Squads –
Namibia –
Gerhard Merwe Erasmus (C), Maurituis Ngupita, JJ Smit, Jan Frylinck, Karl Birkenstock, Ben Shikongo, Bernard Scholtz, Nicol Loftie-Eaton, Craig Williams, Michael van Lingen, Stephen Baard, Dewald Nell, Ruben Trumpelmann, Zane Green, Shaun Fouche, Michiel du Preez, Picky Ya France
Zimbabwe Emerging –
Faraz Akram, Brian Bennett, Brian Chari, Chamu Chibhabha, Tanaka Chivanga, Kevin Kasuza, Tendekai Mataranyika, Brian Mudzinganyama, Carl Mumba, Richmond Mutumbami, Ainsley Ndlovu, Tinashe Nenhunzi, Tadiwanashe Nyangani, Steven Saul, Matthew Welch
Team News –
Namibia –
– Namibia Eagles and Zimbabwe Emerging will play with each other in the 1st game of the six matches T20 series at the Wanderers Cricket Ground in Namibia.
– Namibia played 3 ODIs and 3 t20s against South Africa Emerging recently and won both the series. They have a very good squad to win this one as well.
– For Namibia Zane Green and Any if Craig Williams or Stephan Baard will open. Green was in excellent form last series while Williams batted in middle.
– Stephan Baard will bat 1 down if not open followed by Gerhard Erasmus. Erasmus is one of the most experienced player of team and can contribute both with bat and bowl.
– Nicol Loftie-Eaton , Jane Frylink and JJ Smit will handle the middle order. All 3 can hit the ball big especially JJ Smit. Smit can be promoted for hitting.
– B Scholtz and Gerhard Erasmus will be crusial with the spin bowling.
– JJ Smit, Jan Frylink , Ben Shikongo and Trumpelmann are are very good pacers in the team.
Zimbabwe Emerging –
– Zimbabwe Emerging has named a 15 members squad by including five U-19 players in it.
– They have some guys like Richmond Mutumbami, Chamu Chibhabha who have been a part of International Cricket for Zimbabwe.
– Chamu Chibhabha and Brain Chari will be the openers. Chibhabha has huge experience with 2000+ runs. Chari has good domestic record with 763 runs.
– Kevin Kasuza and Richmond Mutumbami will bat in middle. Kasuza has played Test cricket for Zimbabwe. Mutumbami will keep the Wickets.
– Carl Mumba Faraz Ahmad and Brain Bennett will bat in middle. All are u-19 players. Bennett has the ability to strike the ball big.
– Brain Bennett, Nyangani and Ainsley Ndlovu will lead the spin attack.
– Faraz Akram, Carl Mumba and Chivanga will lead the pace attack.
Probable XI –
Namibia –
Craig Williams, Zane Green, Stephan Baard, Gerhard Erasmus, Nicol Loftie-Eaton, Jane Frylink, JJ Smit, Michael van Lingen, Ben Shikongo, B Scholtz, Ruben Trumpelmann
Zimbabwe Emerging –
Chamu Chibhabha, Brain Chari, Kevin Kasuza, Richmond Mutumbami, Brian Mudzinganyama, Carl Mumba, Brain Bennett, Faraz Akram, Ainsley Ndlovu , Tadiwanashe Nyangani, Tanaka Chivanga
Pitch Report –
The Wanderers, Namibia
Pitch at Wanderers Cricket Ground, Windhoek in Namibia is expected to be a batting friendly surface where anything under 170 is likely to be chased down. However pacers can get some assistance in the initial overs of the game
Average Score : 143
Team Blueprint –
WK –
R Mutumbami( 2 down + Wk, attacking batsman, 962 runs in 68 t20 game)
Zane Green( Open + wk, very attacking batsman, 86 runs in 3 games with a sr of 163 last series)
BAT –
C Chibhabha(Open, RHB, most experienced player in the team, 2000+ runs + 45 Wickets in his t20 career, Must have)
Brain Chari( Open, RHB, very good domestic record, 763 runs in 30 game, Must have from Zimbabwe)
S Baard(Open/1 down, best batsman of the team with 1455 t20 runs, Must have)
C Williams( Open/3 down, Medium pacer, 2090 runs + 42 Wickets in t20s, Must have)
J Loftie-Eaton( Open/3 down + medium pacer, opened in 1 game last series, 3 Wickets + 44 runs last series, Must have)
ALL –
Jan Frylink(Left arm medium fast + middle order, 344 runs + 50 wicket in 44 games, not a player to miss, 3 Wickets last Series)
JJ Smit( Left arm fast + LHB, 148 runs + 2 wicket last series, was striking the ball at 231, Must have)
G Erasmus( 2 down + Leg spin, very experienced, 1 wicket + 90 runs in series against South Africa)
F Akram( Medium pacer, just 3 Wickets in 8 t20 games, 38 list A Wickets in 18 games )
B Bennett( 2/3 down + off spin, 235 runs + 9 Wickets in 6 games, very good option to have )
BOWL –
Carl Mumba( Left arm medium fast, u-19 player, just 5 Wickets in 9 t20 games)
Ben Scholtz( Slow left arm, 109 t20 Wickets in 99 games, experienced, can also bat a bit )
Ben Trumpelmann( Right arm fast, highest wicket taker for Namibia last series, 4 Wickets in 3 games alst t20 series)
A Ndlovu( Slow left arm, 17 Wickets in 16 t20 games )
Ben Shikongo( Right Arm medium fast, 15 Wickets in 18 games, experienced)
Nyangani ( Left arm Chinnaman bowl, 4 Wickets in 4 games he played, can be a trump card pick in GL )
C/VC Options –
Namibia –
Craig Williams
JJ Smit
Jan Frylink
Gerhard Erasmus
Zimbabwe Emerging –
Chamu Chibhabha
Brain Bennett
Richmond Mutumbami