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Zimbabwe need Taibu to find form

On Friday, the Zimbabwe selectors will name the team to take on England in five one-day internationals

Steven Price
19-Nov-2004
On Friday, the Zimbabwe selectors will name the team to take on England in five one-day internationals. Steven Price takes a closer look at some players who should make it to the 15-man squad based on perfomances in the Faithwear one-day competition
Tatenda Taibu The Zimbabwe skipper scored an unbeaten 121 against Matabeleland in the first match but he is leading a troubled Mashonaland side and that has adversely affected his performances. He has scored only 17 runs in the last two matches but is a class act and should do better.
Mark Vermeulen The Matabeleland top-order batsman has finally got his head right and has led by example with scores of 75 against Mashonaland, 91 against Manicaland and 105 against Namibia, giving him an average of 90.33. His form on the international scene had plunged alarmingly and it is good to see him scoring runs.
Christopher Mpofu The tall Matabeleland pace bowler has been magnificent in the three matches for his province. He picked up 6 for 42 against Mashonaland in the first game and never looked back - his tally now stands at 11 in the competition. He is surely putting into practice the tips he got from Damien Fleming at the Commonwealth Bank for Excellence in Brisbane where he was attached for a month.
Gavin Ewing He only played two Tests for Zimbabwe before the crisis broke out and should be given a chance in the shorter version of the game. He scored 56 not out against Mashonaland, his batting average stands at 93.00, and he has proved effective with his offspin which has gained him five wickets. He can make the team as an allrounder.
Brendan Taylor He is part of a troubled Mashonaland side and that has seen him score 66 runs with a high score 52 but is certainly capable of doing better.
Kuda Samunderu The youngster has been in good form, from the first game when he scored 43 against Matabeleland, he has an average of 37.00 in the three matches.
Stuart Matsikenyeri He has been the outstanding batsman for Manicaland with an average of 69.50 and a high of 80 not out - hopefully he can transform that onto the international scene.
Vusumuzi Sibanda In great form for his province with a high score of 64, he is the best in a team of average players with a batting avarage of 45.50. He is another player who has failed to replicate form for his province onto the international scene.
Other players who have an outside chance of being picked are the Matabeleland top order trio of Tinashe Hove, Terrence Duffin and Wisdom Siziba and the Midlands bowling trio of Ian Nicholson, Innocent Chinyoka and Hillary Matanga.