Match Thread: Afghanistan v Zimbabwe 1st Test (2nd-6th March)

ZIMDOGGY wrote: ↑Tue Mar 02, 2021 11:12 am

And, in my Googly style messge bombing, i dont think prince can survie against this spinner based on that first over. He is going to get an edge at some point in the next 30 balls.

I think if he can get to 35 from here he will have to consider himself lucky.

Hate to say i told ya.

Interesting side observation. Cricinfo now shows left arm leggies as "LWS" Left arm Wrist Spin, instead of "LHC" that they had earlir - Left hand "Chinaman"...

Cross verified this on the profiles of Kuldeep and Shamsi too.

And Prince has gone.

If there was even a need for Chakabva to stand up as a senior test specialist batsman, it is today.

We need at least one bat to kick on well excess of 50, and one more 30+ score in support, to have a chance here of getting 150.

Poor Wes, that was missing down leg.

Disaster unfolding. We are undoing the huge advantage gained with the ball. Crucial stand here.

:4: few more of those needed this evening

He's missed that by a good way.

:4: :4: come on Raza

:4:

Bulawayo Boy wrote: ↑Tue Mar 02, 2021 1:00 pm

Any ideas in why PJ Moor was left out? A batsman with a test average north of 30 and not even in the squad. Seems odd. It's not like we have 7 or 8 batsmen averaging more than 45....

Injured, but even if he wasnt, hes been playing s**t and doesnt deserve selection.

There has been speculation his heart isnt in it anymore.

Williams, Burl, Chakabva, and Tiripano all need to bat well tomorrow. A big first innings lead is crucial, I don't trust us batting second at all. Great to see Muzarabani doing well.

Kazuza got an absolute peach, I watched that this morning before heading out.

Prince looked really scratchy and massively overweight for a test opener.

Tari looked wooden when batting but clearly has a lot of time against the pace bowlers. Needs to loosen his grip on the old willow when facing the spinners though :)

Tomorrow should be interesting. Burl looked good from what I saw and Williams has again shown why he's still arguably our joint number 1 batter.

He seems to be getting better with age and it's great to see. We need him around for another 3 years at least

sloandog wrote: ↑Tue Mar 02, 2021 4:45 pm

Kazuza got an absolute peach, I watched that this morning before heading out.

Prince looked really scratchy and massively overweight for a test opener.

Tari looked wooden when batting but clearly has a lot of time against the pace bowlers. Needs to loosen his grip on the old willow when facing the spinners though :)

Tomorrow should be interesting. Burl looked good from what I saw and Williams has again shown why he's still arguably our joint number 1 batter.

He seems to be getting better with age and it's great to see. We need him around for another 3 years at least

A good player would simply block it, or drive it.

Notice how our guys always get delivered 'peaches'.

We make them look like stars everytime.

CrimsonAvenger wrote: ↑Tue Mar 02, 2021 11:19 am

Interesting side observation. Cricinfo now shows left arm leggies as "LWS" Left arm Wrist Spin, instead of "LHC" that they had earlir - Left hand "Chinaman"...

Cross verified this on the profiles of Kuldeep and Shamsi too.

And Prince has gone.

If there was even a need for Chakabva to stand up as a senior test specialist batsman, it is today.

Very interesting. Probably fallout from the George Floyd/BLM protests and awareness about racial sensitivity given that ESPN is a US company. An entire NFL team's logo and name have been erased (the former Washington Redskins) which is for the time being just known as the Washington Football Team.

And cricinfo's abreviation used to be "SLC" slow left arm chinaman.

Btw, I am really liking this new Sean Williams. Massive respect for him. This is not an easy pitch to bat on judging from the scores, and these bowlers aren't scrubs either. Taylor, Ervine, and Williams with Raza, Madhevere, Burl would form a very solid lineup. The problem had always been that out of 6-7 top order batsmen, only 1 or at most 2 would fire. Although thats the case in this innings, with 3 dependable batters + Raza (who was dependable until a couple years ago), ZIM can start posting decent totals in Tests.