A Chevrons XI squad based on cold, hard stats… Saturday Chronicle’s data-driven Chevrons squads for Ireland series

WITH Zimbabwe’s international cricket return just days away, the excitement is building. Ireland’s tour, starting this week, features a tantalising series of one Test, three ODIs, and three T20Is.

The action kicks off at Queens Sports Club on Thursday with the Test match, before the focus shifts to Harare for the white-ball clashes from 14 February.

While Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) has unveiled their squads, including deserved call-ups for Mega Market Mountaineers’ Nick Welch and Vincent Masekesa, Saturday Chronicle has taken a closer look at the domestic talent pool.

Our analysts have meticulously compiled their own preferred squads for each format, based purely on cold, hard statistics. This isn’t about second-guessing the selectors, but rather highlighting the wealth of talent on display in the domestic game.

Our selections, driven by merit alone, offer a different perspective, showcasing players who have consistently performed at domestic level.

For the Test and ODI squads, the ongoing Logan Cup and Pro50 Championships provided the data, while last season’s T20 stats were used for the T20I selections, given the current campaign is yet to get underway. So, how do our picks compare? Read on to find out. . . Players with the best averages this season with bat and ball in the domestic set-up were up for consideration, barring a couple who were selected purely on potential.

For the Test and ODIs, the ongoing recently concluded round of domestic matches which came to an end yesterday were not considered.

Basing on the Logan Cup statistics this season, Ben Curran, who enjoys an average of 74 as an opener for Rhinos, will go on to open in our preferred Chevrons Test squad alongside Tuskers’ Tanunurwa Makoni who has had a relatively good campaign so far for the Bulawayo side with 330 runs at an average of 66.

Coming in at number three will, probably, be the most in-form player in the domestic set-up at the moment, Nick Welch, who is enjoying a good run in form which has seen him amass 544 runs at an average of 68. The experienced trio of Craig Ervine, Sean Williams and Sikandar Raza will come in at number four, five and six respectively with the young Brian Bennett batting at seven.

Having been batting at the top for Mountaineers, Matthew Welch will miss out with Nyasha Mayavo, who has an average of 61 with the bat, taking the gloves and coming in at eight. We will also go with a three-pronged pace attack consisting of Richard Ngarava, Blessing Muzarabani and Victor Nyauchi who is averaging 23 with the ball. Williams, Raza and Bennett will be our spinning options with Vincent Masekesa unfortunately sitting out.

For the one-day team, Curran once again opens with Matthew Welch who will also double as the wicketkeeper. Ervine, Williams and Raza will come in at number three, four and five respectively while Tony Munyonga, averaging 48 and a strike rate of 120, will come in at six followed by Johnathan Campbell at number seven. Campbell has the best average in the Pro50 Championship this season of 109.

Bennett will bat down at eight with Luke Jongwe making it at nine followed by Ngarava and Muzarabani. Due to his batting capabilities, Jongwe makes the cut ahead of Ernest Masuku who will be our 12th man with Roy Kaia.
In the side for the shortest version, Curran, averaging 29 with a strike rate of 120, gets to open the batting again with Tadiwanashe Marumani who boasts an average of 30 and a strike rate of 120. Marumani will also take the gloves. Bennett will come in at three with Raza at four and Ryan Burl at number five.

At number six, with an average of 28 and a strike rate of 127, will be Munyonga.
Following his impressive campaign last year, where he averaged 21 with the ball, Ainsley Ndlovu will make the team at eight with Tinotenda Maposa coming in at number nine. Ngarava and Muzarabani will complete the playing 11 with Tashinga Musekiwa, Milton Shumba and Masuku having to sit out.

Saturday Chronicle’s preferred Chevrons Test team:
Ben Curran (batting average of 74), Tanunurwa Makoni (batting average of 66), Nick Welch (batting average of 68), Craig Ervine (captain), Sean Williams, Sikandar Raza, Brian Bennett, Nyasha Mayavo (batting average of 61, wk), Richard Ngarava, Blessing Muzarabani, Victor Nyauchi, Matthew Welch (batting average of 44, wk, sub), Vincent Masekesa (24 wickets at an average of 21, sub), Nkosana Mpofu (batting average of 42, sub).

ODI team:
Ben Curran (batting average of 49), Matthew Welch (batting average of 38, wk), Craig Ervine (captain), Sean Williams, Sikandar Raza, Tony Munyonga (batting average of 48), Johnathan Campbell (batting average of 109), Brian Bennett, Luke Jongwe (batting average of 40; bowling average of 19), Blessing Muzarabani, Richard Ngarava, Tinashe Chiorah (batting average of 66, sub), Ernest Masuku (eleven wickets, bowling average of 17, sub), Roy Kaia (batting average of 47, sub).
T20I team:
Ben Curran (batting average of 29, strike rate of 120), Tadiwanashe Marumani (batting average of 30, strike rate of 147), Brian Bennett, Sikandar Raza (captain), Ryan Burl (batting average of 59), Tony Munyonga (batting average of 28, strike rate of 126), Ainsley Ndlovu (seven wickets, bowling average of 21), Tinotenda Maposa, Richard Ngarava, Blessing Muzarabani, Tashinga Musekiwa (batting average of 17, strike rate of 130, sub), Ernest Masuku (eight wickets, bowling average of 15, sub), Milton Shumba (batting average of 28, strike rate of 120).