daniel chigunwe
Eddie Chikamhi
Zimpapers Sports Hub
THE national senior men’s cricket team is under pressure to be competitive when they host Afghanistan in a historic Boxing Day Test at Queens Sports Club.
Zimbabwe have taken a lot of battering in white-ball cricket over the last two months, and even a return to Harare Sports Club for T20 and ODI series against Afghanistan did not help.
The performance with the bat in recent limited-overs cricket has sparked genuine fears the Test matches against Afghanistan will be completed in record time.
Zimbabwe were completely dominated by the visitors as they lost the T20I series 2-1 and then the rain-interrupted ODI series, which ended at the weekend, 2-0. All matches were played at Harare Sports Club.
Both teams travelled to Bulawayo yesterday to prepare for the two-match Test series to be held at Queens Sports Club.
Zimbabwe captain Craig Ervine is aware a big response is needed from his side as they forego the traditional Christmas holidays with their families to work on winning the series.
“Obviously, we head to Bulawayo, and we’ve got a couple of days before that Test starts, so it’s a very quick turnaround for us,” said Ervine.
“There are slightly different conditions down in Bulawayo. So, we need to get down there nice and early. Try and train as much as we can to work out our plans and stuff in those conditions. And hopefully, we can put in a few better performances over the Test matches.”
Apart from a few sparks, Zimbabwe have been poor all round in the just-ended white-ball series. Their batting handicap has been the major undoing.
The team was twice bowled out for low scores in the ODI series, with the batting challenges more pronounced in the second match when the team was wiped out for a meagre 54 runs while chasing a target of 287.
The team also struggled to bat past 20 overs in the third match, and it does not look promising going into the longest version of the game, where the endurance and athleticism is tested more in five days of play.
“Obviously, we’ve got to look forward to the Test,” said Ervine.
“But I think, you know, throughout this (white ball) series, we did find it tough. A lot of the youngsters have been exposed to some quality bowling from the Afghanistan side, and a lot of credit to them.
“I thought, you know, they were brilliant throughout with the bat, with the ball, and with the spin through the middle.”
Zimbabwe have named seven uncapped players in their Test squad, who include opening batsman Ben Curran, middle-order batter Johnathan Campbell, wicketkeeper-batters Tadiwanashe Marumani and Nyasha Mayavo, as well as pace bowlers Trevor Gwandu, Takudzwa Chataira, and Newman Nyamhuri.
Ervine will lead the side as captain, with an experienced core of players including Sean Williams, Sikandar Raza, Blessing Muzarabani, and Richard Ngarava making the cut as well.
This series is of special significance, marking Zimbabwe’s return to Boxing Day Test cricket after their last home Boxing Day Test match in 1996, a rain-affected draw against England at Harare Sports Club.
Since then, Zimbabwe has only participated in Boxing Day Tests abroad, facing New Zealand in 2000 and South Africa in 2017, with the latter being a pink-ball day-night Test in Port Elizabeth.
In addition, the upcoming New Year’s Test will be the first for Zimbabwe, both at home and internationally, adding to the series’ significance for the home side.
For Afghanistan, this will be the first time to play a Test in Zimbabwe. The two sides have previously locked horns in just two Tests so far, both in 2021, with both teams clinching one game apiece.
Afghanistan will welcome back star spinner Rashid Khan, who is set to play in his first Test in almost four years.
The Afghanistan squad that features seven uncapped players, with top-order batter Sediqullah Atal, fast-bowling all-rounder Ismat Alam, and left-arm spinner Zahir Shehzad among those aiming to win a first Test cap.
Visiting skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi is looking forward to the stay in Bulawayo, where they will also play another Test from January 2-6.
“Firstly, we will try to enjoy, and then we will focus on the big matches, which are these two Test games that are on the way.
“So, I think the other guys who are playing for the Test are right now preparing themselves. We will enjoy Bulawayo for one day, and then we will restart again. We will fully focus on the test because it’s important for us,” said Shahidi.
Zimbabwe Test Squad:
Craig Ervine (c), Ben Curran, Brian Bennett, Johnathan Campbell, Takudzwa Chataira, Joylord Gumbie, Trevor Gwandu, Takudzwanashe Kaitano, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Brandon Mavuta, Nyasha Mayavo, Blessing Muzarabani, Dion Myers, Richard Ngarava, Newman Nyamhuri, Sikandar Raza, Sean Williams
Afghanistan Test squad: Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Rahmat Shah (vc), Ikram Alikhail (wk), Afsar Zazai (wk), Riaz Hassan, Sediqullah Atal, Abdul Malik, Baheer Shah Mahboob, Ismat Alam, Azmatullah Omarzai, Zahir Khan, Zia Ur Rehman Akbar, Zahir Shehzad, Rashid Khan, Yamin Ahmadzai, Bashir Ahmad Afghan, Naveed Zadran, Fareed Ahmad Malik. Reserves: Nasir Jamal, Zia Ur Rahman Sharifi, Ibrahim Abdulrahimzai
