ZIM DEVELOPMENT LOSE 4 DAYER TO SRI LANKA

The Zimbabwe Development side made their Sri Lankan counterparts fight hard most of the way to victory, with Carl Mumba again turning in a sterling bowling performance, but in the end the Sri Lankans proved the better team in this match with a five-wicket victory shortly after lunch on the final day at Harare Sports Club.

The position at the start of play was that the Sri Lankans had 38 runs on the board with one wicket down, needing 181 to win. The opening batsman Pabasara Waduge, on 22, and the night-watchman Anuk Fernando, yet to score, opened the batting to the pace bowling of Victor Nyauchi and Mumba.

Fernando was the more aggressive of the two, especially against Nyauchi, who was not up to the same high standard he showed at the start of their first innings. Mumba took the first wicket of the day when he trapped Waduge lbw for 30 with a fine full-length delivery; 69 for two.

Luke Jongwe replaced Nyauchi, and again struck almost immediately, as Lahiru Milantha (6) drove a low catch into the covers, to make the score 84 for three.

Fernando escaped a low chance in the slips off Mumba when he had three, while Charith Asalanka showed more aggression than in his monumental first innings when he hit two early boundaries off Mumba.

Mumba got his man, however, as he burst through Asalanka’s defence and bowled him comprehensively for nine, making the score 97 for four. Zimbabwe were in now with more of a hope of victory, with Mumba the potential match-winner, but he had already bowled for more than an hour without a break.

The Sri Lanka hundred came up in the 25th over.

Sandun Weerakkody was in fine form, as in the first innings, and the Zimbabweans urgently needed to remove him quickly, but Mumba had to be rested and Nyauchi came back to take his place.

Weerakkody laid into the left-arm spin of Wellington Masakadza, hitting him for 18 runs in two overs, and the Sri Lankans were now closing in on victory.

However, on 35 off 39 balls, he went for a big leg-side swish off Nyauchi and was caught at the wicket; 141 for five. The score at lunch was 145 for five, with Fernando on 38 and Rumesh Buddika two. Fernando pulled the first ball after lunch, from Nyauchi, for four as the Sri Lankans set their sights on victory. 

Fernando is clearly better than the average night-watchman – he reached his fifty off 64 balls, but immediately after that, with the total at 165, he was dropped by the wicketkeeper Nyasha Mayavo off Nyauchi.

This was the Zimbabweans’ last sniff of snatching victory from this match. The batsmen now proceeded to victory with no further problems, and victory was sealed when Fernando swung a ball from Dylan Hondo over the leg-side boundary for six.

The final total was 185 for five, Fernando finishing on 61 and Buddika 15.  Their unbroken stand put on 44, and if the Zimbabweans had been able to dismiss either early, the result might have been different.

Mumba, who bowled superbly throughout the match to take eight wickets altogether, finished with two for 54 in this innings, and Jongwe two for 25.

The vital factor in this match was the failure of most of the Zimbabwean batsmen in their second innings, which enabled the tourists to record their victory.

MUMBA STARS WITH SIX-WICKET HAUL

Carl Mumba starred with the ball as he claimed six wickets before a poor batting performance by the Zimbabwe Development side left them struggling against their Sri Lankan counterparts, despite another fine innings from Brian Chari, at Harare Sports Club on Tuesday.

The Sri Lankans resumed their first innings on 287 for five wickets in reply to the Zimbabweans’ 349, with Charith Asalanka still there with 100, and Anuk Fernando, the night-watchman, with one.

The total was 346, so the Zimbabweans took a narrow first-innings lead of three runs. Victory is by no means assured after their batting collapses in their first innings, but they must go into the final day as favourites to win.

SIBANDA AND CHIGUMBURA DROPPED

Opener Vusi Sibanda has been dropped, while a back injury has ruled out fast bowler Tinashe Panyangara.

Masvaure had been in form for Zimbabwe A in the recently concluded unofficial Tests against South Africa A, scoring 277 runs from four innings at 92.33, including a century and a half-century.
The squad includes allrounder Chamu Chibhabha, who has played 96 ODIs but is yet to make his Test debut. Two others who have debuted in ODIs but are yet to play Test cricket feature in the squad: opener Peter Moor and fast bowler Taurai Muzarabani.


Returning to the squad are batsmen Tino Mawoyo - who last played a Test in 2013, and any international cricket in 2014 - and Sean Williams, and fast bowlers Njabulo Ncube and Donald Tiripano.

Several players miss out from the squad that played in Bangladesh, including long-time limited-overs captain Elton Chigumbura (who had stepped down from the role in January this year) and the two younger Masakadza brothers: Shingi and Wellington. Zimbabwe had lost that series 3-0. 

Zimbabwe squad for NZ Tests 

Graeme Cremer (capt), Sikandar Raza, Regis Chakabva, Brian Chari, Tendai Chatara, Chamu Chibhabha, Craig Ervine, Hamilton Masakadza, Prince Masvaure, Tino Mawoyo, Peter Moor, Richmond Mutumbami, Taurai Muzarabani, Njabulo Ncube, Donald Tiripano, Sean Williams

THE RETURN OF TAIBU

The popular narrative is that Tatenda Taibu quit international cricket four years ago because he had seen the light, specifically the light of the Lord. Now he is making a comeback to the game, in an administrative capacity, because he is hoping to to turn some lights on, specifically at the Harare Sports Club (HSC).

Taibu has accepted a role as Zimbabwe Cricket's convener of selectors and development officer, a position he will take up next month, and one of his missions is to install floodlights at the country's premier ground. It may sound like that should be a peripheral priority but Taibu has a compelling reason for putting it near the top of his list. "Most ICC limited-overs events are played under lights and our players don't get any experience of that at home, so they are not used to it at all," he said from the UK, where he has been based for the last few years. "They need to be able to compete in those tournaments."

Given where Zimbabwe cricket is at the moment, that is both a reasonable and realistic aim. Zimbabwe were the only Full Member not to qualify for the last two World T20 main draws. They have won only three matches in their last two 50-over World Cups, all of them against Associates. Given their ranking of 11th in ODI cricket, they cannot even dream of qualifying for the Champions Trophy. So while their absence of a Test ranking is worrying but rectifiable if they play enough matches, the need to do something drastic to improve their limited-overs record is pressing.

Pylons have been up at HSC for years and the lights are also there, having spent months at Harare airport awaiting payment for being released. The only problem is that the lights are not on the pylons. If Taibu can arrange for them to get there, Zimbabwe can start playing day-night cricket, provided ZC has the funds to switch them on. And that would be Taibu's next concern.

A year before he quit the game, Taibu criticised ZC's structures, which included their financials. He stunned the international press by revealing how players did not have contracts and were not paid match fees on the eve of their Test comeback in 2011. Now he admits he does not know whether there is cash in the coffers but he intends to find out as soon as possible. "I don't know anything about the current financial status. I am not involved there but I would like to know so I can get a clearer and better picture," he said. "I'm sure when I get there, I will find out."

That alone should reassure Zimbabwean fans: the knowledge that someone of Taibu's calibre is committed to their cricket. But why now? Since his international retirement, Taibu has been living in the UK. Contrary to popular belief, he has not become a pastor. "When I said I got a calling from the Lord, people thought I was going to start preaching, but I am not a pastor.
"I am just a Christian and I live a Christian life," Taibu said. "If somebody wants me to pray with them or if there are families who want someone to speak to, if I can get an opportunity like that, I will take it because I believe as a Christian, you must be able to touch people's lives and give them hope."

He has also been involved in club cricket a bit as a player-coach-development-officer, for Liverpool second-division side Hightown St Mary's, who he joined in April. He is also working on his autobiography, which is what made him realise that he would have to return to Zimbabwe.
"In writing, I have seen that when I recall an incident from when I was ten years old, for example, then my understanding of the situation is that of a ten-year-old. I need to find people who have a better understanding of those situations," he said. "For that I have to go back to Zimbabwe and talk to people like [former national coach] Stephen Mangongo and [former Under-19 coach] Walter Chawaguta, as well as some of my teachers from primary school and high school."

While Taibu mulled a return to his homeland, he was also in touch with Peter Chingoka, former chairman and an honorary life president of the board, who has urged him to come back to contribute to the game.

In the last month, Taibu decided to take him up, primarily because he believes there is something worth saving in Zimbabwe. "If I didn't see that there was something there, I wouldn't go," Taibu said. "I believe there is something that can be done and I want to do it."

The "something" that needs doing involves rebuilding a cricket culture, which Taibu thinks Zimbabwe has lost, and which he has had experience of creating in Liverpool, where he is also involved in recruitment. "You have to get players involved in the community, get kids from schools to play at clubs, that's how you develop a system," he said.

Replicating that in Zimbabwe will be tricky because even though the country is still home to prestigious sporting schools, the club structures have deteriorated and the domestic franchise system is in trouble. That will make Taibu's task tougher as he aims to deepen the player pool. He intends to take a pragmatic approach to things by analysing what resources are already there, nurturing them and looking for additions.
"My own assessment is there is a negative vibe at the moment. It is quite tough in Zimbabwe - not just in cricket, the country as a whole is struggling. Zimbabwe cricket needs to be treated with a little bit of love for now. There are many areas that need fixing but we will have to fix them one thing at a time.
"We will have to look at the player base and see if there are players around who can eventually replace the ones who are already there. I want to start working with guys at a slightly lower level so that if those players go up to international level, they are at a certain standard already. Otherwise, as a group, they will be under pressure."
Taibu speaks from experience. He was part of the young crop that succeeded the white-player walkout in 2004 and struggled because of inexperience. That bunch of cricketers was also up against an administration that seemed to constantly thwart their efforts - with regular changes in coaching staff, contract disputes, and infrequent fixtures - and Taibu does not want the current crop to endure those difficulties.

He intends to be the bridge between the players and their administrators, and has promised to be upfront with all parties - as he is known to be. "Everyone I have played with and the administrative people who knew me know me as a person who does not beat around the bush. Whether I am liked or disliked, people trust me," he said. "I am trusted by the white community, the black community, the Asian community. Even if we disagree, it's like brothers in a family. There will be fights but you hope that they don't fight in public. They know that's what Tatenda is like and they want to work with someone like that."

Taibu is confident his suggestions will be taken seriously even if they involve reaching out to people ZC has cut ties with, such as former players. "I would definitely want to involve former players but not just them. I want to reach out to anyone who has dealt with Zimbabwe cricket and has knowledge of it. There are lots of people who have worked in the system who have something to contribute."

For now, ZC have engaged the services of two big names from one of their neighbouring countries, South Africa. Makhaya Ntini is the interim head coach and Lance Klusener the batting consultant. Taibu hopes both will stay with the team in some capacity, if only because of their stature and the impact that can have.
"I knew Makhaya very well as a player. During the Champions Trophy in Sri Lanka in 2002, I was in my early years and he was struggling to make the South Africa team, so we used to train together on the beach," Taibu remembered. "He definitely has energy and that's something we need in the country. We have to try and create a unique attitude among players so that cricket becomes known for something in Zimbabwe. Something good."

For a while, the good in Zimbabwe cricket was known because of players like Taibu. His dedication and determination provided a boost, and already there is excitement over having that back. There is also an anticipation that, at 33, Taibu may consider a comeback of the playing kind too, especially as Zimbabwe are yet to announce a new Test captain. Those wishing for that will be disappointed. Taibu is adamant that is one light that has been turned off. "That's really gone," he said. "I have closed the door on coming back to play."

First published by ESPNcricinfo

ZC APPOINT NTINI

Former South African bowler Makhaya Ntini has been appointed on a two-year contract as assistant national team coach in charge of bowling, with effect from  the 16^th of next month. The former bowling coach, Douglas Hondo, has been re-assigned to the Zimbabwe A team.

Ntini, aged 38, had an illustrious playing career for South Africa, rising from being a product of the then United Cricket Board’s development programme to becoming the country’s first black African international cricketer. In 2003, he became the first South African to take 10 wickets in a Test match at the hallowed Lord’s ground in England. In 2008, he claimed 13 wickets for 132 runs in Test match against the West Indies – the best figures ever by a South African in that format of the game.

 Ntini retired from international cricket in 2010, after playing 101 Test matches, 173 One-Day International (ODI) and 10 Twenty20 International matches for South Africa.