The Sunday News
Mehluli Sibanda Senior Sports Reporter
NEIGHBOURS Zimbabwe and South Africa will use the three-match One-Day International cricket series at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo as part of their preparation for the 2015 International Cricket Council Cricket World Cup. The first of the three ODIs between the two Southern Africa neighbours gets underway this morning with the second on Tuesday and the last two days later.
The World Cup, the global cricket showcase to be jointly hosted by Australia and New Zealand, is just six months away and the two teams would be looking at identifying players for that tournament during this series which is going to be followed by a Triangular 50 over contest that will also feature former world champions Australia in Harare.
Zimbabwe coach Stephen Mangongo said he was looking at trying out a number of talented players coming through the ranks against the mighty Proteas. Wicketkeeper Richmond Mutumbami with just A single ODI appearance against Afghanistan, Under-19 star all-rounder Luke Jongwe as well MidWest Rhinos seamer Neville Madziva have all made the 13 man squad for today’s encounter. With Mangongo choosing to let the country’s Test captain Brendon Taylor focus more on his batting with no pressure of wicketkeeping, Mutambami is certain to be the man behind the stumps.
Off spinner John Nyumbu has also made the final 13 after a fine display in his first ever international appearance for Zimbabwe which saw him claim five wickets in his Test debut at Harare Sports Club against the same opponents today. Former skipper and the country’s best off spinner in years Prosper Utseya is back in the fold after being sidelined by a bout of chicken pox which saw him being ruled out of the Test match. It is yet to be seen if Utseya and Nyumbu could be fielded at the same time.
“We have some youth talent we want to try out see whether they are up to the task at this level. Players like Neville, Luke and Richmond, we want to see their level of preparedness,’’ said Mangongo.
The Zimbabwean mentor said coming from an embarrassing four match challenge with ICC Associate member Afghanistan which concluded 2-2, it was clear that there was something wrong in the Zimbabwean camp which has to be fixed.
That debacle against Afghanistan saw Mangongo replace Malcolm Waller as head coach with the captaincy also split, Taylor now the team leader for Tests while all-rounder Elton Chigumbura has been given another chance to captain the team for the shortened versions of the game.
Mangongo said they were confident in their own backyard against the tourists even if Zimbabwe have only beaten their neigbhours just twice in this format in 32 previous meeting between 1992 and 2010.
Chigumbura was omitted for the only Test in Harare which concluded in a nine wicket loss defeat for Zimbabwe inside four days. The bowling all rounder said being left out of the playing squad for the five day match afforded him an opportunity to identify certain aspects of the game which could be beneficial to Zimbabwe during the ODI series.
Chingumbura revealed that he was ready to contribute the full 10 overs if required on what is usually a slow wicket at Queens Sports Club.
“I know this is different but I picked up a few things during the Test that could have a part in the ODIs. This series gives us a chance to prepare for the World Cup which is just a few months away. I am sure I can play a full part as an all rounder, bowl the full 10 overs if required,’’ Chigumbura said.
Zimbabwe will bank on the batting of Taylor, Vusumuzi Sibanda, Brendan Taylor, Hamilton Masakadza, Sean Williams, and Mutumbami.
South African captain Abraham de Villiers is also having the World Cup in mind in this series. The South African ODI skipper said they were looking at giving the new players they brought to Zimbabwe a chance to prove themselves.
The Proteas have the uncapped duo of batsman Rilee Rossouw and left arm pace bowler Mthokozisi Shezi. South Africa have, for the three matches, rested the pace bowling trio of Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel and Vernon Philander who will, however, return for the Triangular matches. Left arm seamer Beuran Hendricks was ruled out with a back injury with no replacement sent for him as yet but Under-19 star bowler Kagiso Rabada is likely to be his replacement.
“This is obviously part of the preparations for the World Cup, this is a big series it is important to get the balance right ahead of the World Cup. We will give a chance to the new faces a lot more against Zimbabwe but select the best 11 when we play against Australia,’’ said De Villiers.
He singled out Zimbabwean players such as Taylor and Utseya as the ones who could give them a hard time. De Villiers said the fact that Zimbabwe were in familiar conditions made them dangerous opponents to play against.
With stalwart Jacques Kallis now retired, Francois du Plessis will now get more opportunities to bat up the order with Ryan McLaren assuming the responsibility of pace bowling all rounder. De Villiers, Du Plessis, Jean Paul Duminy, Hashim Amla, wicketkeeper Quinton de Cock, David Miller and McLaren have a huge role to play in the South African batting order while in the bowling department, Merchant De Lange, leg spinner Imran Tahir, Wayne Parnell, Kyle Abbot and left arm spinner Aaron Pangiso are the key men for the South Africans.
Squads
Zimbabwe: Elton Chigumbura(captain), Brendan Taylor, Hamilton Masakadza, Vusumuzi Sibanda, Sean Williams, Richmond Mutumbami(wicketkeeper), Luke Jongwe, Prosper Utseya, John Nyumbu, Shingirai Masakadza, Malcolm Waller, Timycen Maruma, Neville Madziva.
South Africa: Abraham Benjamin de Villiers (captain), Hashim Amla, Kyle Abbott, Quinton de Kock, Marchant de Lange, Jean Paul Duminy, Francois du Plessis, Imran Tahir, Ryan McLaren, David Miller, Wayne Parnell, Aaron Phangiso, Rilee Rossouw, Mthokozisi Shezi.
