Inexperienced Zimbabweans face one-day struggle

Nobody really expects Zimbabwe to spring the surprise they did three years ago, when they beat West Indies in all three group matches to reach the final of the NatWest Series. Unfortunately then typical Zimbabwean ill-luck struck at Lord's, where they lost a critical toss and were put in to bat in overwhelmingly bowler-friendly conditions which had eased when it was England's turn to chase a small target.

This year South Africa replace West Indies as the third team in the tournament. All three participating sides have undergone major changes over the last few months, but Zimbabwe's have been more serious. While England and South Africa have changed personnel more as a matter of natural transition, especially following unsuccessful World Cup campaigns, Zimbabwe - ironically the only team of the three to reach the Super Sixes in the World Cup - have been decimated more for political reasons, and have much less depth to fall back upon.

Most critically Zimbabwe have lost the services of Andy Flower, whose monumental achievements as the rock of a fragile team's batting has probably only ever been matched by the great West Indian George Headley in the game's history. Flower famously made his protest against the situation in Zimbabwe along with Henry Olonga at the start of the World Cup, but had already made his decision to leave the country, the deciding factor apparently being the future of his young family.

The results for the Zimbabwean team have been clear on this tour. They have nobody to hold their batting together, and the innings have frequently appeared rudderless. Whenever a major partnership has appeared to be in the offing, somebody has played a soft stroke and got out.

Also missing from that 2000 tour are Murray Goodwin and Neil Johnson, while the recent exodus has also included the experienced Alistair Campbell (for reasons of attitude according to the selectors), and Guy Whittall, whose body has failed to stand up to the heavy international schedule.

This is almost an entire batting line-up gone in three years, and to make matters worse for ages the selectors made no attempt to establish the next generation of batsmen. Stuart Carlisle, Gavin Rennie, Craig Wishart and Trevor Gripper have been in and out of the side for years, never secure for long, and only a dramatic double-century at the last possible moment enabled Carlisle to gain a reprieve for this tour. He proved the most prolific batsman, but then that ill-luck struck again - he will miss the tournament with a broken hand. This leaves Grant Flower as Zimbabwe's only experienced batsman, but the selectors refused the opportunity to recall Rennie or Wishart, whose experience would have been invaluable.

The bowling attack is missing Henry Olonga, the man whose dramatic last over enabled Zimbabwe to pip India in a thrilling World Cup match in 1999, and who shattered England a few months later with 6 for 19 in an ODI at Cape Town. The selectors have not favoured accurate bowlers in recent years, looking in vain for those supposedly able to produce wicket-taking deliveries instead. Of Zimbabwe's three most accurate bowlers, none of whom was given security by the selectors, Bryan Strang emigrated for political reasons, Pommie Mbangwa did too much commentating and too little playing last season according to the selectors, and Gary Brent has finally been recalled in desperation.

The team will be grateful to Heath Streak and Raymond Price for putting a brake on the scoring for 20 of the 50 overs. The remaining 30 will, for the most part, be a problem. Wickets may come, especially if Andy Blignaut is bowling or Douglas Hondo has one of his inspired spells, but they will be costly.

Zimbabwe's main strength lies in its young allrounders. Blignaut is potentially dynamite, with his shock bowling and big hitting. Travis Friend may have played himself into the side after a good match against Essex. He is a very useful batsman and bowled much better, but he is invariably expensive. Sean Ervine, struggling a little in both departments, might miss out.

If the situation at home allows, though, this has the makings of a good Zimbabwean team four or five years down the line. The embarrassingly young batsmen, bowlers and allrounders - including their wicketkeeper-batsman Tatenda Taibu - will have gained experience and could be in their prime.

Zimbabwe are scheduled to return to England in 2008. Hard though it may be to believe, and all depends on political developments in that time, Zimbabwe may well be in a position to deal out some flippin' murder of their own then. Today's strugglers may be the stars of 2008, and we may be getting a sneak preview of some exciting forthcoming attractions. But for the present, Zimbabwe will have to play out of their socks to win even one match. All we can ask or hope for is for them to be competitive, and to communicate their enjoyment of the game.