Zimbabwe face greatest test

Reuters.

“In an effort to fill in the gaps in our schedule, we have been engaging the available teams — including the top associate sides. Getting more game time will help us to find our feet as we continuously work hard to establish a strong and competitive side capable of challenging for top honours in cricket.”

Despite suffering embarrassing losses on their European tour, the match practice had a positive effect and Zimbabwe this week claimed their first series victory in Sri Lanka, beating the island nation 3-2 in a one-day international series.

In June, the International Cricket Council (ICC) awarded Test status to Ireland and Afghanistan, bringing the number of teams playing cricket’s longest format to 12.

Test cricket has been struggling to compete with the more consumer-friendly 20-over format. Should the ICC establish a structured Test match league it is unlikely to feature Ireland, Afghanistan and Zimbabwe.

For Zimbabwe, this would result in fewer Test fixtures against their traditional rivals but it is inevitable that new rivalries will form.

Strong performances against their new equals will provide Zimbabwe with a viable pathway back into the major league.

Zimbabwe’s modern era began in 2004-05 in the aftermath of a clash between the national cricket board and senior white players. After losing their core of senior players, Zimbabwe rebuilt around prodigious young talent, namely Tatenda Taibu, Brendan Taylor and Graeme Cremer — all of whom went on to captain their country.

The strength of the team has consistently been undermined by the trend of emerging young players opting to move abroad.

England have been the primary beneficiary of this with Tom Curran and Gary Ballance notably representing their newly- adopted country at international level.

Zimbabwe’s biggest on-field problem is inconsistency, usually caused by over-reliance on their best player.

Andy Flower, at one time the world’s top-ranked Test batsman, exemplified this in the 1990s and early 2000s. In more recent times this responsibility has fallen to Taylor, Taibu and Heath Streak.

Current captain Cremer made his first Test century against Sri Lanka in 2016, an admirable performance were he a specialist batsman but even more impressive given that he is also his team’s premier leg-spinner.

ZC has identified that a deeper talent pool is required and established a new cricket academy.

Ireland and Afghanistan’s elevation to Test status offers Zimbabwe an opportunity to re-establish themselves.

“Zimbabwe just need to win matches to bring in a culture of success on the cricket field which will relate to the fans, stakeholders and filter down through to grassroots level,” Kenyon Ziehl, Zimbabwe’s former convenor of selectors, said. Reuters