.....ZIM'S OPENING BATSMEN SCRUTINISED....

OPENING BATSMEN CRUCIAL IN TEST CRICKET

As Zimbabwe gets ready for the longer version, Test Cricket, it is important for us to look at the most crucial part of the game, opening batsmen.

The team has in the recent past been criticized of a pathetic show in this department. This has often let down the usually “hard working bowlers”, spin bowlers in particular. Today I focus on the requirements of an opening batter and a much more magnified look at the top four contenders for this job in Zimbabwe. But what makes a good opening batsman?

Now lets look at the top contenders for this job, these are Brendon Taylor, Hamilton Masakadza, Vusimuzi Sibanda and uncapped Tinotenda Mawoyo.

BRENDON TAYLOR: One of the best batsmen to ever emerge out of Zimbabwe as far as one day cricket goes. When it comes to Test cricket this 25-year old has ten caps, 422 runs with an average of 21.10.

Strengths: He is an aggressive player who has the ability to rotate the strike. He can apply himself extremely well with both the front and back foot. Taylor’s ability to move his feet makes him an excellent spin negotiator, a skill that has taken him years to perfect. He can bat for long periods of time making him an option for the English-born coach Allan Butcher.

Weaknesses: He has often been criticized of trying to play too many shots. In other words he tends to be too experimental. He however has a lot of unorthodox shots, a habit which often backfires in Test cricket.

HAMILTON MASAKADZA, in 2001 when, batting at No. 3 instead of his normal opening position, he scored a composed 119 (becoming the youngest man to do so) that was largely responsible for Zimbabwe saving the match after conceding a first-innings lead of 216. Earlier in the year, he had not only become the youngest Zimbabwean ever to score a first-class century, but also the first black player to do so. He went on to earn himself 15 caps scoring 785 runs with an average of 27.6 before ZC voluntarily pulled out of Test cricket.

Strengths: The history maker has developed a decent level of mental and physical fitness. He can concentrate for longer periods which is a quality that test cricket requires. He is perfect when it comes to the straight, off, on or cover drives. He has an exceptional eye, hand and foot coordination for the leg side shots.

Weaknesses: “Mudhara Hammie” as he is porpularly known in the cricket circles, tends to be vulnerable on the off stump particularly in the early stages of the innings. The Mutare-based Mountaineers skipper needs to improve his shot application on the back foot.

VUSI SIBANDA: He scored 58 on debut against the West Indies in 2003, but his selection for the national team came rather too early, and despite failing to live up to his potential, the crisis in the national side meant that he kept his place long after others would have been discarded. He currently captains the Jason Gillespie coached Midwest Rhinos and opens very well with Taylor.

Strengths: Vusi is a very attacking player who has managed to work on his mental and physical fitness over the years. He scores quickly and rotates the strike very well. He is very comfortable on the back-foot and can stay on the crease for longer periods. He is the third quickest runner between the wickets after Tatenda Taibu and Stuart Matsikenyeri.

Weaknesses: The 2010 batsman of the year tends to be too aggressive and his inability to convert his starts to tangible scores has more than once haunted him in the past. He also struggles to negotiate with the turning ball much scrutiny to his timing.

TINOTENDA MAWOYO: Mawoyo had already played first-class cricket before he captained Zimbabwe Under-19 at the World Cup in 2003-04. He opens for Mountaineers and has been often under rated but caused an upset last year against New Zealand A, when he scoured a double century. The 25-year old is yet to make his Test debut as he has only two caps.

Strengths: He is the orthodox opener who can play all sorts of shots. He has the ability to leave the good ball very early in the innings and is very tight on the defence, making him arguably the best front-foot batter after Taibu. He is totally ruthless, very severe on the drive and highly aggressive when it comes to playing spin.

Weaknesses: He is a suspect when it comes to short balls, he tends to play them instead of leaving. He has more than once fallen prey to critics about his fitness although when it comes to batting there isn’t anything sinister. This, here, is the future of Zimbabwe Cricket.

We will have to see who catches the eyes of the selectors when it comes to the first Test to be played and hosted by Zimbabwe in close to a decade.