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ZC announces busy international calendar

Posted: Tue Feb 22, 2011 11:58 pm
by CrimsonAvenger
http://www.newsday.co.zw/article/2011-0 ... icket-team

1 Test, 5 ODIs vs Bangladesh at home in August, 2 day/night ODIs
1 Test, 3 ODIs, 2 T20Is Vs Pakistan at home in September
3 ODIs and 2 T20Is Vs South Africa at home in September / October
1 Test, 3 ODIs, 2 T20Is Vs New Zealand at home in October / November

A side series Vs South Africa A and Australia A in July

Plenty of cricket to look forward to...
The Zimbabwe national cricket team will have a busy schedule this year after the 2011 International Cricket Council (ICC) Cricket World Cup in India with three Tests lined up.

The new year will see Zimbabwe making a gradual return to Test cricket with home matches against Bangladesh, Pakistan and New Zealand between August and October, a development that is expected to give the players more exposure at the top level.

Zimbabwe last played a Test against India in Harare in September 2005 but this year will see the country making their first tentative steps towards a return to reclaiming their status as a Test cricket nation.

Initial reports had suggested that Zimbabwe would play Bangladesh in May but according to the 2011-2012 schedule released by Zimbabwe Cricket last week and approved by the ICC, the one-off Test match at Harare Sports Club and five one-day internationals (ODIs) will run from August 1 to 21.

The series against Bangladesh will also see the country hosting their first day/night ODIs in Harare on August 12 and 16.

Zimbabwe will have a good opportunity to prepare for the series against Bangladesh when the Zimbabwe XI host the Australian and South African A sides for a triangular series from July 1-10.

The Australian A side will remain behind for two four day games against the Zimbabwe XI side from July 13 to 23.

A week after the Bangladesh team departs the Pakistan national cricket team will arrive for another one-off Test match, three ODIs and two Twenty20 matches.

The Test match is scheduled for September 1 to 5 and the first ODI will be played at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo before the rest of the series moves to Harare.

The South Africans will also tour the country for a series of three ODIs and two Twenty20 matches from September 21 to October 3 in Harare.

Queens Sports Club will host its second successive Test match when the New Zealand team tours Zimbabwe for a Test match, three ODIs and two Twenty20 matches from October 21 to November 14.

Re: ZC announces busy international calendar

Posted: Wed Feb 23, 2011 12:41 am
by maehara
We're baaaack! :D

Very sensible phased return. The Pakistan test is a surprise, though, and I notice the planned annual one-off test against South Africa hasn't materialised - although given that would probably end in a pounding for us, that may be no bad thing....

Re: ZC announces busy international calendar

Posted: Wed Feb 23, 2011 5:12 am
by tawac
Way 2 go Zim. Lets hope th boyz do us proud. 1 step @ a tym

Re: ZC announces busy international calendar

Posted: Wed Feb 23, 2011 10:38 am
by brmtaylor.com admin
4 Twenty20's? I thought the ICC limit was 3 per season. I guess they would try and say the season starts in October ;)

3 Tests on the schedule is exciting. Pakistan is such a hot and cold team I understand why they decided to schedule a Test match, and obviously there wasn't much to be gained by playing South Africa so that makes sense to schedule only limited overs matches.

Re: ZC announces busy international calendar

Posted: Wed Feb 23, 2011 6:41 pm
by Boundary
I like it. Queens gets 2 Tests :o which is no bad thing, Harare will make more money on one dayers. Getting 20 South African wickets is probably beyond us at the moment so I understand that decision.

Re: ZC announces busy international calendar

Posted: Wed Feb 23, 2011 7:00 pm
by eugene
Getting 20 wickets from anyone is probably beyond us at this point. I like the idea of just one test against Bangladesh, Pakistan, and New Zealand. D/N ODIs are an excciting development also. I hope Mugabe isn't kept up by the late night entertainment across the road. I imagine he probably goes to bed at 7pm.

Re: ZC announces busy international calendar

Posted: Wed Feb 23, 2011 10:16 pm
by aydee
Excellent news. This seams to be a really well thought out programme.

Re: ZC announces busy international calendar

Posted: Fri Feb 25, 2011 12:08 am
by Kriterion_BD
this looks good. exciting stuff as its almost like a brand new test nation is coming in.

winning tests at this point is perhaps a bit ambitious, but if ZIM can push teams to a 5th day, and maybe even draw a test...they will earn credibility. ZIM should play their main team against AUS A, and look to score 300 totals against BD, PAK, and NZ.

Re: ZC announces busy international calendar

Posted: Fri Feb 25, 2011 1:44 am
by eugene
Zimbabwe better hope they don't have to face Hamish Bennett when they play New Zealand. The test will be over in two days otherwise, like last time they faced a potent New Zealand fast bowler by the name of Shane Bond.

Re: ZC announces busy international calendar

Posted: Fri Feb 25, 2011 9:23 am
by aydee
eugene wrote:Zimbabwe better hope they don't have to face Hamish Bennett when they play New Zealand. The test will be over in two days otherwise, like last time they faced a potent New Zealand fast bowler by the name of Shane Bond.
Bennett is overrated, I wouldn't worry about him too much. Can be dangerous when he gets it right, but when his rhythm was off during the Pakistan series, he just bowled wayward stuff in the mid 120s...