Zimbabwe will in the next eleven days tour
the West Indies for two tests, two Twenty 20 and three one day Internationals.
The team has been selected and there is couple of youngsters set to make their
debuts, specialist coaches not travelling and a lot of selection controversies set ablaze by the country's Sports minister through the Sports and Recreaction Commission Board. Away from all of this it’s time to look on the
bright side and start following what the opposition is doing at present.
The Darren Sammy captained West Indies is
in Australia at the moment where they are finding the going tough to say the
least. Their top order led by power hitter Chris Gayle, Kerian Powell, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Darren and Dwayne Bravo is in great
shape and will be a force to reckon with; assuming off cause that Ottis Gibson
opts for using the same batting combinations against Zimbabwe then there might
be a need for some sharp think required from the bowlers.
Chris Mpofu, Kegaan Meth, Kyle Jarvis have
to search for that killer instinct and ability to focus under pressure, think
about the kind of line required when bowling at these world class beaters. Gayle
in particular enjoys the fast and furious, so with an attack that has a speed
average of 132 km/h it should frustrate the big man from the Caribbean. However the
spin department to be marshalled by Prosper Utseya, ray Price, Graeme Cremer and the
two debutants Natsai Mushangwe and Tino Mutombombodzi simple turn will not do
much but delivery variation will be key as evidenced by the number of lbw dismissals in Australia at the
moment as the West Indians tend to struggle with fit movement.
The bowling attack which is currently comprised
of forceful paceman Kemar Roach, teenager Jason Holder Sammy, Sunil Narine and sometimes Gayle has taken 15 wickets
in the Australian tour so far. This makes these bowlers quite average but on a
good day they can rise above the dead and injure our batting line up that lacks
enthusiasm many a time and is known for its poor shot selection and execution.
However with the form Brendan Taylor, Tino Mawoyo, Craig Ervine, Regis Chakabva
and Vusi Sibanda are currently enjoying it remains to be seen how they intend
to deal with this youthful attack in those West Indian wickets.
It will be important for Mountaineers and
Sylhet Royals’ opener Hamilton Masakadza to get his groove back as he will be instrumental
in championing Zimbabwe’s batting prows. He has been struggling with form of
late but he is a tried and tested carder who cans still the show on any given
wicket.
Let’s look at the last three One Day
Internationals that the West Indians have played in the last two weeks. These
are brief match reports of these games...............
First ODI in Australia, Set 267 to win
after George Bailey's unbeaten 125 rescued the Australian innings, the West
Indies were cruising at 159 for three in the run chase, before the return of Mitchell
Starc to the attack turned the match again as the tourists were bowled out 212
in the 39th over.
Starc (5-32) had claimed the first three
wickets in the West Indian innings, all lbw, to have them reeling at 33 for
three, but when he came back into the attack the Australians were struggling,
with opener Kieran Powell and Dwayne Bravo putting on a century partnership for
the fourth wicket.
MATCH 2, Paceman Mitchell Starc helped consign West Indies to
their third lowest total in one-day internationals as Australia's top order
needed less than 10 overs to race to a nine-wicket victory. Man-of-the-match
Starc captured five wickets for 20 and burly quick Clint McKay returned figures
of 3-10 as the tourists were skittled for 70, having won the toss and elected
to bat first on a baking hot day.
Australia's response
was short and brutal with opener Glenn Maxwell blasting an unbeaten 51 and
Usman Khawaja finishing on eight not out after pushing the winning single to
wrap up victory in the opener of the five-match series.
MATCH 3, Shane
Watson celebrated his return to international cricket with a sparkling innings
of 122 before Australia secured a clinical 39-run win over the West Indies in
the third ODI at Manuka Oval on Wednesday. The visitors looked on course at 214
for three with Darren Bravo on 86, but they lost both Bravo and Gayle one run apart,
and even Andre Russell's 31-ball 43 could not stem the collapse as they lost
their last seven wickets for 76 runs. Earlier, Australia posted 329 for seven.
Well with this kind of perfomance, am sure we can give the West Indians a run for their money. Although we must not forget that this is Astralia currently tearing them apart and making light weight of them.
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