Blignaut & Ervine not avaliable for national team selection

[zimfan1]

. . . as teams ready for battle

By Edison Chikamhi

THE battle for the Stanbic Twenty20 cricket tournament will get underway tomorrow at Harare Sports Club and the teams vying for the big trophy are already bracing for a fight with confidence oozing within their ranks.

Coaches and captains from the five domestic franchises yesterday told the media that they were ready for a battle royale.

The sixth franchise, Namibia, is only expected in the country today.

The five domestic franchises taking part are Mashonaland Eagles, Mid West Rhinos, Mountaineers, Southern Rocks and Matabeleland Tuskers.

The contest rolls into life tomorrow when Mountaineers take on Mid West Rhinos in the opening match of the competition. The second match will pit Matabeleland Tuskers against Mashonaland Eagles.

Mountaineers coach Steve Mangongo, whose side has 100 percent local talent unlike the other franchises that boast foreign players, said they were not intimidated by the number of foreigners and returning former national team players that have been lined up for this competition.

Mountaineers boast the bulk of national team players in their ranks. “I think it’s a plus for us because most of these players have at one time or another played together in the national team. It makes it easy to form combinations and to build partnerships,” said Mangongo.

He was referring to players like Hamilton Masakadza, who is the team captain, Prosper Utseya, Stuart Matsikenyeri and Tatenda Taibu.

Mountaineers appear to have the best of the local talent.

But cricket in Zimbabwe has undergone complete transformation with the emergence of new talent, of late, and their opponents in the opening game, Mid West Rhinos, were confident of victory.

Rhinos captain Vusi Sibanda has been the dominant batsman during the domestic competitions leading to the Stanbic Twenty20. He said his team was raring to go.

“We have done enough preparations, even though it was in a short period, but we are prepared for the competition,” he said.

Matabeleland Tuskers and Mashonaland Eagles are scheduled to meet later in the day in a match that promises to be closely contested. Tuskers captain Gavin Ewing said they were excited by the prospect of playing in the tournament because it offers a change from the longer versions of the game.

“We struggled as a team at the beginning of the season but this is new cricket for all of us and we are very excited about playing the Twenty20 tournament,” said Ewing.

“We have done our preparations and we hope it will be very exciting.” Eagles coach Chris Silverwood said his team was going to build on the confidence gained from winning the Logan Cup.

Silverwood said he was surprised by the depth of the talent in his side captained by Elton Chigumbura.

Meanwhile, ZC announced yesterday that Andy Blignaut had only been contracted to play in the Twenty20 series.

Blignaut, who is making a welcome return to the game, will not be available for selection for the forthcoming tour of the West Indies because of business commitments in Bulawayo.

The all-rounder runs a business in the City of Kings
and believes that the longer version of the game and the tours will have a negative impact on his venture.

Sean Ervine, who also played in the Logan Cup, is unlikely to play for the national team because of commitments with his England-based franchise.

Fixtures:

Tomorrow: Mountaineers v Mid West Rhinos, Matabeleland Tuskers v Mashonaland Eagles

Saturday: Southern Rocks v Namibia, Mountaineers v Matabeleland Tuskers

Sunday: Mid West Rhinos v Mashonaland Eagles, Matabeleland Tuskers v Southern Rocks

http://www.herald.co.zw/inside.aspx?sectid=15312&cat=5

[zimfan1]

Massive shame about Blignaut but you never know he may change his mind.

The Ervine thing will come to a head at the end of 2010 when his Hampshire contract is up, then he will have a very intresting decision to make.

[jamthala]

Iam expecting this.

[sloandog]

It's a real shame about Bliggy, he and Kyle Jarvis coul have made a fierce opening bowling combination