**Official** Kenya in Zimbabwe

[Chubb]

Zimbabwe responded to their poor performance in the last match by thrashing Kenya back, bowing them out for only 122. Ryan Higgins, the young legspinning allrounder, was the star with the ball, taking 4-21, Prosper Utseya also claiming two in a tight spell typical of him, and Keith Dabengwa capped a strong performance from the spin attack with two more.

 

[Prince EWS]

Ryan Higgins, the young legspinning allrounder

Considering he bats below Prosper, I think "allrounder" might be a bit generous at this stage of his career. He has some batting talent and classes himself as an allrounder, but that seems to be the case with virtually every bowler Zimbabwe pick.

Why the hell has Meth been dropped? He's only bowled three overs and took 1/6, and he's looked decent with the bat at times too. Seems in much better form than say, Greg Strydom, but I guess Strydom is there to offer experience.

The selections and inconsistancies in bowling changes have been pretty mystifying, really. Masakadza seems to be bowling quite a lot, but the pitches have responded well to spin so I can understand that. What I cant understand is Duffin's decisions on the medium pace allrounders. He seems to pluck one out of a hat each game as to who will take on the role. Considering they are all of a similar style, this doesnt make sense. You cant blame it on differing conditions as Im talking about the medium pacers. For example, in the first two ODIs, Rinke bowled second change ahead of Chigumbura and Strydom (neither bowled at all) and he did quite well. Yet in the third ODI, Strydom bowled first change and Rinke was the seventh bowler used (and he took 2 wickets in just under 2 overs..). The bowling changes in the fourth ODI can probably be put down to favourable conditions to spinners, but the first three just smack of inconsistancy. With such a new side, its important that everyone learns what their role in quickly so they can adapt and develop to it... swapping roles constantly doesnt help matters at all.

 

[Langeveldt]

While there is no hard and fast way of measuring this, we are now down to the fifth string Zimbabwean side, involving the likes of

1st string - Johnson, Flower, Goodwin
2nd string - Taibu, ebrahim
3rd string - murphy, hondo
4th string - Panyangara, Taylor, Cremer
5th string - Meth, Rinke

 

[Prince EWS]

I think that's taking it a bit far.

Fifth generation of new players for this era I could accept, but I doubt you could actually find forty-four players eligible for Zim that are better than all of those currently in the side. It'd be touch and go though...

First String:
1. Grant Flower
2. Stuart Carlisle
3. Murray Goodwin
4. Andy Flower
5. Neil Johnson
6. Tatenda Taibu
7. Sean Ervine
8. Heath Streak
9. Ray Price
10. Brighton Watambwa
11. Henry Olonga

Im already struggling for bowlers...

 

[Langeveldt]

I think that's taking it a bit far.

Fifth generation of new players for this era I could accept, but I doubt you could actually find forty-four players eligible for Zim that are better than all of those currently in the side. It'd be touch and go though...

First String:
1. Grant Flower
2. Stuart Carlisle
3. Murray Goodwin
4. Andy Flower
5. Neil Johnson
6. Tatenda Taibu
7. Sean Ervine
8. Heath Streak
9. Ray Price
10. Brighton Watambwa
11. Henry Olonga

Im already struggling for bowlers...

All sorts of players are better than the current group, but i'm not sure if they are eligable.. And you can never tell if they would have retired or not, had the Zim "situation" never happened, but it makes for grim reading

1. Grant Flower
2. Stuart Carlisle
3. Murray Goodwin
4. Andy Flower
5. Neil Johnson
6. Tatenda Taibu
7. Sean Ervine
8. Heath Streak
9. Ray Price
10. Brighton Watambwa
11. Henry Olonga
12. Craig Wishart
13. Craig Evans
14, Gavin Rennie
15. Dirk Viljoen
16. Bryan Murphy
17. Gary Brent
18. Dion Ebrahim
19. Paul Strang
20. Bryan Strang
21. Guy Whittall
22. Andy Whittall
23. Alistair Campbell
24. Neil Ferreira
25. John Rennie
26. Pommie Mbangwa
27. Everton Matambanadzo
28. Andy Blignaut
29. Stuart Matsikenyeri
30. Trevor Gripper
31. Alistair Maregwede
32. Adam Huckle
33. Mark Vermeulen

Struggling for the other 11

 

[Prince EWS]

All sorts of players are better than the current group, but i'm not sure if they are eligable.. And you can never tell if they would have retired or not, had the Zim "situation" never happened, but it makes for grim reading

1. Grant Flower
2. Stuart Carlisle
3. Murray Goodwin
4. Andy Flower
5. Neil Johnson
6. Tatenda Taibu
7. Sean Ervine
8. Heath Streak
9. Ray Price
10. Brighton Watambwa
11. Henry Olonga
12. Craig Wishart
13. Craig Evans
14, Gavin Rennie
15. Dirk Viljoen
16. Bryan Murphy
17. Gary Brent
18. Dion Ebrahim
19. Paul Strang
20. Bryan Strang
21. Guy Whittall
22. Andy Whittall
23. Alistair Campbell
24. Neil Ferreira
25. John Rennie
26. Pommie Mbangwa
27. Everton Matambanadzo
28. Andy Blignaut
29. Stuart Matsikenyeri
30. Trevor Gripper
31. Alistair Maregwede
32. Adam Huckle
33. Mark Vermeulen

Struggling for the other 11

Paul Strang is finished. He plays in New Zealand and bowls medium pacers. Im sure he would have retired by now regardless of the situation in Zimbabwe. If Craig Evans or Stuart Matsikenyeri are better than Brendan Taylor, I'll eat my hat. Andy Whittall was pretty poor as well, especially considering Cremer and Higgins seem to be progressing well. Alester Maregwede wouldnt make the current side at all, even if he was available. In fact, he very may well be available...

I could also think of another twelve that you havent listed, but Ill keep that information close to my chest as it would actually help your argument...

 

[Langeveldt]

I could also think of another twelve that you havent listed, but Ill keep that information close to my chest as it would actually help your argument...

pah, I like a competitor though.. I pride myself on my knowledge of Zim cricket so its nice to see someone stuff me, I've never encountered that before (although Chubb seems pretty awesome)

 

[Prince EWS]

pah, I like a competitor though.. I pride myself on my knowledge of Zim cricket so its nice to see someone stuff me, I've never encountered that before (although Chubb seems pretty awesome)

Gavin Ewing
Travis Friend
Scott Brant
Douglas Marillier
Barney Rogers (a bit iffy with Taylor and Masakadza, but I always rated him)
Guy Croxford
Richard Sims
Greg Lamb
Douglas Hondo
Sean Williams
Gary Penford
Andrew Gait
Ryan Watson

 

[Langeveldt]

Gavin Ewing
Travis Friend
Scott Brant
Douglas Marillier
Barney Rogers (a bit iffy with Taylor and Masakadza, but I always rated him)
Guy Croxford
Richard Sims
Greg Lamb
Douglas Hondo
Sean Williams
Gary Penford
Andrew Gait
Ryan Watson

*knocks head against wall

 

[Prince EWS]

*knocks head against wall

There's also Clint Heron, a Western Australian opening batsman, who's father played for Zimbabwe in ODIs.

 

[Craig]

What ever happened to Adam Huckle, Byran Murphy and many others?

AFAIK Huckle has ended up in the US but not sure about Murphy.

 

[Chubb]

I don't know what happened to Brian. I know he did try out for Essex IIs a couple of years ago, but that's the last I've heard of him.

The last match was washed out, so 2-2 is the final score. I think that accurately reflects a good series of cricket between the teams, with both sides holding the upper hand at different times. I think Zim can take a lot of positives out of this, specifically the performances of Rinke, all the spinners, Brendan and Terry as an opener and as a captain.

I was just looking on the Devon Cricket website and apparently Peter Roebuck is trying to get Prosper Utseya a place with a club in Devon for the next season. I wish I could get him to come and play for us, but I don't think Roebuck will be particularly enamoured of an E Division East side which holds no practises!

 

[chaminda_00]

What ever happened to Adam Huckle, Byran Murphy and many others?

AFAIK Huckle has ended up in the US but not sure about Murphy.

Last i heard of Byran Murphy was that he was in South Africa, getting a uni degree and playing a bit of cricket. Similar to what Hamilton was doing.

Here is an article about it.

 

[sirjeremy11]

I was wrong. I thought Kenya would take this easily, meaning either that Kenya have gone backwards quite a bit, or that Zim have some fight left in them. Interesting to see how Kenya play against the Bangles. and scary to see how Zim go in the West Indies.

 

[Neil Pickup]

I don't know what happened to Brian. I know he did try out for Essex IIs a couple of years ago, but that's the last I've heard of him.

The last match was washed out, so 2-2 is the final score. I think that accurately reflects a good series of cricket between the teams, with both sides holding the upper hand at different times. I think Zim can take a lot of positives out of this, specifically the performances of Rinke, all the spinners, Brendan and Terry as an opener and as a captain.

I was just looking on the Devon Cricket website and apparently Peter Roebuck is trying to get Prosper Utseya a place with a club in Devon for the next season. I wish I could get him to come and play for us, but I don't think Roebuck will be particularly enamoured of an E Division East side which holds no practises!

You'd expect a Premier Division side, wouldn't you. Won't be us. Sandford?

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

A week-long odyssey: Kenya in Zimbabwe

The rest of world blinked and seemed to miss this week-long series, and from the evidence of the crowd turnouts, so did most of the population of Zimbabwe.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

I was wrong. I thought Kenya would take this easily, meaning either that Kenya have gone backwards quite a bit, or that Zim have some fight left in them.

Or that Kenya hadn't played proper international cricket since the 2004 Champions Trophy?

 

[sirjeremy11]

Didn't seem to matter in World Cup 03 that they were not playing much international cricket apart from a tri series with Pakistan and Australia.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Didn't seem to matter in World Cup 03 that they were not playing much international cricket apart from a tri series with Pakistan and Australia.

The World Cup is an entirely different occasion though. That's why some of the greatest matches have been World Cup matches.

 

[sirjeremy11]

The World Cup is an entirely different occasion though. That's why some of the greatest matches have been World Cup matches.

Sorry, I don't get your point. If it is that Kenya raised themselves and performed above expectations at that World Cup, then surely you could say so do the other teams. The only reason they got through to the semi finals was because they beat Sri Lanka, and some bugger sent NZ cricket an email warning them of terrorism against the NZ team in Nairobi. There is no way Kenya would have beaten two (major) test teams in a row IMO (becuase of the other test team not being so complacent mainly) - just look what WI (with no motivation at all) did to them in WC 03.