Coach confident ahead of Caribb

[zimfan1]

Coach confident ahead of Caribbean tour

By Mehluli Sibanda

ZIMBABWE senior national team coach Walter Chawaguta believes his team has a chance of winning the upcoming five One-Day International tour of West Indies at the end of this month.


The Zimbabwean team leaves for the Caribbean tomorrow.
They will begin their tour with a warm up match against the University of West Indies Vice-Chancellor’s eleven in St Augustine, Trinidad on Friday.
The only Twenty20 international proper will be staged on Sunday in Port of Spain, Trinidad.
Chawaguta, who is charge in an interim capacity after the expiry of his contract at the end of last year before a full time coach is appointed by Zimbabwe Cricket, said Zimbabwe had a full strength squad and should do well in West Indies.
“I believe we have a chance of winning the series. We have a full strength squad as our players are coming off a good domestic season. They will be missing guys like Chanderpaul and Bravo. It all depends on how we bowl to Chris Gayle. He is their key man and I have seen West Indies struggle when they lose him,” he said, adding: “Their top bowler at the moment is Kemar Roach and it will also depend on how we bat against him.”
Zimbabwe and West Indies have met 36 times in ODIs since 1983. The Atlantic Ocean islanders have won 17 of those encounters. Zimbabwe have triumphed only eight times with the other match failing to produce a result.
The two teams last met in an ODI series at the end of 2007 when their opponents visited Zimbabwe for five ODIs. Zimbabwe, under the guidance of Robin Brown at that time, recorded a surprise 30 run victory in the first ODI at Harare Sports Club.
Zimbabwe however failed to carry on the momentum as they went on to lose the series 3-1 after the fifth encounter at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo was washed out.
Mashonaland Eagles all-rounder Gregory Lamb is sure to make his ODI debut during the tour, making him the oldest player to make to do so.
Lamb, who turns 29 on 4 March, spent a number of years at English county side Hampshire and returned to Zimbabwe at the beginning of the country’s domestic season. He has been in good form turning out for Mashonaland Eagles. He has a good advantage in that he can be picked as a batsman while he can also bowl off spin.
Hamilton Masakadza, who scored over 1000 runs for Zimbabwe last year, should play a big role at the top of the order together with former captain Tatenda Taibu, Brendan Taylor, Charles Coventry and Stuart Matsikenyeri.
Vusumuzi Sibanda has been given another chance despite a dismal show with the bat during the home series against Bangladesh.
The promising fast bowler is a cause for concern as he was selected despite not playing cricket at the moment. It is surprising why the selectors opted for him as he is carrying an injury while other bowlers with a proven record like Tawanda Mupariwa who are fully fit have been left out in the cold.
Lanky pace bowler Christopher Mpofu, who is in top form for his franchise Matabeleland Tuskers, should lead the bowling attack with all-rounder Elton Chigumbura.
If Kyle Jarvis is still not fully fit, Shingirai Masakadza might be thrown into the fray for his ODI debut against the Calypso Kings.
Zimbabwe could opt for a three man spin attack like they did last year and this will see skipper Prosper Utseya make up the slow bowling attack together with left arm spinner Raymond Price and leg spinner Graeme Cremer.
Leg spinner Timycen Maruma has also done well in the domestic front and is likely to get a chance during the series.
Zimbabwe have not played any international cricket this year but West Indies are at the end of their tour of Australia where they are playing five ODIs and two Twenty20 internationals.
Zimbabwe squad for West Indies: Prosper Utseya (captain), Brendan Taylor, Gregory Lamb, Tatenda Taibu (wicketkeeper), Hamilton Masakadza, Raymond Price, Graeme Cremer, Charles Coventry, Vusumuzi Sibanda, Stuart Matsikenyeri, Elton Chigumbura, Shingirai Masakadza, Timycen Maruma, Christopher Mpofu, Kyle Jarvis.

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[sloandog]

A good article. Bad news about Kyle Jarvis. Hope he'll be okay for this tour as we need somebody with a bit of pace to try and get rid of Gayle