Zimbabwe seek to redeem lost pride

The Zimbabwe team, who were trounced by the visiting cricket giants, Australia in their Ford Test match and three one day internationals by embarrassing margins, get a chance to revive their World Cup glory when they take on their rival neighbours, South Africa in another Test match over the weekend.

The locals travel to South Africa have to win this match at all costs to safeguard national pride and appease their legion of followers who filled the newly extended cricket oval in a show of unrelenting support.

The supporters thronged the matches in their thousands and supported their team even when the chips were down. The team might well feel under pressure to give of their best in gratitude of the show of confidence and support the nation has given them.

Once again wicket-keeper and batsman, Andy Flower and all rounder Neil Johnson will be expected to haunt the South African bowlers as they did during the World Cup against South Africa in a Super Six match in England last summer.

This is not the first time the two sides have met since they played each other during the World Cup where the visitors surprisingly defeated the South African team, which resulted in Zimbabwe being among the Super Six.

They met in Kenya where the South African avenged their World Cup defeat by Zimbabwe.

Zimbabwes success depends on the performance of the batsmen and will be praying for the return to form of Neil Johnson and Murray Goodwin.

In this years edition of the World Cup Johnson was the best batsman for Zimbabwe and the highlight of his performance was the memorable 132 not out against Australia in London on June 9. Not only was he the top-scorer for Zimbabwe with a total of 367, but he was also the leading wicket-taker with 12, just one ahead of Heath Streak.

To be thrown into the fray also is the impressive opener Trevor Gripper who has proved to be an asset in Test matches.

Zimbabwe national team coach, Dave Houghton said Gripper who normally plays as the number seven, is set to become one of the opening batsman against the South Africans.

The young man has shown composure during his first debut against the Australians even though Zimbabwe lost by 10 wickets but Gripper proved to be a player of the future especially in Test matches, said Houghton.

He said there will be no major changes to the team which played Australia during their Test match.

With the right attitude and players complementing each other like what Andy Flower did during the last game against Australia in the one day international we should succeed.

In fact Andy played exceptionally well that is why he was voted man of the match and we hope he wont loose his form against South Africa, he said.

A spirited performance is also expected from the usually dependable and battle hardened Grant Flower, skipper Alistair Campbell, Heath Streak, David Mutendera and Guy Whittal.

We lost against Australia but this must not be used as a barometer to measure us against our other opponents, said ZCU Chief executive Dave-Ellman Brown.

Lets just wait and see how are we going to perform in South Africa.