Taylor optimistic ahead of Test

Sport
  Kevin Mapasure   Zimbabwe national cricket team captain, Brendan Taylor, has told his team to maintain the spirit and belief they exhibited in the record breaking win in the last match of the three-match ODI series against New Zealand into Tuesday’s Test against the same opponents.

 

The right hander, who himself put his name in the record books after scoring above 300 in a three-match series, said playing New Zealand in the premier format of the game would be more difficult but is still positive a good result is achievable.

 

Zimbabwe beat New Zealand by one-wicket successfully chasing an imposing total of 328 set by Ross Taylor’s men on a flat pitch at Queens Sports Club on Tuesday and Zimbabwe’s Taylor is hoping for more of that.

 

“New Zealand is a quality team with quality players but we just hope the ODI gives us belief in the Test,” said Taylor. “It is going to be difficult to play them as they will have experienced players such as Daniel Vettori who has come in for the Test match.”

 

Zimbabwe wasted an opportunity to improve their credentials against big guns when they incredibly fell from a commanding position by dropping catch after catch coupled with a spectacular batting collapse in the second innings of last month’s Test against Pakistan to lose the match in the end.

 

That match could have well ended in a draw. Even a win for Zimbabwe was possible after playing well in 10 sessions only to lose grip after one session and eventually giving away the game.

 

Taylor has implored it upon his charges that they will need maximum concentration in every session, every over and every ball bowled, if they are to achieve another great result.

“We are hoping to improve our fielding, we know we can do well in that area and we might get things right, who knows.”

 

New Zealand is an experienced lot with a group that has been playing together for a long time and they will definitely be banking on that.

 

While Zimbabwe, thinner on experience, will be banking on making good use of home conditions, the little experience they have in players like Tatenda Taibu and Raymond Price, added to the youthful side which include the likes of seamer Kyle Jarvis.

 

With left arm seam-bowler Brian Vitori ruled out, the selectors may yet hand Njabulo Ncube his first cap with Keegan Meth also in the frame.