That's the lamest excuse of dropping Hami, even we can come with better.Zim names World Cup squad
By Enock Muchinjo, Deputy Sports Editor
Wednesday, 12 January 2011 15:36
HARARE - Zimbabwe Cricket selectors did not spring major surprises when naming the final 15-man squad for next month’s ICC World Cup on the Indian subcontinent.
The squad includes 28-year-old all-rounder Sean Ervine, who quit English county championship side Hampshire this week to resume his international career with Zimbabwe.
“It has been a long negotiation process between both parties, but it came to a head after the completion of the recent Bangladesh tour (where Zimbabwe lost 3-1),” head selector Alistair Campbell told journalists Wednesday.
“We look forward to big performances from him, not just at the World Cup, but in the season ahead.”
Leading batsman Hamilton Masakadza, who was overlooked in the provisional squad of 30, is the biggest casualty, while his younger brother, 24-year-old opening bowler Shingi Masakadza and wicketkeeper-batsman Regis Chakabva (23) are the notable outsiders selected.
The squad includes six players who were in the 2007 World Cup squad in the West Indies. These are captain Elton Chigumbura, Brendan Taylor, Sean Williams, Prosper Utseya, Chris Mpofu and Ed Rainsford.
Zimbabwe picked four specialist spinners in Ray Price, Prosper Utseya, Graeme Cremer and Greg Lamb, and will be banking on the slow bowlers in the spin-friendly conditions of the Indian subcontinent.
“We’ve got world-class slow bowlers in the side, if we put enough runs on the board we will be competitive,” added Campbell.
Following Hamilton Masakadza’s exclusion, there was hope that in-form Manicaland Mountaineers and Zim A opening batsman Tino Mawoyo would get the nod, but he was considered surplus to requirement in the 15, meaning the Zimbabweans will travel to Asia with one specialist opener in Brendan Taylor.
But Campbell and head coach Alan Butcher hinted on promoting spin-bowling all-rounder Greg Lamb to opener, a rather unbefitting experiment at such a big stage like the World Cup.
All in all, five changes were made to the side that toured Bangladesh. Sean Williams, who was withdrawn from the side because of a hamstring injury, returns alongside the fit-again Lamb and returnee Sean Ervine. There were also places for aggressive batsman Charles Coventry and pace bowler Ed Rainsford.
Coventry struck a belligerent 194 not out against Bangladesh in 2009 to equal the record for the highest individual ODI score before the record was overhauled by the first ever double century witnessed in one-day cricket courtesy of Indian maestro Sachin Tendulkar. He however lost his place in the team after a dismal loss of form.
“Everyone knows that Charles Coventry is the cleanest hitter of the cricket ball we have,” said Campbell. “But he has not been consistent. He has been a difficult guy to deal with.”
On Rainsford, who becomes the third specialist seamer in the squad, Campbell said: “He has struggled in the dearth, but he has been working hard on that, and upfront he can swing the ball.”
Though the Zimbabweans will rely more on their spin attack, Campbell was equally optimistic with the seam department.
“It’s really good,” he said. “I thought Chris (Mpofu) bowled well (in Bangladesh) with the new ball, he swung it. I am a firmer believer in big match temperament, and Shingi (Masakadza) has that. He must become more consistent, (but) he is a youngster worth pursuing.”
Campbell was further queried on the older Masakadza’s omission. It was put across to him that the decision was a bit harsh, considering that Elton Chigumbura was equally struggling with his game and made the side on the basis of him being captain.
“The bottom line is he (Elton) has not been performing, and he knows he has to perform,” conceded Campbell. “There is some logic he goes because he is captain. But he realises he has to step up. I know it’s not a nice one on Hami. But if you go speak to him after the Bangladesh tour, he will say ‘no, I didn’t expect to be in the side.' That’s the mark of the man."
Squad
Elton Chigumbura (captain), Regis Chakabva, Charles Coventry, Graeme Cremer, Craig Ervine, Sean Ervine, Greg Lamb, Shingi Masakadza, Chris Mpofu, Ray Price, Ed Rainsford, Tatenda Taibu, Brendan Taylor, Prosper Utseya, Sean Williams.
WC challenge excites Coventry
Thursday, 20 January 2011 19:27
Kevin Mapasure
ZIMBABWE national cricket team batsman Charles Coventry is excited at the prospect of joining Brendon Taylor as an opener at the 2011 International Cricket Council World Cup to be played in Asia next month.
Coventry, who has mostly played as a middle -order batsman for Zimbabwe, is hotly tipped for promotion to the top alongside Taylor, after regular openers Hamilton Masakadza and Chamu Chibhabha were left out of the World Cup squad.
Coventry told IndependentSport this week in an exclusive interview that the World Cup was an opportunity for him to do well again in national team colours.
“I am both excited and a little bit surprised as well, but I think this is my best chance to do well after the selectors showed faith in me by recalling me into the national team,” said Coventry. “Opening the innings with Taylor will be a big challenge but it’s one I have set myself for since the rumour started making the rounds. Facing the new ball is a tough challenge. I have done it before at provincial level but internationally it’s a different thing altogether, especially facing teams like Australia and Pakistan.”
The highlight of Coventry’s career is easily his big innings against Bangladesh where he hit an unbeaten 194 batting at number three, the highest individual score in a 50-over game at that time -- an achievement which was later surpassed only by Indian superstar Sachin Tendulkar.
Despite his big innings against Bangladesh Coventry has had a stop-start career which led the chairman of selectors, Alistair Campbell, to describe him as a “hugely frustrating” individual.
“To be honest Charles Coventry has been a hugely frustrating guy to deal with. We have put in so much effort in developing him but he hasn’t been performing,” said Campbell last week.
The Tuskers batsman agrees, and is well aware of his deficiencies and is working on improving his shot selection going into the World Cup.
“I have gone out a few times when everyone including me felt I could have kept my wicket and batted through. This is what they (the selectors) want me to do but I think a few times I have gone for big shots and got myself dismissed unnecessarily. I have to work on that and I think I will give a better show at the World Cup,” he added.
Pooled in a tough group that also includes holders and number one ranked ODI team, Australia, Pakistan, Sri Lanka New Zealand, Canada and Kenya, Zimbabwe will have to win at least three matches if they are to make it through to the Super Eight stage.
But Coventry said there was no fear factor in the group and Zimbabwe will be targeting an upset against a New Zealand team that has struggled of late.
“We have to take the game to our opponents, play attacking cricket and not let them bully us. We are capable of beating anyone; we have shown that before by beating Australia at the Twenty-20 World Cup. It’s going to be tough but if we apply ourselves fully we can go through to the next round.”
His sentiments were echoed by his captain Elton Chigumbura who is also targeting a win against New Zealand in the group stages.
“We will fancy our chances against New Zealand who struggled the last time they were in the sub-continent,” said Chigumbura. “They lost all their matches against Bangladesh and they clearly struggled against spin. We have a very good spin attack, so we will capitalise on their frailties and hopefully we will get a positive result.”
Chigumbura, who is desperately in need of runs himself, said that he was hoping to turn things around in Asia and finally make a big innings.
“I have had a loss of form, but I know I am just an innings away from getting back to my best. I have been working hard on that and I have also been working on my bowling with Heath Streak,” he added.
In their morale shattering 3-1 series defeat at the hands of Bangladesh, Zimbabwe’s batsmen struggled in the face of spin with only Prosper Utseya who does not even bat in the top six managing a half-century throughout the series.
Chigumbura said that his team would have to do better with the bat and avoid losing wickets in the first 15 overs.
Zimbabwe will play four warm-up matches before the start of the World Cup, one of them against the Proteas, with Coventry likely to bat at the top of the batting line-up.