*Official* Bangladesh in Zimbabwe

[BlazeDragon]

I'm very happy with Zimbabwe winning this. It would do great for their spirits winning the first test after returning.

Hope this pushes Bangladesh to improve in the test level instead of just focusing all the time on ODIs.

 

[EnglishCricket]

Test status

If Bangladesh want to be treated equally as a Test status team and keep their Test status then the should be forced to treat Tests with less disdain. Currently they have no interest in Test cricket and if that continues the ICC should take back their Test status and give it to another country (potentially Ireland who are doing everything they can to improve the game in the country).

If they just want to play ODIs then let them and see how they cope without the Test level funding.

As an Irishman and player in the Emerald Isle you look at Bangladesh and see a country who are taking all they can and giving nothing back, Ireland are almost or just as good as Bangladesh with less funding, less opportunities and less players to choose from.

The Bangladesh establishment and players are letting down Test cricket and doing nothing to improve at the longer form of the game.

Ireland only get a couple of ODIs against full member teams this year whereas Bangladesh get Test matches, ODIs, T20s and more against the top teams only not to look interested in the game.

 

[BlazeDragon]

Bangladesh are definitely improving in ODIs no doubt about that. If only you could get them to care about test cricket also.

They treat it like it doesn't matter.

 

[centurymaker]

Home Test Status ftw.

Doesn't seem like Bangladesh give a **** about Tests anyway. Same old story from the batsmen - get in and get out again.

YES this
Don't let minnows play 'official' tests overseas!!!

 

[BoyBrumby]

Disagree slightly; by all means let Bangladesh play overseas tests, just don't compel other countries to host them every 4/5 years until they're competitive.

The FTP, in many ways, does the cause of tests more harm than good.

 

[Prince EWS]

Disagree slightly; by all means let Bangladesh play overseas tests, just don't compel other countries to host them every 4/5 years until they're competitive.

The FTP, in many ways, does the cause of tests more harm than good.

Zimbabwe aside, which countries would actually bother hosting Bangladesh for a series and wasting part of their home summer if they didn't have to? I agree that treating Bangladesh just like any other side isn't ideal, but removing them from the FTP altogether wouldn't be the answer either IMO. It'd just result in them playing less cricket overall or far more one day cricket, and while I agree that the regular hammerings they cop are problematic, they do need to play long-form cricket in different conditions against meaningful opposition to improve.

Bangladesh, Zimbabwe and Ireland really do need to start playing each other in long-form cricket whenever they can, though. It's the best way for them to progress at this point. Smashing genuine minnows accomplishes virtually nothing while playing in non-contests against strong Test sides is something that should happen far less frequently as well. I know the ICC doesn't want to give Ireland Test status but that shouldn't stop them from helping Ireland organise some five-day First Class matches without Test status against Zimbabwe and Bangladesh - in fact that'd be a great way to see just how close they were to being Test standard (which my cynical side tells me is precisely why they won't do it). It's great to see Bangladesh and Zimbabwe play the big boys every so often, and they should still do that, but I definitely think highly competitive, pressure cricket against teams of a similar standard will bridge the gap more than regular pumpings so the focus should be on more games at this level. This was a highly entertaining, competitive Test match with some high quality cricket in parts.

 

[Flem274*]

\
The right to play against the top test nations is something that should be earned and the lower ranked test sides would only improve if they play more test cricket within themselves and on basis of their performances in tier 2 make a place for themselves in tier 1 of the test playing nations.

All you would do is kill test cricket for good in Pakistan, New Zealand, West Indies and whoever gets lumped in with us (if the politicians allow India, Australia or England to descend to the proletariat I'll eat my computer).

I don't think the sides would improve anyway. they would just plateau. New Zealand and Pakistan have played each other often enough in the past couple of years in tight series and it's done absolutely nothing for when we face tougher opposition.

A two tier test system will never work. All it will do is give India, Australia, England and South Africa and excuse never to play the other four nations and if one of the sides involved in the Ashes dropped down there is no way in hell the Ashes would be called off. Likewise, do you see the BCCI allowing India to fall into a position where they can't arrange millions of series with Australia? They already treat touring New Zealand and the West Indies as a chore, the last thing they need is extra incentive not to turn up.

Rather than implementing a two tier test system just so a side which never does anything ever can possibly compete, cut Bangladesh from test status. Why should other countries be penalized for Bangladesh's mistakes?

 

[pup11]

All you would do is kill test cricket for good in Pakistan, New Zealand, West Indies and whoever gets lumped in with us (if the politicians allow India, Australia or England to descend to the proletariat I'll eat my computer).

I don't think the sides would improve anyway. they would just plateau. New Zealand and Pakistan have played each other often enough in the past couple of years in tight series and it's done absolutely nothing for when we face tougher opposition.

A two tier test system will never work. All it will do is give India, Australia, England and South Africa and excuse never to play the other four nations and if one of the sides involved in the Ashes dropped down there is no way in hell the Ashes would be called off. Likewise, do you see the BCCI allowing India to fall into a position where they can't arrange millions of series with Australia? They already treat touring New Zealand and the West Indies as a chore, the last thing they need is extra incentive not to turn up.

Rather than implementing a two tier test system just so a side which never does anything ever can possibly compete, cut Bangladesh from test status. Why should other countries be penalized for Bangladesh's mistakes?

What are lower ranked sides gaining by getting their arses whopped by the top-ranked nations..!? In the current scenario the lower-ranked nations hardly get much test cricket action which I don't think is doing test cricket in those countries a whole load of good, having a two tier system allows teams on both these tiers to play substantial number of test matches against evenly matched sides.

 

[TT Boy]

Has the Zim ODI squad been announced? First ODI starts on Friday and Cricinfo has no squad information. Interested to see if Zim will continue to be spin heavy in ODIs. No reason not too at this moment, it’s their strength.

This would be my XI

Taylor
Raza
Hamilton
Mutizwa
Taibu
Ervine
Elton
Prosper
Price
Vitori
Jarvis/Cremer

 

[Top_Cat]

Reckon Tamim could do with someone having a quiet whisper in his ear about the difference between being an arrogant tool and confidently backing yourself.

 

[Hurricane]

What are lower ranked sides gaining by getting their arses whopped by the top-ranked nations..!? In the current scenario the lower-ranked nations hardly get much test cricket action which I don't think is doing test cricket in those countries a whole load of good, having a two tier system allows teams on both these tiers to play substantial number of test matches against evenly matched sides.

Pakistan vs Bangers is not an even match - nor will Windies vs Zimbos unless Windies play a C team again.

If there are to be tiers then it should be three tiers - Zimbos and Bangers, Windies NZ and Pak, The top 5 teams.

Tiers 3 and 2 can play each other in 2 test match series.
Tiers 1 and 2 can play each other in 2 test series
Tier 3 can not play tier 1
You play 4 or 5 game series within your own tier

No promotion or relegation between tiers until you change your official ICC ranking for a period of 2 years.

 

[TT Boy]

Zim ODI squad...

Zimbabwe squad: Brendan Taylor (capt), Regis Chakabva, Elton Chigumbura, Craig Ervine, Kyle Jarvis, Hamilton Masakadza, Keegan Meth, Christopher Mpofu, Forster Mutizwa, Ray Price, Vusi Sibanda, Tatenda Taibu, Prosper Utseya, Brian Vitori, Malcolm Waller

Tino and Tendai Chatara are part of the extended squad.

Can't believe Sibanda was selected, when will Zim learn? Not a fan of Waller or Chakabva either. No Greg Lamb is a surprise, he can't bat top six but he was turning into a really handy bowler, almost frontline. Liked to seen Raza given a go as well.

 

[Prince EWS]

Zim ODI squad...

Zimbabwe squad: Brendan Taylor (capt), Regis Chakabva, Elton Chigumbura, Craig Ervine, Kyle Jarvis, Hamilton Masakadza, Keegan Meth, Christopher Mpofu, Forster Mutizwa, Ray Price, Vusi Sibanda, Tatenda Taibu, Prosper Utseya, Brian Vitori, Malcolm Waller

Tino and Tendai Chatara are part of the extended squad.

Can't believe Sibanda was selected, when will Zim learn? Not a fan of Waller or Chakabva either. No Greg Lamb is a surprise, he can't bat top six but he was turning into a really handy bowler, almost frontline. Liked to seen Raza given a go as well.

Yeah Lamb should definitely be there, especially with Cremer injured - Waller shouldn't be there at the moment. I'd take Chibhabha ahead of Chakabva but I reckon they'd both be pretty clueless against Bangladesh's spinners so it's a meh issue.

I don't mind the rest of the squad. Sibanda isn't very good at one day cricket but I love the bloke so I'm happy he's there anyway.

Hoping this is the lineup:

1 Sibanda
2 Maskadza
3 Taylor
4 Taibu
5 Ervine
6 Mutizwa
7 Chigumbura
8 Utseya
9 Price
10 Seamer
11 Seamer

Vusi's there due to bias mainly, but I'd rather not have Taylor open, I like the 4-7 the way I've listed them and I certainly don't think Waller or Chakabva are good enough to bat in the top three anyway, so he fits. I don't mind which two seamers get picked out of the ones in the squad tbh.

 

[TT Boy]

Taylor had a good 2010 opening, averaged 48 with a career best 145 against South Africa but for some strange reason he has a terrible record when opening against Bangladesh - averages 18 from 32 games. Don't think he and Masakadza should bat together as they are both so important. Sibanda could work in the middle order as he is one of the only Zim cricketers along Taibu and Hamilton who has more than 1 scoring shot against the spinners but probably best to have him up top, catch in on the wayward quicks and attacking fields.

 

[Prince EWS]

Yeah Lamb should definitely be there, especially with Cremer injured - Waller shouldn't be there at the moment. I'd take Chibhabha ahead of Chakabva but I reckon they'd both be pretty clueless against Bangladesh's spinners so it's a meh issue.

I don't mind the rest of the squad. Sibanda isn't very good at one day cricket but I love the bloke so I'm happy he's there anyway.

Hoping this is the lineup:

1 Sibanda
2 Maskadza
3 Taylor
4 Taibu
5 Ervine
6 Mutizwa
7 Chigumbura
8 Utseya
9 Price
10 Seamer
11 Seamer

Vusi's there due to bias mainly, but I'd rather not have Taylor open, I like the 4-7 the way I've listed them and I certainly don't think Waller or Chakabva are good enough to bat in the top three anyway, so he fits. I don't mind which two seamers get picked out of the ones in the squad tbh.

Exactly the team that got picked. So gun.

 

[TT Boy]

LOL @ Tamim.

Mpofu with Pollock/McGrath like figures. Bangladesh just wasted 10 overs there.

5th bowler could be an issue for Zim. May need a few overs from Hamilton, Taylor, Sibanda or even Taibu.

 

[Prince EWS]

LOL @ Tamim.

Mpofu with Pollock/McGrath like figures. Bangladesh just wasted 10 overs there.

5th bowler could be an issue for Zim. May need a few overs from Hamilton, Taylor, Sibanda or even Taibu.

A few overs from Taibu would be nice if he was bowling offies but the last time I saw him bowl he was bowling filthy round-arm slinger type nothing balls at about 110km/hr. I have no idea why he decided that was the way to go. T20 WC IIRC.

 

[Chubb]

Brian Vitori is just a bit good isn't he?

 

[Prince EWS]

Brian Vitori is just a bit good isn't he?

Indeed.

Knew Zimbabwe would win the Test but expected them to lose the ODIs; pleasantly surprised so far obvs.

 

[TT Boy]

Currently the best figures on debut by a Zimbabwean. Gary Crocker took 4 for 26 on debut against India in 1992.