Zimbabwe outclassed in three-horse race

While most of the cricket world turns its eyes towards Trent Bridge for the fourth Test of a compelling Ashes series, a powerful India, a proven New Zealand and a topsy-turvy Zimbabwe begin a triangular one-day international series in Bulawayo and Harare. After the three countries meet each other twice, a sequence providing six matches in all, the final will be held in Harare on September 6.

Zimbabwe cannot be expected to figure in the tournament, although it is wise to avoid predicting write-offs, as their new coach Kevin Curran will be looking to make his mark during his first game in charge against New Zealand on Wednesday.

But the Kiwis are resounding favourites, having beaten Zimbabwe in both their Test matches which ended last week - one by an innings and 294 runs, the other by an innings and 46. India versus New Zealand will be a fascinating prospect, as both sides are regarded as being evenly balanced.

New Zealand are very strong in the middle order, with the captain, Stephen Fleming, Nathan Astle, Chris Cairns and Craig McMillan backed up by Scott Styris, any of whom could produce fireworks. India's Virender Sehwag, one of the greatest cricket entertainers on earth, and the steadying influence of Rahul Dravid, will provide plenty of big innings in response.

The respective batsmen on each side are most likely to take centre stage because the Queens Sports Club ground, once its early morning dangers have been negotiated, offers a slowish, true pitch of even bounce that will encourage the chasing of boundaries.

Zimbabwe, meanwhile, have chopped up their Test squad after their poor performance against New Zealand by dispensing with Craig Wishart, Dion Ebrahim, Chris Mpofu, Graeme Cremer and Neil Ferreira. Several with some previous experience have been brought back, including Chaminorwa Chibhabha, Waddington Mwayenga, Edward Rainsford, Prosper Utseya, Charles Coventry and Vusimusi Sibanda.

This is a fragile-looking line-up, but it was forced on the selectors, obliged to choose between a group of failures against New Zealand, and previous players who never quite made it. They are, though, able to welcome back their big-hitting fast bowler Andy Blignaut, who once took apart Australia's Jason Gillespie.

Zimbabwe have beaten India eight times in ODIs, although that has been over a 22-year period, and they beat the Kiwis 2-1 when they toured here in 2000-01. But Zimbabwe have much to learn, both on and off the field, and they will not figure in the outcome as India and New Zealand take off the gloves and battle pretty much evenly for the spoils.

Zimbabwe Tatenda Taibu (capt & wk), Andy Blignaut, Heath Streak, Chamunorwa Chibhabha, Keith Dabengwa, Waddington Mwayengwa, Edward Rainsford, Prosper Utseya, Blessing Mahwire, Stuart Carlisle, Hamilton Mazakadsa, Charles Coventry, Brendan Taylor, Craig Wishart, Vusimuzi Sibanda, Gavin Ewing.

India Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid, Virender Sehwag, Yuvraj Singh, Mohammad Kaif, Venugopal Rao, Suresh Raina, Mahendra Dhoni, Harbhajan Singh, Murali Kartik, Ashish Nehra, Irfan Pathan, Ajit Agarkar, Rudra Pratap Singh, Jai Prakash Yadav.

New Zealand Stephen Fleming, Daniel Vettori, Hamish Marshall, Nathan Astle, Scott Styris, Lou Vincent, Jacob Oram, Brendon McCullum, Kyle Mills, Shane Bond, Chris Martin, Craig McMillan, Chris Cairns, Andre Adams, Jeetan Patel.