Zimbabwe Cricket Online Guest Column - the state of the national team

Des Evans is a former national wicket-keeper and now a television commentator in Zimbabwe. Here he gives his views about the state of the Zimbabwe team.

After the euphoria of the World Cup where Zimbabwe recorded sensational victories over India and South Africa, the team's performance in Singapore, Kenya and in the Test series against Australia, South Africa and Sri Lanka has been disappointing.

There was a great air of expectancy and excitement with arguably the two best teams in the world, Australia and South Africa, playing in back-to-back Test series on Zimbabwean turf. Add a buoyant Sri Lankan side who were fresh from a one-nil home series win against the Aussies before arriving in Zimbabwe in November, and the Zimbabwean team had the ideal opportunity to impress against quality opposition at home.

However, their performance has been well below expectation as they have struggled to reproduce the form of the World Cup. Admittedly, the Zimbabwean team has been plagued by injuries to key bowlers, Heath Streak, Paul Strang and all-rounder Neil Johnson. The former Natalian all-rounder, who was the Zimbabwean star performer in the World Cup, has been prevented from bowling his medium-pacers since the quadrangular one-day series in Kenya in September. The loss of these three has severely limited the Zimbabwean bowling attack. The unavailability of talented leg-spinner Adam Huckle was also a big blow to Zimbabwe's hopes.

Amid hints of dissatisfaction from the ranks of the senior players, Zimbabwe's most successful international captain, Alistair Campbell, resigned after the resounding defeat by an innings at the hands of South Africa in the Test at Bloemfontein. The pressures of the captaincy had obviously affected Campbell's personal form and this caused him to be the target performance harsh criticism by the local press.

Former captain Andy Flower agreed to take over the captaincy on a temporary, caretaker basis until the New Year. Flower's game has thrived since assuming the additional responsibility and he seems to enjoy leading from the front. The resilient left-hander occupied the crease for over 24 hours in the three Tests against Sri Lanka and his impressive batting included knocks of 129 and 86. I thought that Andy's keeping was of a consistently high standard. He kept particularly well when deciding to stand up to the medium-pacers in the one-day games. His two leg-side stumpings off newcomer Gary Brent were particularly good.

Flower's captaincy has been positive and the team showed signs of improved focus and discipline under his leadership. The body language and morale of the Zimbabwean team was much improved in the limited-overs matches against Sanath Jayasuriya's men. Most supporters of the Zimbabwean team will be hoping that Flower accepts the captaincy on a permanent basis when he reconsiders his position early in the New Year.

Although the Zimbabwe bowling attack lost the services of their main strike bowler, Heath Streak, leg-spinners Paul Strang and Adam Huckle, and the medium-pacer Neil Johnson, it was pleasing to see Henry Olonga accept the responsibility of taking over as main strike bowler. He showed much improved control and discipline, and he was able to maintain his fitness. He was rewarded for his efforts with two four-wicket hauls, one against South Africa and the other against Sri Lanka.

Heath Streak bowled in the one-off Test against Australia in Harare in October, and bowled over 30 overs (perhaps this lengthy spell was too ambitious) to record the impressive return of five for 93. However, it appears that his return was premature as it aggravated the injury and he was forced to take a long period of rest and rehabilitation since the Aussie Test. The knee will be strong enough to facilitate Heath's return for the one-day series against South Africa and England in January.

The reintroduction of Bryan Strang to the Test arena was, in my opinion, long overdue. After 18 months in the wilderness since being disciplined on the Sri Lankan tour, the left-arm seamer returned and provided excellent support for Streak and Olonga in bowling 44 overs against Australia. He has continued to bowl effectively against South Africa and Sri Lanka, and proved to be his team's most accurate and economical bowler.

The debate regarding Bryan Strang's inclusion in the limited-overs side continues. The Zimbabwean selectors have consistently excluded him. His military medium-pace is apparently considered to be vulnerable to big hitting in this form on cricket. Needless to say, I was pleased to see him included in the final one-day international against Sri Lanka where he was rewarded for his accurate line and full length by taking two for 36 in 9.3 overs.

Guy Whittall's positive attitude to his cricket was refreshing. He played especially well in Bloemfontein when he scored a gutsy 85 in the first innings and 51 in the second. He has also bowled well this season, varying his pace, and he was rewarded with a haul of eight wickets in the one-day series against Sri Lanka.

The introduction of Carl Rackemann to the coaching department has added another dimension, particularly to his speciality - bowling. His positive approach and role-play coaching techniques where he simulates match situations for the bowlers in practice - such as bowling the last ball of an over and the last over of the match - have been a great asset. The Zimbabwean bowlers, particularly the likes of Gary Brent, 'Pom' Mbangwa, Henry Olonga, Everton Matambanadzo and David Mutendera, have shown better control and discipline.

The coach, Davy Houghton, has also indicated that, with Carl taking care of the bowlers, he can focus his attention on the batting and other aspects of the game, and give more 'one-on-one' coaching to the players.

Although the side has missed key players through injury, several of the fringe players have been given international exposure, and this will increase the pool of cricketers as 26 players have received a call-up so far this season. Young players like Trevor Gripper, Gary Brent, Ray Price, Andy Blignaut, David Mutendera and Everton Matambanadzo have played in the Test and one-day arena, and this will increase the depth of the squad of players with international experience in the future.

I believe that the biggest problem that the Zimbabwe team has experienced so far this season is the inability to put the three disciplines of batting, bowling and fielding together on a consistent basis in a one-day international or in a single day of a Test. Their performance has been inconsistent.

The other problem which, I believe, is linked to their psychological approach to their cricket is one of playing themselves into a strong position by bowling well and thus setting up a strong platform when they bat, only to collapse. This inability to take their opportunities and capitalise on a good launching pad should be their major focus in the one-day series in South Africa.

An example of such a collapse occurred against Sri Lanka in the second one-day international in Bulawayo. Zimbabwe were chasing 213 for victory after bowling superbly to restrict the visitors to that score. After 32 overs they were well placed at 140 for two. 11 overs later they were all out for 200 - 13 runs short. Zimbabwe still had a chance when 18 runs were required off 14 balls with three wickets in hand. The rest is history: three batsmen chose to swing across the line and lost their wickets, leaving Zimbabwe 13 runs adrift. Against South Africa in Kenya, Grant Flower made 91, placing Zimbabwe at 170 for two when he was dismissed in the 39th over. Zimbabwe collapsed to 216 all out in 47 overs.

Hopefully, Zimbabwe's inability to accelerate the scoring in the final ten overs when they have wickets in hand will be rectified in South Africa. With the flamboyant Alistair Campbell returning to form after relinquishing the captaincy and Streak and Johnson returning to the team, the Zimbabwe side should perform more consistently in the up-coming one-day internationals against South Africa and England. Campbell recorded scores of 22 not out, 56, 38, 43 and 36 against Sri Lanka.

Bryan Strang, Pom Mbangwa, Gary Brent and Craig Wishart have been included in the squad. With Carl Rackemann's influence the bowling should be more consistent and controlled. Streak and Johnson will add penetration to the attack. Grant Flower returned to form with 52 in the last one-day international against Sri Lanka and the Zimbabwe victory in that match, even though the visitors rested Chaminda Vaas, Wickramasinghe and Muralitharan, should boost their confidence.

Andy Flower and Guy Whittall have been in good form and under Flower's captaincy the team should play spirited cricket. It will be a great challenge for the side to take on South Africa and England, and to play consistently good cricket during the series. It is a high-profile event which is being televised by SABC, Supersport and Sky Sports in the UK. It is important that Zimbabwe put up a good performance as they did during the World Cup.

Zimbabwe must ensure that they bat the full fifty overs in each match and that at least one of the top-order batsmen who has got himself 'in' bats through to the end. I believe that Alistair Campbell is more effective opening the innings with Johnson coming in at number three and Goodwin at four. Andy Flower should bat five with Guy Whittall six. Whittall is wasted batting lower down, which will mean that Wishart, Carlisle and Rennie will be competing for the number seven position. Streak is likely to bat at eight and Gary Brent and Bryan Strang will compete for the number nine spot. Dependent on the wickets and the conditions, off-spinner Andrew Whittall, Henry Olonga and 'Pom' Mbangwa will be challenging for the final two bowling berths.

The stage is set under Andy Flower's positive captaincy for a Zimbabwean revival. There is no doubt that the return of Streak and Johnson will strengthen the team. Here's hoping for a spirited, consistent performance and a strong challenge in this high-profile series by our men in red.