The Sunday News
Mehluli Sibanda, Senior Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE and South Africa could play the first ever four-day Test cricket match in December if the International Cricket Council gives the go ahead.
Cricket South Africa and Zimbabwe Cricket have concurred to have a four-day, day-night Test likely to be played at St George’s Park in Port Elizabeth, starting on Boxing Day. This is however, subject to approval from the ICC at its board meeting to be held in Auckland, New Zealand from 8 to 13 October.
Darlington Majonga, the ZC communications and media manager confirmed that an agreement has been reached for a four-day Test to be played between Zimbabwe and South Africa with the respective boards now waiting for ICC to give the green light.
“ZC and Cricket South Africa have agreed in principle to play a four-day Test subject to ICC approval at its next board meeting in October. It has nothing to do with our team’s ability or lack of. This proposal has been around for a while now to have four-day Tests, this is likely to test several things like use of a pink ball, the rationale is this will likely lead to exciting cricket.
Once they (ICC) give us the green light, we will be happy to go to South Africa. They intend to have us playing on Boxing Day,’’ said Majonga.
South Africa have been forced to find an opponent for their hugely popular traditional Boxing Day Test after India decided to push their arrival in the neighbouring country to 28 December.
Meanwhile, Zimbabwe will take on Netherlands in three 50 over matches at Harare Sports Club on 27, 29 September and 1 October. The Dutch arrived in the country yesterday for the limited overs series. Zimbabwe have maintained the same squad which beat the Dutch 2-1 in a three-match limited overs series in Netherlands in June. Wicket keeper Regis Chakabva is the only addition to the squad which toured Netherlands.
Former captain Brendan Taylor, who recently signed a contract with ZC to play domestic and international cricket will not feature against the Dutch after he was given a break since he had played a lot of cricket with English county side Nottinghamshire. National team coach Heath Streak said Taylor was doing fitness work on his own as the idea was to give him time. Streak indicated that Taylor will most likely start playing in the Logan Cup next month as he gets ready for his international comeback in the two Tests against West Indies at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo. -@Mdawini_29
