taylor rested- Zim Herald

[jimbo]

ZIMBABWE captain Brendan Taylor will be rested to allow him to recover fully from a shoulder injury when the Board XI meets Australia A in the first match of the four-day games at Country Club today.

Taylor is one of the senior players who will miss the action as he joined wicketkeeper Tatenda Taibu and Graeme Cremer on the injury list.

The 25-year-old skipper was also scheduled to undergo a nose surgery yesterday.

However, assistant coach Steve Mangongo said Zimbabwe XI are focused on their quest to boost their morale and shore up confidence ahead of their scheduled return to Test cricket.

Zimbabwe will play Australia A in two four-day games before their first Test in five years against Bangladesh next month.

Mangongo said they were using the match as an entry point to Test cricket, hence the need to mix experience and inexperienced players, with the coming in of new faces like Brian Vitori, Njabulo Ncube and Natsai Mushangwe.

"Our preparations are on course but we have few injuries to Taylor, Raymond Price and Tatenda Taibu," he said.

"Taylor had a shoulder injury and we thought it's wise to rest him especially with the Test match against Bangladesh approaching.

"He is one of the experienced players and we need him. Taibu is also out with a thump injury.

"But Tino (Mawoyo) is now fit and ready to go. He has played a lot of first class cricket and it's about time he step up into international cricket," said Mangongo

Veteran spinner Price is doubtful for the match as he has been complaining of a stiff back while experienced bowlers Chris Mpofu and Prosper Utseya have been rested to give a chance to upcoming talents like Vitori, Ncube and Mushangwe.

The hosts will draw comfort from a commendable show in the two-day warm up game they played against Australia A in Kwekwe earlier this week.

Former skipper Elton Chibumbura did well with both bat and ball after scoring 95 runs and finishing with a wicket while Forster Mutizwa contributed 67.

Zimbabwe scored 306/9 in 90 overs in reply to Australia A's 427/4. Mangongo said they were looking forward to build on the performance and hoped their pace bowling will step up. "This is a very important game.

In fact we are treating it as the first step towards our return to the Test arena and to collect 20 wickets in a Test match the pace bowling need to be up to scratch. "Hopefully we will be able to pick it up from where we left off in the warm-up game because we need to be ready when we play Bangladesh next month. "We could not have asked for better preparation.

"Australia are a world class cricket playing nation and I would like to applaud Zimbabwe Cricket for arranging against such opponents.

"It actually helps us gauge where we are in the game, hence the need for good performances."

[ZIMDOGGY]

2 things I think after reading this,

Taylor is getting a nosejob
And price I think isn't serious they're just keeping him on ice, if they rest mpofu they obviously aren't concerned about the players who are guaranteed in the 11