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Zimbabwe v New Zealand / News
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Zimbabwe v New Zealand, 1st ODI, Harare
Toothless Zimbabwe there for the taking
October 19, 2011
Match Facts
Zimbabwe v New Zealand, October 20, Harare
Start time 0930 (0730 GMT)
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Related Links
Matches:
Zimbabwe v New Zealand at Harare
Series/Tournaments:
New Zealand tour of Zimbabwe
Teams:
New Zealand
| Zimbabwe
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Big Picture
Can a wicket-taking bowler from Zimbabwe please stand up? New Zealand have so far faced a little over 31 overs on tour and clattered 314 for three wickets, one of which came courtesy a run-out. The Zimbabwean attack has been the epitome of toothlessness, at the risk of sounding insensitive to Keegan Meth fans. With the competition shifting to the 50-overs format, the tourists can afford to slacken the pace of their accumulation. However, there will be no let-up in their appetite for runs, unless Zimbabwe can conjure some incisiveness.
It isn't surprising that these teams have clashed only 29 times in ODIs. While both sides frequently figured in the glut of meaningless tri-series in the late 90s, organisers seldom found space to accommodate both in the same tournament. It has been more than ten years since their last bilateral series as well, a period in which they have clashed a mere four times. The last of those games was in the World Cup, when New Zealand emerged easy victors. Ominously for Zimbabwe supporters, the margin of victory in that game was ten wickets.
Brendon McCullum and Martin Guptill were in pristine form in that match, as they have been in the Twenty20s here. McCullum in particular has shown a propensity to launch sixes into the stands and trees surrounding the Harare Sports Club. Given Zimbabwe's bowling woes, the ODI series should help him further his reputation for minnow-bashing.
Form guide
(most recent first)
Zimbabwe: LLLLL
New Zealand: LWLWW
In the spotlight
A dose of Ray Price's aggression will go a long way towards lifting Zimbabwe on the field. Armed with the mind of a fast bowler, Price trots in and lets the ball grip and rip, before breaking into the most exaggerated follow-through for a spinner since Brad Hogg's retirement. Given the carnage his team-mates endured, Price escaped relatively unhurt in the Twenty20s, but he will have wickets on his mind when the ODIs begin.
Jacob Oram's fairytale return from knee surgery in August 2010 has lasted longer than even he would have imagined. Oram initially expected to sign off with the World Cup, a tournament where he gave his all, most famously in the quarter-final shocking of South Africa. He hasn't batted so far in Zimbabwe, but expect him to unleash his trademark swings to midwicket when he gets in. Zimbabwe will find his wobblers from ten paces tough to get away as well.
Team news
Zimbabwe will be anxious to have Tatenda Taibu back after injury kept him out of the Twenty20s. Vusi Sibanda, too, missed the Twenty20-leg, bereaved by his mother's death, but is expected to return at the top. Zimbabwe juggled the batting line-up around in an attempt to find stability, but the lower order misfired in both games. A lack of options, though, might prevent them from making too many changes. Meth could come in for Charles Coventry, who isn't in the ODI squad.
Zimbabwe: (probable) 1 Hamilton Masakadza, 2 Vusi Sibanda, 3 Brendan Taylor (capt), 4 Chamu Chibhabha, 5 Tatenda Taibu/Regis Chakabva (wk), 6 Forster Mutizwa, 7 Elton Chigumbura, 8 Keegan Meth, 9 Prosper Utseya, 10 Ray Price, 11 Kyle Jarvis
Kyle Mills is likely to reclaim his spot in the XI from Graeme Aldridge, who went for 45 runs in four overs on debut. The No. 5 slot will be a toss-up between Rob Nicol and Kane Williamson who both played a Twenty20 each, but were denied the chance to bat by the top order.
New Zealand (probable) 1 Martin Guptill, 2 Brendon McCullum (wk), 3 Jesse Ryder 4, Ross Taylor (capt), 5 Kane Williamson/Rob Nicol, 6 James Franklin, 7 Nathan McCullum, 8 Jacob Oram, 9 Doug Bracewell, 10 Kyle Mills, 11 Luke Woodcock
Stats and trivia
- Zimbabwe have won seven and lost 20 of the 29 ODIs between these sides
- With 192 ODI appearances, Brendon McCullum is the seventh most-capped New Zealand player
Quotes
"To get over 100 two games in a row sets a benchmark. Brendon and Guppy [Guptill] batted sensibly and complemented each other very well."
Ross Taylor will expect his opening pair to continue to meet their lofty standards
Nitin Sundar is a sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo
Feeds: Nitin Sundar
© ESPN EMEA Ltd.
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Nitin Sundar
Social media manager Nitin spent his formative years perfecting the art of landing the googly, before blossoming into a book-cricket specialist. More excellence followed in the underarm version of the game before, like the majority of India's misguided youth, he started taking studies seriously. After four forgettable years of electrical engineering, followed by a rigorous MBA and 16 months in the strategy consulting industry, he began to ponder life's more profound issues. Such as the angle made by Brian Lara's bat with the horizontal at the peak of his back-lift. A move to ESPNcricinfo followed and Nitin is now a prolific nurdler in office cricket, with a questionable technique against the short ball.
Tour Results
Zimbabwe v New Zealand at Harare
- Oct 22, 2011
New Zealand won by 4 wickets (with 10 balls remaining)
New Zealand won by 4 wickets (with 10 balls remaining)
Zimbabwe v New Zealand at Harare
- Oct 20, 2011
New Zealand won by 9 wickets (with 39 balls remaining)
More results »
New Zealand won by 9 wickets (with 39 balls remaining)
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Am full of trepidation but anyway all the best Zim, I believe in you more than you believe in yourselves.
Posted by logesnz on (October 20, 2011, 4:40 GMT)new zealand will be to strong , they have way to much depth and class. Zim lack big game players and world class players. maybe in 3 or 4 more years they might get there. the new zealand team is starting to gel as a unit and the real strength is in the middle order. Go the black caps
Posted by Meety on (October 20, 2011, 0:17 GMT)I think the Zimmers will put up a stronger showing in the ODIs. Still NZ would have to be favourites.
Posted byI think the article is a bit harsh. Zimbabwe just need to come to the field with a positive attitude, there showed a bit in the last t20.What ever score the opposition puts there should play with intent of winning . The New Zealand side has not been really tested beyond the opening pair , if Zim takes early wickets anything can happen . New Zealand are not going to achieve a white wash on this tour as they believe.
Posted byThis is a good NZ team even though it is missing Southee. Go the Blackcaps.......
Posted by elia on (October 19, 2011, 19:55 GMT)the bowling isnt attacking at all.think they should juggle with an extra batsman.zim should be clinical in their fielding.
Posted by Nduru on (October 19, 2011, 18:29 GMT)I think the author has got the analysis wrong (like in the last preview). It has not really been that Zimbabwe have been toothless, but more to do with a beauty of a batting wicket and an opening par who were able to take full toll (and who are one of the best T20 openiing pairs around). If anything, you should blame our batsmen who have not themselves used the track to their advantage - in the first, they were too tentative, and in the second, they showed how well it played, but still gifted 5 or more wickets. It also did not help Kyle Jarvis that he was denied McCullum's wicket off his first ball, and given a very harsh no-ball (the free hit then went for 4) by the same useless umpire. I hope Crmeer returns soon too as he is a true wicket taker.
Posted by JohnChang on (October 19, 2011, 18:02 GMT)Cricket is so intersting... BD whitewashed this NZ team... now NZ is whitewashing ZM who beat BD just a while ago..the same ZM who is going to be whitewashed again in december when they play BD...
Posted byno ervine??? and chibaba instead?? zim gonna lose
Posted byWhy is Oram in the team? The man needs to step down and let some of the younger talent come through. Trent Boult anyone? Also why is Luke Woodcock even there? Sure he is one of the better spinners that New Zealand has but both Williamson and Nicol are good enough to be the 2nd spinner and IMO need to be used more.