TOP FANS TALK. THIS ACCORODING TO KUDZY ANAY This is the ZimXI thats appeared on my scrapbook over and over. Could this list actually get a nod? 1. Brian Chari 2. Brendan Taylor * 3. Sikander Raza Butt 4. Hamilton Masakadza 5. Craig Ervine 6. Vusi Sibanda 7. Elton Chigumbura 8. Richmond Mutumbami 9. Tafadzwa Kamungozi 10. John Nyumbu 11. Tendai Chatara Clearly that line up is short of 1 specialist bowler, a spinner preferably. But my reason for drafting that unbalanced line up are that: 1. Zim desperately needs some confidence and stability to be restored in the top-order. An opening pair of B. Chari x BMR Taylor could do exactly that. Neither of the 2 is too aggressive nor too slow. Instead those two batsmen have solid technique and can score at a steady pace of about 2.5 runs per over. To get the team to 80 - 100+ until the loss of the 1st wicket (hopefully). 2. BRM Taylor has walked in to bat early after wickets have fallen in quick succession. Isnt there too much pressure to come in within the 1st 10 overs to bat at #4 as a captain, with the task of rebuilding a teams innings? Now think of a chance for Taylor to open the batting - walking in fresh without witnessing an alarming batting collapse plus the burden of saving the team. Isnt this ideal for Taylor to explore as Zim looks forward to forge a new future in test cricket? 3. Raza batting at number 3 is enough to send alarm bells ringing in the opposition camp. His quick-scoring firepower can snatch away the game when it looks like the dismissal of the 1st Zimbabwean batsman has brought fortune to a rival bowling attack. Imagine this scenario paving way for Hamilton Masakadza, and Craig Ervine later? 4. It is not easy to dispense Vusi Sibanda. He is an x-factor in the field with his agility and athleticism. Naturally his real success as a batsman lies in him being utilised as a middle-order batsman. Something that hasnt been done too many times in tests nor ODIs by Zimbabwe. Is this not the best place to restore some confidence in Vusi Sibanda? Can we not try to invest more in developing Vusi Sibanda for him to be for Zim what AB De Villiers is to South Africa? 5. On why my line up is sacrifice one specialist bowlers place... placing wicket-keeper batsman @ #8: - Brendan Taylor is no longer keen/fit to keep wicket throughout an entire test match. He wants to prolong his longevity in test cricket solely as batsman. - 2 spinners, a specialist seamer - Chatara, whos recently found the knack to reverse-swing the ball in sub-continent conditions; a bowling all-rounder E. Chigumbura, supported by Hamilton Masakadza (right-arm, slow-medium pace), SR. Butt (part-time right-arm off-break) and V. Sibanda (gentle medium-pace) could prove to be an effective combination of bowlers in Bangladesh. - having 8 players who can bat increases batting depth. going into the Bangladesh tour, Zimbabwes biggest weakness is the batting. Is this not the balance thats required? What are your thoughts on the line-up Ive drafted. Should we go with Brian Chari in one match and leave out Vusi Sibanda, vice-versa, to create room for a specialist bowler, a spinner, perhaps?
Posted on: Thu, 23 Oct 2014 17:33:53 +0000
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