. Kasuza, I don't know much about, but he did show flashes against Pakistan I believe it was and ought to get a few more chances. To be very blunt, I think Brian Chari may not be a worse option that Masvaure.

MIDDLE ORDER:

Craig Ervine, Brendon Taylor, Sean Williams, Sikander Raza, Wesley Madhevere

Not much to say here. The first 4 names are all automatic selections, and given his start in white ball cricket Madhevere himself maybe a no-brainer too. Will be interesting to see how Wez adapts to the red ball format and what kinda stuff the Pakistanis and Afghans throw at him.

WICKET-KEEPERS:

PJ Moor, Regis Chakabva

Not sure if Murray is available for selection or not. If not, Moor and Chakabva are probably the only remaining options. Both have shown some spine with the bat in the past few years.

SEAMERS:

Tendai Chatara, Kyle Jarvis, Donald Tiripano, Carl Mumba

Not sure if Jarvis is retiring, but if so, that will leave a giant hole in the Test lineup. Chatara and Mumba would probably be the top two seamers in that cast, with perhaps Tiripano edging out the likes of Chris Mpofu due to his batting ability.

SPINNERS:

Brendon Mavuta, Tendai Chisoro

Williams, Raza, and Madhevere can bowl plenty of overs of orthodox spin, so Zimbabwe can probably get away with just picking a single specialist spinner even on rank turners. Chisoro almost surely offers better control, but having a wrist spinner can often allow you to run through a lineup.
Bangladesh cricket fanatic, observer of all others.
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I'd have Blessing in the mix
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ZCF OriginalLegend
Wesley seems like the kind of guy who likes to play his shots and get a move on in the game. I would probably for that matter keep him focussed on his white ball game and coach that in to him. Not thrust him in to a different style of play and expect the same results.
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Jemisi wrote: ↑Sat Dec 12, 2020 4:40 am

I'd have Blessing in the mix


How did I forget him!
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zimbos_05 wrote: ↑Sat Dec 12, 2020 5:17 am

Wesley seems like the kind of guy who likes to play his shots and get a move on in the game. I would probably for that matter keep him focussed on his white ball game and coach that in to him. Not thrust him in to a different style of play and expect the same results.


A Test run rate of 3.5 or even 4 an over is now the norm. You don't have to be a block-aholic like Masvaure or Mawoyo anymore.
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ZCF OriginalLegend

Kriterion_BD wrote: ↑Sat Dec 12, 2020 7:06 pm

A Test run rate of 3.5 or even 4 an over is now the norm. You don't have to be a block-aholic like Masvaure or Mawoyo anymore.


I agree, but most teams have a bigger pool of players to train players to play a certain way or style. Zim thrust Wesley in to everything and expect him to deliver will just lead to burn out and he will then go on the same downward trajectory as Hammy and Elton.

We don't have as big a pool as yet and that is what needs to develop. If Wesley is develop as a white ball player, then you that's one less thing to worry about, which allows you the opportunity to develop other areas and start to build that pool and strengthen all areas of the side.
Legend

zimbos_05 wrote: ↑Sun Dec 13, 2020 1:07 am


Kriterion_BD wrote: ↑Sat Dec 12, 2020 7:06 pm

A Test run rate of 3.5 or even 4 an over is now the norm. You don't have to be a block-aholic like Masvaure or Mawoyo anymore.


I agree, but most teams have a bigger pool of players to train players to play a certain way or style. Zim thrust Wesley in to everything and expect him to deliver will just lead to burn out and he will then go on the same downward trajectory as Hammy and Elton.

We don't have as big a pool as yet and that is what needs to develop. If Wesley is develop as a white ball player, then you that's one less thing to worry about, which allows you the opportunity to develop other areas and start to build that pool and strengthen all areas of the side.


To be fair it was only his second first class game. I think he will get used to it over time. He is young and hungry. I don’t think he minds all the pressure at the moment. Probably because he hasn’t had a rough spell yet. I wouldn’t have made him captain
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Important year for Zimbabwe cricket as well as world cricket after the 2020 fall out due to COVID.

I would like to see more youngsters coming through for Zimbabwe. ZIM's pace attack of Jarvis, Muzrabani and Chatara isn't actually that bad, I would say it's better than that of Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Afghanistan who thrive more on spin.
Veteran
I am a big fan of Mumba but I think he does not have enough variety and venom to command a place in the starting line up.

I would like to see Evans even though he has only played a few games.

I would like to see Tanaka Chingwara.

Zimbabwea needs a through and through pace attack not a group of medium pacers.

We already have the Don as the medium pacer who can hold the bat.

Let’s move on from this lot
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Mumba has failed to improve the last 5 years so I think his time should nearly be up. How long can someone have ‘potential’?
Legend
Ngarava might be good in the 5 day stuff. He did ok in Pakistan
Veteran
I don’t see Mumba getting any more threatening with the ball.

I think he is done
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ZIMDOGGY wrote: ↑Sun Dec 13, 2020 8:13 am

Mumba has failed to improve the last 5 years so I think his time should nearly be up. How long can someone have ‘potential’?


He's also only played like 5 games in those 5 years. Mumba deserves an extended run as does anyone else deemed to have potential.
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He's not good enough though.

In 2016 against Sri Lanka he had some venom and was bowling the mid 130's regularly, now he's a shadow of what he once was.

His action is all so cramped and low now.
ZCF OriginalZCF Hall of Famer

sloandog wrote: ↑Sun Dec 13, 2020 11:32 am

He's not good enough though.

In 2016 against Sri Lanka he had some venom and was bowling the mid 130's regularly, now he's a shadow of what he once was.

His action is all so cramped and low now.


Still to early to tell IMO. And I think he can still get it up to 135. Its not like 135 kph bowlers are growing on trees in Zimbabwe. Jarvis and Chatara have been bowling in the 125-128 range since age 27. I would probably rate Mumba just behind those two. Mpofu might be the only one better than Mumba. But Tiripano, Ngarava, Madziva, Tshuma are all the same: gun barrell straight at 130-132 clicks at the fastest.

Obv, Jarvis, Chatara, and Blessing form the top 3. I really think Chatara's Test match stats are deceiving.
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Ngarava really really impressed me in Pakistan. He’d added a yard of pace and was swinging the ball.

Mumba really did struggle to get above 77mph and he looked unfit.
Legend
Absolutely, Ngarava has really made a step forward.

His height and being a left-armer also add another dimension lacking in the others Kriterion cited.

The open question is can he sustain it all through a Test match? Same with Blessing.
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sloandog wrote: ↑Sun Dec 13, 2020 6:52 pm

Ngarava really really impressed me in Pakistan. He’d added a yard of pace and was swinging the ball.

Mumba really did struggle to get above 77mph and he looked unfit.


So many of the ZIM pacers come out with such unattractive bowling mechanics, I just can't seem them being very successful. Its like having multiple versions of Jasprit Bumrah in the side. Ngrava, Madziva, and Chatara are top of my mind. The later too have no vertical hop in their delivery stride...that would surely given them a yard of pace right there and take 130 average speed to 133 or so with no other changes. Chatara's action is the most open chested I've seen. I think he'd get more swing if he was a bit more side on a la Jimmy Anderson.

Jarvis, Mpofu, Mumba, Blessing and even Tshuma have much more orthodox actions and combined with their height they extract more bounce and zip as well.

Zimbabwe are blessed with height, they should take advantage of it. Make bouncy pitches especially a gainst Asian sides at home. Your shortest seam bowler (Jarvis or Chatara) is probably the same height as our tallest (Khaled or Shoriful both of whom are 6'3"). I think Zimbabawe has the tallest crop of seam bowlers amongst all 12 Test nations right now (India probably has the shortest).

Blessing - 6'8"

Tshuma - 6'5"

Mpofu - 6'5"

Ngrava - 6'4"

Mumba - 6'3" to 6'4"

Chatara - 6'2" to 6'3"

Jarvis - has to be at least 6'0"
Bangladesh cricket fanatic, observer of all others.
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DBL post sorry
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ZCF OriginalZCF Hall of Famer

Jemisi wrote: ↑Sun Dec 13, 2020 10:00 pm

NZ are pretty tall. So are Australia
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