Rebels return, but strength is relative
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New Zealand become the first team to undertake four Test tours of Zimbabwe and Stephen Fleming, the captain, Nathan Astle and Daniel Vettori have been on three of them. They will be only too aware of the country's decline as well as the similar progression, or regression, of its cricket.
At least this Zimbabwe team will be stronger than the one playing for the last 18 months as a few rebel players have returned to the side after pressure on Zimbabwe cricket from the international cricket community. Still missing are three players of genuine Test quality in Grant Flower, Sean Ervine and Raymond Price, not to mention all those who retired prematurely in despair.
The Zimbabwe selection has also been handicapped by the absence of Andy Blignaut, Douglas Hondo, Tinashe Panyangara and Ed Rainsford, all still suffering from stress fractures. But at least the presence of Heath Streak will ensure that the New Zealand batsmen do not have it all their way.
The batting is strengthened by the return of Stuart Carlisle and Craig Wishart, who supply much-needed experience in addition to skill. But with the ill-concealed hostility between many of the players and the administrators still very strong, can one expect morale to be high and the team to match their opponents?
Zimbabwe are taking a gamble by playing only four bowlers, three of who still have everything to prove. The promising but disappointing allrounder, Elton Chigumbura, has been dropped, while Trevor Gripper was omitted due to poor form. Neil Ferreira, a gritty player with a great heart but rather limited ability, will open the batting in his first Test with Brendan Taylor, whose six-month suspension has been mysteriously cut short.
For New Zealand, the main interest will be in the performance of paceman Shane Bond, who has looked most impressive and very quick in practice. He will probably not get too much help from the flat Zimbabwean pitches in the dry spring weather, but Zimbabwe's batsmen will do well to reach 300 in an innings. With last season's team it would have been 200 and the match would probably have been over in three days. This season it should last four.
New Zealand, sound rather than spectacular in both batting and bowling, will expect to win both Tests handsomely, with fine weather almost assured at this time of year. Zimbabwe should improve on the disasters of the last season, but will have to do very well to convince the world that they still deserve to play Test cricket. Until or unless cricket in the country is restored to the hands of those who genuinely know and love the game, this is unlikely to change.
Probable teams:
Zimbabwe Brendan Taylor, Neil Ferreira, Dion Ebrahim, Stuart Carlisle, Hamilton Masakadza, Craig Wishart, Tatenda Taibu (capt, wk), Heath Streak, Blessing Mahwire, Graeme Cremer, Chris Mpofu.
New Zealand Stephen Fleming (capt), James Marshall, Hamish Marshall, Lou Vincent, Nathan Astle, Jacob Oram, Brendon McCullum (wk), Daniel Vettori, James Franklin, Shane Bond, Chris Martin.