TAYLOR ADMITS FRUSTRATION, PRICE RETIRES

Skipper Brendan Taylor questioned Zimbabwe's mental strength, after falling to a seven-wicket loss - and insurmountable three-nil series deficit - against India in Sunday's third ODI at the Harare Sports Club.

All out for a mere 183 in 46 overs, with batsman Sean Williams the lone highlight in an otherwise dismal effort, the hosts then copped plenty of expense at the hands of half-centurion Virat Kohli.

Kohli's unbeaten 68, coupled with opener Shikhar Dhawan's 35 and middle-order newcomer Ambati Rayudu's 33, carried the Indians to a triumphant 187 for three - with all of 87 deliveries to spare. "It's getting quite frustrating now. We put in a lot of effort leading up to the series but the results are not showing. It is getting a little irritating. Mindset could be an issue," conceded Taylor.
"I can't put my finger on it. The guys have to have a look at the mirror and toughen up mentally. We'll take at least one win in the series. If we get it right, we believe we can win."

Veteran spinner Ray Price, meanwhile, has announced his retirement from international cricket. Price was named in the squad for the the five-match series, but will not travel to Bulawayo for the final two fixtures. The 37-year-old Price played 102 ODIs, 22 Tests and 16 Twenty20 Internationals between December 1999 and March 2013, securing 193 wickets across all three formats.

"Price has called it a day. If he was going to play it was going to be here in Harare. We're going to miss his experience, but in saying that it does give our young spinners who are coming through a great opportunity," concluded Taylor.
"He is a hell of a competitor. He's a guy who plays with his heart on his sleeve. He leaves nothing out on the field, he'll give you everything and he's a real team man. Unfortunately age is not in his side anymore and he's moving on with his family."

The fourth - and penultimate ODI - will get underway at the Queens Sports Club on Thursday.

First published by cricket365.com

ICC UNVEILS WC 2015 DRAW

The previously earthquake-stricken Christchurch will host the tournament's opening match between New Zealand and Sri Lanka on February 14 at Hagley Oval, while later that same day Australia will play England at the MCG. The cup holders India will commence their tournament by facing Pakistan in Adelaide the following day. Having been drawn together in Pool A, Australia will travel to Auckland to meet New Zealand on February 28. Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide and Wellington will each host a quarter-final.

Many luminaries were on hand in Melbourne's Docklands for the announcement, including the ICC chief executive Dave Richardson who kept wicket for South Africa at the 1992 event, alongside Dennis Lillee, Ian Chappell, Kapil Dev, Sanath Jayasuriya, Adam Gilchrist and Michael Hussey.

 

"The ICC Cricket World Cup is the flagship tournament of the 50-over game. The 2015 tournament will mark 40 years since the first World Cup in 1975 and that history of great contests and heroes helps make the tournament what it is - the most sought after prize in our increasingly global game," Richardson said.

 

"The ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 will be returning to Australia and New Zealand after 23 years and will be staged at the back of two outstanding 50-over ICC events - the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 and ICC Champions Trophy 2013. I'm absolutely confident that the success of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 will further strengthen the status of 50-over cricket as a successful and viable format alongside Tests and Twenty20 Internationals."

 

Several tournament venues have undergone major redevelopments with 2015 in mind, not least the SCG with a projected capacity of 48,000, and Adelaide Oval's expansion to accommodate 50,000. Eden Park has also undergone a considerable facelift to also be capable of hosting 50,000 spectators. The tournament will feature 49 matches across 44 days in 14 cities throughout February and March of 2015. Australia's 2014-15 Test summer has been shortened to a mere four matches against India in order to leave room for the cup's lengthy schedule. A 14-team format has the competitors pitted in two groups of seven, each to play six pool matches before the top four in each group advance to the quarter-finals, semis and final.  

 

Pool A: England, Australia, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, New Zealand, Qualifier 2 and Qualifier 3

Pool B: South Africa, India, Pakistan, West Indies Zimbabwe, Ireland and Qualifier 4

Venue cities: Adelaide, Auckland, Brisbane, Canberra, Christchurch, Dunedin, Napier, Nelson, Hamilton, Hobart, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney, Wellington