The two games against Zimbabwe Select will be interesting, I'm wondering how different the teams will be to the ODI team. We should play the first eleven in the 4-day match, but perhaps inject some more youth into the 50 over tour match.SL expected in Zim on Sunday for tour
THE Sri Lanka cricket side is expected to arrive in Bulawayo next Sunday, for a three-week tour of Zimbabwe.
Sri Lanka will play a four-day match against the Zimbabwe Select at the Queens Sports Club from Wednesday the 12th to Saturday the 15th of this month. This is part of the Zimbabwe Cricket programme to expose the country’s top players to continuous and competitive First Class cricket in preparation for the resumption of Test participation.
The two sides will also play a one-day warm-up match at Queens on Monday the 17th.
After the Bulawayo leg, the tour will move to the capital for five One-Day International (ODI) matches at the Harare Sports Club.
The first ODI is on Thursday the 20th of this month, the second on the Saturday, the third on Monday the 24th , the fourth on Friday the 28th and the fifth and final on Sunday the 30th of this month.
The 2008 Sri Lanka tour comes four years after their last visit to Zimbabwe. It is part of the International Cricket Council Future Tours Programme.
The players in the current squad who also toured in 2004 are captain Mahela Jayewardene, who was then vice-captain, the current vice-captain Kumar Sangakkara, Dilhara Fernando, Thilina Kandamby, Nuwan Kulasekara, Farveez Maharoof and Muttiah Muralitharan.
The Sri Lanka squad
Mahela Jayewardene ( captain), Dilhara Fernando, Thilina Kandamby, Chamara Kapugedera, Nuwan Kulasekera, Farveez Maharoof, Angelo Mathews, Ajantha Mendis, Thilan Mirando, Jehan Mubarak, Dhammika Prasad, Muttiah Muralitharan, Kumar Sangakkara (vice-captain), Upul Tharanga and Mahela Udawatte.
Stand-by:
Tillakaratne Dilshan and ChanakaWelagedara.
Technical staff:
Manager – Nishantha Ranatunga, Coach – Trevor Bayliss, Assistant coach – Paul Farbrace, Physiotherapist – Ranjith Nanayakkarawasam, Trainer – Jade Roberts, Computer analyst – Nalin De Alwis and Masseur – Lal Thamel.
I'd like to see Price, Utseya, Masakadza, Taibu, Chigumbura rested for the 50 over game and this team played:
1. C Zhuwawo
2. C Chibhabha
3. B Staddon
4. S Matsikenyeri
5. K Dabengwa
6. R Chakabva (wk)
7. G Cremer (c)
8. T Maruma
9. A Manyumwa
10. T Mupariwa
11. C Mpofu
It's time someone other than Matsikenyeri or Dabengwa scored the captaincy, and Cremer captained Northerns for a while so seems a suitable choice. He has the best Test record of anyone in that team anyway...
Zhuwawo because if the selectors are hellbent on giving him opportunities, it might as well be in a game that doesn't really matter. Staddon because Queens is his home ground, if anyone is going to rise to the occasion, it might be him.
Maruma and Cremer will be a good spin duo. It's the one department that Zimbabwe have depth in... it's a shame that we aren't touring Sri Lanka really.
And Manyumwa to provide a bit of batting down the order and perhaps take a few wickets.
I haven't forgotten about Rainsford (or Kasteni), I just don't think they will be selected. We all know the selectors love to pick a smokey instead of an established performer