Troubled Zimbabwe seek improvement
With team morale on the wane and their coach cracking the disciplinary whip, Zimbabwe hope they can improve their on-field performance when they face South Africa once again
Match facts
Friday, August 29, 2014Start time 0930 local (0730GMT)
Big Picture
If South Africa and Australia judged their relative strengths on the manner in which each of them beat Zimbabwe, Australia would have come out on top. Although South Africa whitewashed their neighbours, their approach was far gentler than Australia's merciless manner in racking up Harare Sports Club's highest total and bowling Zimbabwe out for their lowest score in a year But that is not how South Africa and Australia's muscle was measured and when it mattered, AB de Villiers' men turned it on.Form guide
(last five completed games most recent first)Zimbabwe LLLLL
South Africa WWWWW
In the spotlight
The surfaces have not given much for the bowlers to make use of throughout the series, but Zimbabwe's attack will still be under scrutiny because of their inexperience. With Tinashe Panyangara suspended for the rest of the series, Tendai Chatara will likely lead the attack but will need support from his captain, Chigumbura, the spinners, especially Prosper Utseya, and whoever joins him in the seam department. Although Zimbabwe have options, none of the rest of the bowlers have had a regular run to develop the confidence needed to take on the best.Team news
Zimbabwe will have to turn to one of the younger members of their bowling pack to fill in for Panyangara with any one of Luke Jongwe, Shingi Masakadza, Neville Madziva, Cuthburt Musoko or Brian Vitori coming in. Although the batting line-up failed against Australia, Tino Mawoyo should get another opportunity to open with Brendan Taylor, Sean Williams and Elton Chigumbura making up the middle order.Pitch and conditions
Even when Zimbabwe were not playing, there was almost nothing in the surface for the quick bowlers, which suggests the run-scoring will continue and moisture will be absent. That could see the trend of bowling first bucked at some stage but it may saved for later in the tournament.Stats and trivia
- Zimbabwe's longest losing streak in ODI cricket since 2004, when they lost 17 games in succession, was a strong of seven defeats between February 2012 and May 2013. They are currently on a six-match losing run.
- Imran Tahir has 39 ODI wickets, compared to 40 in Tests. His average in fifty-over cricket is just 17.46 while in the longest format it balloons to 47.17.
Quotes
"Outplayed."Elton Chigumbura used only one word to describe Zimbabwe's performance against Australia and is hopeful his men can put up more of a fight in the rest of the tournament
Imran Tahir expects it to be tough for the tweakers
Firdose Moonda is ESPNcricinfo's South Africa correspondent