Home

Zimbabwe Squad for WI Series

Tue, 27/11/2007 - 09:55 — admin

ZC have named their squad for the 5-match series against the West Indies - it's unusually large, at 19 men. Here's the list:
Prosper Utseya (captain), Gary Brent, Chamunorwa Chibhabha, Elton Chigumbura, Graeme Cremer, Keith Dabengwa, Terrence Duffin, Trevor Garwe, Blessing Mahwire, Timycen Maruma, Hamilton Masakadza, Stuart Matsikenyeri, Christopher Mpofu, Tawanda Mupariwa, Raymond Price, Vusimuzi Sibanda, Tatenda Taibu, Brendan Taylor and Sean Williams.

Should give the selectors something to mull over before each match. Sean Williams has had recurring migraine problems lately - no official confirmation that he's over these, so it'll be interesting to see if he actually plays. Trevor Garwe and Blessing Mawhire add some pace to a bowling line-up that it otherwise very heavy with spin, while Tino Mawoyo's useful batting performance against SA Composite XI isn't enough to earn him a place in the side.
UPDATE: The Sunday News confirms that both Williams and Mpofu have injury concerns ahead of the series, and will need to prove their fitness if they're to make the side for the 1st ODI. They cite Williams' migraines, and a side strain that Mpofu suffered while playing against Sri Lanka 'A'.

The 1st ODI is in Harare on Friday (30th November).
Zimbabwe Cricket - West Indies expected in Harare Tuesday
Sunday News - Mpofu, Williams doubtful

Comments

Tue, 27/11/2007 - 21:16 — brmtaylor.com admin (not verified)

Strongest Zimbabwean squad for quite some time.

Few interesting decisions to take place. Who will get that final fast bowler spot after Chigumbura or Brent? Mpofu and Mupariwa are battling it out, although Mahwire is an outside chance. I predict Mpofu, but I wouldn't be surprised if that doesn't happen.

Will Zimbabwe go with 3 specialist spinners (Price, Utseya, Maruma) or will Maruma lose his place? I think Maruma should be left out of the ODI team for a while. Let him continue to gain experience in the "A" team matches. Graeme Cremer is also an outside chance - perhaps if there is a dead rubber.

Which brings us to another point, who do we play if there are any dead rubbers? It would be tempting to play the full XI in case WI let their guard down, but it's probably best playing some of the second tier players.

XI for dead rubbers: Duffin, Taylor (wk), Chibhabha, Williams, Matsikenyeri, Dabengwa, Mahwire, Cremer, Utseya (c), Garwe, Maruma

Leave in Taylor, Williams and Utseya to ensure Zim isn't blown out of the water.

Tue, 27/11/2007 - 22:47 — andy (not verified)

good squad my team would be

1. Taylor
2. Sinbanda
3. Taibu
4. Chibabha
5. Masakadza
6. Williams
7. Chigumbura
8. Brent
9.Usteya
10. Price
11. Mpofu

Would like to see creamer in, but you cant have 3 main spinners i reckon. If they needed another, they can just use Williams all Masakadza if they wanted.

Tue, 27/11/2007 - 23:59 — brmtaylor.com admin (not verified)

maehara, how do you get to the sundaynews website? I haven't been able to access it for years :o

Williams "migraines" seem odd. There is medication to stop migraines, so I'm not really sure I believe that injury. My gut feeling is something else is going on.

Mpofu is infortunate, I suppose that makes way for Mupariwa.

Williams injury might also give Stuart Matsikenyeri one more life.

Wed, 28/11/2007 - 00:12 — maehara (not verified)

I've know people in the past who have mad migraine issues, and it can take a while to try the various medications to get one that properly suppresses them - so if this is a recent afflication (and the first mention of it was only 2-3 months ago), that could be the issue. The pessimist in me thinks there could be problems between him and ZC, though - but as ever it's hard to tell.

Sunday News website: does the link above not work for you? An alternative is to use allafrica.com - they archive most of the articles from Zimbabwean papers, it's just a little harder to dig through.

Wed, 28/11/2007 - 01:07 — brmtaylor.com admin (not verified)

Nope, none of the sundaynews links work for me. Very odd. Occasionally I look at allafrica.com but I find they have a lot more articles from the Herald.

The pessimist in me thinks there could be problems between him and ZC, though - but as ever it’s hard to tell.

That was what I thought as well.

Wed, 28/11/2007 - 01:43 — Tawac (not verified)

No Hoppers now party stoppers. Zim are in with a very big shout with the likes of Sibanda, Taylor beginning to show maturity with the bat. If one of them makes a big score I see Zim taking this one. Its the bowling that somewhat gives migraines. Whatsever happened to Rainsford(I hope his not on the injury list again) But is Chigumbura and Brent are able to hold his up front then Usteya and Price can surelly do then damage.

Wed, 28/11/2007 - 03:11 — dr.situ (not verified)

God they opt for 19 men. Now we have a pool and the 3 spinner theory should be used only on Byo pitches.

1. Taylor
2. Sibanda
3. Chibabha
4. Masakadza
5. Tibbly
6. Stuey Matsikenyari
7. Chigumbura
8. Brent
9. Dotts (C)
10. Pricy
11. Mupariwa

Wed, 28/11/2007 - 03:30 — jimbo (not verified)

I think that having two medium pacers in the match would be counter-productive, Dont play brent mupariwa together, Mupariwa should be left out with mpofu coming back in. Both compliment each other pretty well, Brent mixing things up whilst mpofu getting that extra lift due to his height
ZC would be most foolish to leave out williams just as he is coming into his own as a batsman, The guy scored 70NO against the windies this year for gods sake, What an opportune series to get their first win over meanigfull opposition at virtual full strength,ZC can ill afford to be getting into arguments with their players.

If williams does not play i would give johnson marumisa a chance at the top level instead of stuey matsikinyeri, God knows this dude has had more chances than a dartboards had pricks

Wed, 28/11/2007 - 05:34 — jimbo (not verified)

It looks like we wont even be able to get any radio or television commentary on the series if the new cricinfo article is anything to go by

Wed, 28/11/2007 - 05:45 — maehara (not verified)

"It's about 50-50. The problem is the lateness of the tour," McIntosh said. "The announcement of it was very late."

Bull. The tour's part of the Future Tours Programme, which was released 2-3 years ago. Match schedule's been available for a while, too.

Wed, 28/11/2007 - 10:11 — farhan (not verified)

well i think opening bowlers need to get some early break throughs, then zim surely hav great chance in really performing well in this series. for me Gayle be important if somehow get him early WI be not able to produce so called beyond zim reach target.So i still feel for Rainsford he performed really well against WI last time he would have been the guy geting early break throughs but seems to me lost somewhere (is he kidnaped haha just kidding). on serious note i think opening bowlers are key what start they give to Zim bowling if they be able to do well ZIM spinners be really able to put some great pressure on WI. so that will make cracker of series but if somehow(i wish that wont happen) Gayle and company get going he can thrash medium pacers to all part and wil be able to put these games beyond zim reach. on another event ZC haas decided to host 3 matches instead of 2 at harare. i think that can be good reason as i saw zim players doing well at harare rather bulwayo. they did well aginst srilanka A at harare but batting failed at bulwayo. so that can be logical move along with some technical problems to staging matches at bulwayo.

Wed, 28/11/2007 - 11:30 — jimbo (not verified)

Mpofu and mahwire are the only true fast bowlers in the zimbabwe side..Mahwire can spray it round a bit, I would bank on mpofu to get some breakthroughs though....I cant comment on trevor garwe...Is he fast?

Wed, 28/11/2007 - 11:39 — jimbo (not verified)

Ive just looked at an old article on cricinfo's site named ' zimbabwe's world cup men' it gives profiles on all of the potential call ups for zimbabwe in the world cup in the windies...It gets to ed rainsford and it states that ' there are concerns over his attitude'....Looks like he may have upset someone after all

Wed, 28/11/2007 - 20:09 — Tawacricket (not verified)

Funny you should mention Eddie Rainsford. I spotted him practising with the team yesterday on State News at CFX in Newlands. He looks to be in good form. And what do you know, old Douggie Hondo was aslo with the team but he was getting his knee straped, not good. Its always good to see some of these guys with the team even if they wont mentioned in the Squad.

Wed, 28/11/2007 - 21:13 — farhan (not verified)

WELL atleast some one has spotted Rainsford, so we cna conclude that he may be having some problem with Zim adminstartion.bad news i hope they get things clear and play for zim for zim for its pride.well interesting battle ahead i hope come up with good game.

Wed, 28/11/2007 - 21:18 — jimbo (not verified)

Maybe he was carrying a niggling injury..It is a fast bowlers curse after all, Yes i hope he gets into the squad soon, One problem with playing mpofu with rainsford, utseya is that it weakens the tail considerably...A batsman he aint but a heck of a bowler

Wed, 28/11/2007 - 23:38 — Jagdish (not verified)

i wonder if streak will come into the national fold

Wed, 28/11/2007 - 23:41 — brmtaylor.com admin (not verified)

I don't think Prosper Utseya and a weak tail should be used in the same sentence. On recent form, Utseya is as good as any of the top order. I think Utseya will become a very good allrounder by the end of his career, much as Pollock has.

Wed, 28/11/2007 - 23:49 — maehara (not verified)

Streak: doubt it. He hasn't played for a while now, and I wouldn't expect anyone not named in the squad to make an appearance.

Thu, 29/11/2007 - 00:27 — jimbo (not verified)

Utseya is a good batsman in the four day format when he is allowed to take his time and show application...In the one day arena his highest score is 31 and he averages a shade over 10...Not a bunny by any stretch of the imagination but needs somemore work

Thu, 29/11/2007 - 08:03 — farhan (not verified)

well seeing Utesya bats i think he is more of accumulator not one who can smash the ball out of the park.agreed with jimbo he seesm to me have good application as a batter and is determined kind of player.so he will be able to perfrom well with the batt in tests rather in ODIS.