MATABELELAND Tuskers cricket franchise charges are ready for their encounter against Southern Rocks which starts at Queens Sports Club on Monday.
In an interview with Chronicle Sport yesterday after the team's training session, Tuskers' assistant coach Stanley Timoni said the players were positively responding to training.
Timoni said in the past batting let them. He said they were working on that.
Tuskers had net practise for the first time since resuming training after a short Christmas on Monday.
"The players are responding positively. Their mind frame and attitude is great and should they continue with such performances, then we will win against Rocks. The batters today were fantastic, they made bowlers think today which is remarkable. Batting has been letting us down in the past but I believe if the guys maintain this performance, then I see nothing stopping us from posting a good result. Bowlers have done a great job before and now it's the time for batters to complement their performance," said Timoni.
Timoni was speaking on behalf of under fire Tuskers coach Robin Brown who refused to speak to the Chronicle Sport crew.
Tuskers are fourth on the log having lost three matches, won one and drawn three in the Logan Cup. They have only won one match out of the seven they have played of their One Day games.
Vumi Moyo, a convenor of selectors said they were taking "no prisoners."
"The team started training on Monday and this time around we are taking no prisoners at all, we need to make things work. The morale is good in camp and we hope this momentum will build up and prevail during the second half of the season," said Moyo.
Hard hitting Mark Vermeulen joined the team for yesterday's training sessions that started on Monday, with Charles Coventry coming back from injury.
The return of the two has strengthened Tuskers' disappointing batting attack.
Gavin Ewing will be expected to continue with his fine batting form he displayed towards the half way mark.
Some of the batsmen expected to lead Tuskers' attack include Bornapate Mujuru, former national team player Dion Ebrahim and Mbekezeli Mabuza.
Star all-rounders Gregory Strydom, Kegan Meth, Keith Dabengwa and skipper Sean Williams will provide entertainment to the crowds with their hard hitting capabilities and also claim as many wickets as possible.
Talented all-rounder Thabo Mboyi who traveled with the team in their last tour of Mutare and for the Mashonaland Eagles match but never got game time will be hoping to impress the technical department for a slot in the team.
Christopher Mpofu and Tawanda Mupariwa are the backbone of the bowling department.
Tuskers best player so far in the league, hard working spinner John Nyumbu will be hoping to climb up the success ladder, praying his ball turning skills won't fail him. Overlooked Khawulani Ntuli awaits yet another chance to prove critics wrong by keeping a regular place in the team.
