Zimbabwe have been regular competitors at the Cricket World Cup since 1987 despite their relatively small number of active cricketers.
Zimbabwe Squad for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015
Elton Chigumbura (capt), Sikandar Raza, Regis Chakabva, Tendai Chatara, Chamu Chibhabha, Craig Ervine, Tafadzwa Kamungozi, Hamilton Masakadza, Stuart Matsikenyeri, Solomon Mire, Tawanda Mupariwa, Tinashe Panyangara, Brendan Taylor (wk), Prosper Utseya, Sean Williams.
Zimbabwe is placed in Pool B alongside South Africa, India, West Indies, Pakistan, Ireland and the United Arab Emirates. Their match schedule is as follows:
Saturday 15 February: Against South Africa at Seddon Park in Hamilton – New Zealand
Thursday 19 February: Against UAE at Saxton Oval in Nelson – New Zealand
Tuesday 24 February: Against West Indies at Manuka Oval in Canbera – Australia
Sunday 1 March: Against Pakistan at the Gabba in Melbourne – Australia
Saturday 7 March: Against Ireland at the Bellerive Oval in Hobart – Australia
Saturday 14 March: Against India at Eden Park in Auckland – New Zealand
It would not be seen as an unkind comment to say that they will not progress to the quarter-final stages of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015. The only two teams we see them being competitive against are the UAE and possibly Ireland.
Zimbabwe cricket has unfortunately been in decline over the last decade due to political, administrative as well as financial woes and some of their more senior players moved on to play in more relaxed conditions. To be fair, the players from their golden age in the 1990’s such as Heath Streak, the Flower brothers, Henry Olonga, Pommy Mbangwa and the like couldn’t carry on forever and retired from the game.
Other than Brendan Taylor, the current squad has batting of no more than adequate ability and they generally struggle against quality fast bowling. For their bowlers to be effective they would also need to be presented with a very slow and low pitch, something which they may experience in New Zealand but certainly not in Australia. They do have an astute coach in the newly appointed Dav Whatmore and hopefully he can help them to hone their skills to be more competitive against the established cricking powers.
Despite what we predict to be a difficult 2015 tournament for them, Zimbabwe have had their glory days in Cricket World Cups and opponents should not expect to just arrive to collect the points. In 1992, they beat eventual finalists England by nine runs. Zimbabwean chicken farmer Eddo Brandes ripped the heart out of their batting by taking 4 for 21 in his 10 overs. The British tabloids had a field day with this, with headlines screaming “England left with egg on their face!”.
South Africa also took their eye off the ball in the 1999 version of the Cricket World Cup in England and lost to Zimbabwe by 48 runs at Chelmsford in a match in which they were expected to win comfortably.
The upcoming edition of the Cricket World Cup may not be the best they have experienced, but we look forward to the day that they can retake their rightful place in the pecking order of world cricket.
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