Zimbabwe - Pakistan One-Day Preview

Pakistan deservedly won the Test series against Zimbabwe by two victories to nil, and are also strong favourites to win the coming five-match one-day series by a large margin.

Zimbabwe had a few positive points to bring out of the Test series, but not enough to give them real confidence in tackling Pakistan, strengthened by the inclusion of Wasim Akram, in the one-day series. There was the revival of the form of Grant Flower, who averaged 49 but needs to regain his ability to play the really big innings. There was the burgeoning confidence of wicket-keeper Tatenda Taibu with the bat. There was the re-emergence of Andy Blignaut as an all-rounder of prodigious, if still somewhat undisciplined, talent.

Apart from that, there was not a great deal to cheer about. Andy Flower had a lean series by his own high standards, averaging a mere 34. But that will make him all the more determined to make his mark in the one-day matches.

The main reason why Pakistan should dominate the one-day series, perhaps even winning all five matches, is that the quality of their bowling attack is light years ahead of Zimbabwe's. Zimbabwe batsmen will have to go out and face Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Shoaib Akhtar and Saqlain Mushtaq. The talent, accuracy (except perhaps for Shoaib) and experience of these four is far in excess of the attributes possessed by a Zimbabwean attack of Heath Streak, Douglas Hondo and Travis Friend.

And yet Streak, Hondo and Friend will not be playing. All are injured. Instead the Zimbabwe attack will be led by Blignaut and Henry Olonga, who are not really one-day bowlers, although both could conceivably turn in the odd outstanding bowling performance. Possible back-ups with some experience are Guy Whittall, if his leg holds out, and Mluleki Nkala, who is not in good bowling form at the moment. Then there are the `rookies' - Sean Ervine, Waddington Mwayenga who has only three first-class matches behind him, Campbell Macmillan and off-spinner Richie Sims. Who is there to put a brake on things if and when it is necessary? Perhaps Grant Flower, but none of the frontline bowlers.

On an individual level, perhaps the most interesting, if almost expected, inclusion is that of the powerful Craig Evans. He has not played international cricket for three years and is aged 33, but his game has improved immensely over the intervening period as he has finally added discipline to his talent. Five centuries in successive Logan Cup matches came his way, two of them doubles, yet he missed out on the Test team. But he has always been considered a one-day specialist, and this is how the selectors still see him. There will be pressure on him, but he should surely get an early opportunity, and it will be interesting to see if he can now truly make the grade at international level.

Then there are the surprise omissions. Doug Marillier, despite being at the top of the Logan Cup batting, made neither the Test nor the one-day side. Pommie Mbangwa, accurate and successful overseas in Zimbabwe's one-day tours, was overlooked. Another accurate bowling all-rounder, Gary Brent, is ignored. The players themselves feel confused by the selection policies, or what they feel are lack of them, and the ordinary cricket follower often greets selections with sardonic laughter.

Left-arm spinner Raymond Price found himself left out, although last season the selectors did feel that they did not want to spoil his attacking spin style by having him firing the ball in flat in one-day cricket. Nobody seemed to have discussed it with the player, though. Richie Sims, the off-spinning all-rounder from Manicaland, could find himself given an extended trial as the only specialist spinner. Dion Ebrahim, not in good one-day form, and Hamilton Masakadza, who has yet to adapt to the one-day game, were also omitted from the squad.

It's all very well to put your trust in youth, as the selectors are obviously doing, but there must be a strong backbone of experience, men who can take the lead and apply the brake if the opposition starts to run away with the situation. Bowling accuracy is a virtue which the selectors appear to ignore totally. Bowlers who might have the ability to pressure the batsmen into taking risks to increase the scoring rate will be on the sidelines.

If it were a contest between batsmen only, Zimbabwe might sometimes be able to challenge Pakistan, despite the presence of such great players as Inzamam-ul-Haq and Yousuf Youhana, together with the rapidly developing Taufeeq Umar and Hasan Raza. But when we take into the account the quality of the attack Zimbabwe's batsmen have to contend with and the inaccuracy and inexperience that Pakistan will handle, there appears to be no contest. True, Zimbabwe's bowlers did show more discipline in the Bulawayo Test, but they still lacked the talent and experience of the tourists.

Zimbabwe need to be realistic. I would say: Zimbabwe, forget about winning. Think about enjoying the game, think about how to learn from this great experience of playing such world-class performers, think about the basics of the game - and think about improving your fielding.

We have recently been looking back at Zimbabwe's ten years of Test cricket, especially the Inaugural Test. The Flower brothers and Alistair Campbell played in it, but probably not many of the others will have clear memories of it. That Zimbabwean team had ten debutants, and John Traicos had played just three Tests more than 22 years previously. Yet this team did Zimbabwe proud. They batted with true application, they bowled to a line and length (albeit negative) and they fielded brilliantly. Why can't we do the same today? It must be in the heart and the head.

Yet earlier this year Zimbabwe lost to India, on their home turf, by two victories against three, twice taking the lead in that one-day series. They played superbly against superior talent and almost achieved the impossible. Do they have the heart, the guts, the commitment to do it again? Pakistan could be a little over-confident going into the one-day series. An upset is almost unthinkable - but we do look to see a spirited Zimbabwe playing their hearts out, using their heads and making Pakistan fight all the way.

The squad is as follows:

Zimbabwe: Alistair Campbell (capt), Andy Blignaut, Sean Ervine, Craig Evans, Andy Flower, Grant Flower, Campbell Macmillan, Stuart Matsikenyeri, Waddington Mwayenga, Mluleki Nkala, Henry Olonga, Barney Rogers, Tatenda Taibu, Mark Vermeulen, Guy Whittall.