The Sunday News
THE New Zealand cricket team arrives in Bulawayo tomorrow for two Test matches against Zimbabwe at Queens Sports Club, the first which gets underway on Thursday.
New Zealand landed in Harare last Wednesday and took on Zimbabwe A in a three-day fixture at Harare Sports Club. Led by top order batsman Kane Williamson, the Black Caps have named a solid squad for the two Tests in Bulawayo.
Martin Guptil, Ross Taylor, Tim Southee and Trent Boult are some of the world acclaimed stars Bulawayo cricket fans can look forward to seeing in action.
Zimbabwe last Thursday announced their 16-man squad which saw the call up of left handed batsman Prince Masvaure and the recall of pace bowler Njabulo Ncube who last played international cricket in 2011.
Masvaure, captain of the Zimbabwe Under-19 team at the 2008 International Cricket Council World Cup in Malaysia was rewarded for his 88 not out for Zimbabwe A in a four-day match against South Africa A at Harare Sports Club and his 146 runs squaring off to the same opponents in Bulawayo last week. Ncube, another Zimbabwe representative at the 2008 Under-19 World Cup had quit the international game for a coaching job in South Africa where he had been based since 2013.
The most notable exclusions for Zimbabwe are right handed batsman Vusumuzi Sibanda and former captain Elton Chigumbura.
Bulawayo Metropolitan Cricket Association chairman Vumindaba Moyo last Thursday declared their preparedness to host New Zealand. He disclosed that in June New Zealand sent a powerful delegation to check on the state of preparedness for Bulawayo to be the venue for their visit.
“New Zealand sent a very powerful delegation in June made up of their team manager, security consultant and a players represent-ative. They inspected the ground, the facilities at the ground and the hotel. They were more than happy with what they saw. They visited Mater Dei Hospital, met the ambulance crew, police and everyone who matters.
“We had to be ready for that inspection otherwise if we were not ready they were not going to come. We have been crying for international cricket in Bulawayo, the fans should show that they love the game by filling up Queens Sports Club,’’ said Moyo.
Zimbabwe last played a Test match in Bulawayo against the same opponents in October 2011, a contest which the tourists won by 34 runs. The two teams have met 15 times in the prolonged version of the game, with nine victories for New Zealand, no wins for Zimbabwe while six matches have ended in draws.
Zimbabwe squad
Graeme Cremer (captain), Sikandar Raza, Regis Chakabva, Brian Chari, Tendai Chatara, Chamunorwa Chibhabha, Craig Ervine, Hamilton Masakadza, Prince Masvaure, Tinotenda Mawoyo, Peter Joseph Moor(wicketkeeper), Richmond Mutumbami(wicketkeeper), Taurai Muzarabani, Njabulo Ncube, Donald Tiripano, Sean Williams.
New Zealand squad
Kane Williamson (captain), Trent Boult, Douglas Bracewell, Mark Craig, Martin Guptill, Matt Henry, Tom Latham, Henry Nicholls, Luke Ronchi (wicketkeeper), Jeet Raval, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Timothy Southee, Ross Taylor, Neil Wagner, Bradley John Watling (wicketkeeper).
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