A comment of mine in another thread seemed to stir some disagreement so I thought I would start a separate thread for it. Which Zimbabwe squad would you rather take? The 2004 post-rebel lineup or the current lineup?
2004
1. Vusi Sibanda
2. Brendan Taylor
3. Dion Ebrahim
4. Mark Vermeulen
5. Tatenda Taibu
6. Stuart Matsikenyeri
7. Elton Chigumbura
8. Prosper Utseya
9. Tawanda Mupariwa
10. Douglas Hondo
11. Tinashe Panyangara
2021.
1. Tarisai Musakanda
2. Wesley Madhevere
3. Craig Ervine
4. Brendan Taylor
5. Sean Williams
6. Sikandar Raza
7. Regis Chakabva
8. Luke Jongwe
9. Wellington Masakadza
10. Blessing Muzarabani
11. Richard Ngarava
I don't think my theory that the 2004 lineup is stronger is that far-fetched. A combined XI of the two would look like this:
1. Vusi Sibanda (2004)
2. Brendan Taylor (2004, I would rather have a young Taylor than the current version who seems to have given up)
3. Craig Ervine (2021)
4. Tatenda Taibu (2004)
5. Sean Williams (2021)
6. Sikandar Raza (2021)
7. Elton Chigumbura (2004)
8. Prosper Utseya (2004)
9. Tawanda Mupariwa (2004)
10. Blessing Muzarabani (2021)
11. Tinashe Panyangara (2004)
2004 = 7
2021 = 4
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
Before getting into details, one would neither take the 2005 version nor the 2021 version of Chibhabha. Look at the consistency! :D
Chibhabha is a non-starter in any era. Makes sense that he is the current captain.
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
The way management is supporting proven failure Chibhabha others like Nathan Waller, Mashinge could have been international regulars for Zim by now if they would have got such back up.
16 yrs of international cricket, close to 100 odis, batting at the top without a ton or a fiver with bowl.
I assume you are talking ODIs and not Tests, but Mupariwa is overrated anyway. And I'd probably take the promise of Wes over the proven false promise of Vusi 2004. He had his best years in the very early 2010s--I believe he averaged under 20 in all forms of international cricket prior to 2011.
A comment of mine in another thread seemed to stir some disagreement so I thought I would start a separate thread for it. Which Zimbabwe squad would you rather take? The 2004 post-rebel lineup or the current lineup?
2004
1. Vusi Sibanda
2. Brendan Taylor
3. Dion Ebrahim
4. Mark Vermeulen
5. Tatenda Taibu
6. Stuart Matsikenyeri
7. Elton Chigumbura
8. Prosper Utseya
9. Tawanda Mupariwa
10. Douglas Hondo
11. Tinashe Panyangara
2021.
1. Tarisai Musakanda
2. Wesley Madhevere
3. Craig Ervine
4. Brendan Taylor
5. Sean Williams
6. Sikandar Raza
7. Regis Chakabva
8. Luke Jongwe
9. Wellington Masakadza
10. Blessing Muzarabani
11. Richard Ngarava
I don't think my theory that the 2004 lineup is stronger is that far-fetched. A combined XI of the two would look like this:
1. Vusi Sibanda (2004)
2. Brendan Taylor (2004, I would rather have a young Taylor than the current version who seems to have given up)
3. Craig Ervine (2021)
4. Tatenda Taibu (2004)
5. Sean Williams (2021)
6. Sikandar Raza (2021)
7. Elton Chigumbura (2004)
8. Prosper Utseya (2004)
9. Tawanda Mupariwa (2004)
10. Blessing Muzarabani (2021)
11. Tinashe Panyangara (2004)
2004 = 7
2021 = 4
Where is Donald Tiripano ? He is the first man on any Zimbabwean Test OR One day line up
That’s not the exact 2021 XI I would pick. But yeah, 2021 and it’s not even close. People have short memories and/or rose tinted glasses if they think otherwise.
The 2021 line up has way more potential for say the next world cup in 2023. The team may well be at its peak then if BT can stay on field till then and maintain some quality.
I think some of you guys have short memories. Mupariwa was the fastest Zimbabwean to 50 ODI wickets, Chigumbura was a quality allrounder for the first ten years of his career, and Sibanda and Matsi had a lot of potential and were very talented youngsters.
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 think some of you guys have short memories. Mupariwa was the fastest Zimbabwean to 50 ODI wickets, Chigumbura was a quality allrounder for the first ten years of his career, and Sibanda and Matsi had a lot of potential and were very talented youngsters.
Did Chigumbura have any solid bowling performances even before 2010? I feel like he was always an inconsistent big hitter down the order. Was Chigs' bowling ever any better than say Tiripano's?
Bangladesh cricket fanatic, observer of all others.
I think some of you guys have short memories. Mupariwa was the fastest Zimbabwean to 50 ODI wickets, Chigumbura was a quality allrounder for the first ten years of his career, and Sibanda and Matsi had a lot of potential and were very talented youngsters.
Did Chigumbura have any solid bowling performances even before 2010? I feel like he was always an inconsistent big hitter down the order. Was Chigs' bowling ever any better than say Tiripano's?
Yea absolutely. In the 2007 world Cup he bowled with pace and he got some crucial wickets.
I reckon he peaked around 2010 when he got his championship gig
Panyangara also used to bowl with a lot of pace early on.
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
Of course remember the 2004 team is one that was selected after 16 or so top players walked out. The current lineup is supposedly the product of years of ZC investing in new young talent. If we removed our top 16 players today and then named a starting XI I doubt we would come close to the 2004 team.
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
All I know is that our big 4 (Raza, Williams, Ervine and BT) are in our top 10 batsmen of all time. Only 8 guys average in the 30s for ODIs for Zim and the big 4 make up half of them. Only 9 guys average 30 and above for Zim in tests and again the big 4 all feature with Hami being the 5th of the recent side.
At full strength, our middle order might be the strongest we have ever had if we really look at the numbers and before guys say they played tough teams back in the day , we have been flogged multiple times by very strong teams. Pakistan being the most recent. SA a couple of years ago. These guys go through tough times as well. Even opponents like Rashid Khan are the best of the best, playing almost 100 overs of his bowling and not getting out like Williams did is no small achievement