Zimbabwe brace for Bangladesh test

Zimbabwe's key batsmen, including Test captain Brendan Taylor and openers Hamilton Masakadza and Vusi Sibanda, scored half-centuries in a practice match ahead of their trip to Bangladesh, but their promising form was overshadowed by impressive displays from the fringe players.

Middle-order batsman Peter Moor and left-arm spinners Wellington Masakadza and Herbert Chikomba put in performances which may force their way into the touring party, as Zimbabwe embark on their first three-Test series in more than a decade, and the only ODIs they will play ahead of next year's World Cup.

Preparation for the visit to Bangladesh has been intense, with a lengthy training camp in Harare followed by a Chairman's XI v President's XI internal game played at the Triangle Country Club in Masvingo. Conditions in Masvingo are thought to be as close as Zimbabwe can get to replicating the conditions in the subcontinent, with heat, humidity, low bounce and slow turn on offer. Head Stephen Mangongo told The Herald there is a "huge similarity," to what Zimbabwe will face in Bangladesh.

As a result, Mangongo was pleased to see Taylor and Masakadza prosper in those conditions, but was equally excited by the pressure put on them from that.

"Senior guys like Hamilton Masakadza and Brendan Taylor have batted for more than 40 overs and that is what we expect of them," Mangongo said. "But Craig Ervine has also shown good occupation at the crease."

Ervine returned to the Zimbabwean fold this month after an 18-month absence in which he played club cricket in Ireland and Australia and waited for the financial situation in Zimbabwe to stabilise. When he last played for Zimbabwe, on their trip to West Indies in March 2013, he was their top scorer in all formats and is expected to be part of the squad to tour Bangladesh to bolster the team's middle-order.

Another possibility for that role is Moor, who was a member of Zimbabwe's Under-19 World Cup squads in 2008 and 2010. Although Moor's domestic numbers have not been outstanding, he scored a century for President's XI and was identified by Mangongo as one of the "exciting upcoming players," to keep an eye on.

In the bowling department, Zimbabwe are also likely to see some new faces, as they search for a replacement for Prosper Utseya, who was suspended from bowling because of an illegal action. Greg Lamb has come out of retirement and is likely to be taken to Bangladesh along with John Nyumbu but Zimbabwe will need other options too. "Utseya is a big player and would have added value to the side,but when one door closes another one opens," Mangongo said. "It could be a chance for the younger players to show what they can do and that also includes Wellington Masakadza."

Wellington, the younger brother of Hamilton and Shingi, claimed eight wickets in the match, including six in an innings for President and six in one innings for the President's XI. He will likely compete for attention with Chikomba, who was part of Zimbabwe's most recent Under-19 World Cup squad and took three wickets on Tuesday to dent President's XI's chase.

Ultimately it was not enough, as the team led by Taylor won the fixture by three wickets, but individual performances, rather than the result, were more important in this game. Zimbabwe are expected to name their squad to tour Bangladesh on Wednesday. The three-Test series gets underway on October 25.