Online Reporter
Tinashe Kusema-Zimpapers Sports Hub
CRAIG Ervine cut the figure of a moderately proud man as the Zimbabwe Chevrons’ skipper addressed the media ahead of today’s One Day International against Ireland at Harare Sports Club.
The 39-year-old was a last-minute withdrawal from Zimbabwe’s Test team and could only watch from afar as a trio of youngsters held their own during the Chevrons’ 63-run defeat to the Irish.
Wesly Madhevere, who was not even in the Test squad for the match to begin with, had to drive from Harare to Bulawayo and barely made it in time.
The 24-year-old batter then had a remarkable second innings knock, during which his career-best 84 runs off 195 balls brought Zimbabwe close to their 292-run target.
Debutant Jonathan Campbell was immediately handed the captain’s armband in Ervine’s stead and held his own during a difficult and close Test match.
Nick Welch, another debutant, also held his own with a feisty 90 runs off 173 balls during Zimbabwe’s first innings of 267.
With Ervine miles away, the skipper probably produced a smile or, at the very least, a smirk as the trio grabbed their opportunities with both hands.
“Yeah, it would have been nice to come on the winning side, but, having said that, it was quite a young side that played the Test match, and credit to them for the way they fought,” said Ervine. “It was an opportunity for Nick Welch and Jonathan Campbell as captain, and they all did very well considering the conditions and situations they were in.
“There were opportunities and chances that we didn’t capitalise and we have really looked hard and identified what is causing us to do this time and time again,” he said.
Coincidentally, both Campbell and Madhevere have made it into the Chevrons’ ODI again.
Better, the hosts are set to welcome the return of Ervine himself and Sikandar Raza.
Together with Williams, the duo of Raza and Ervine looks to have been the missing cogs during Zimbabwe’s defeat.
Ervine had a personal issue to attend to, while Raza, on the other hand, had opted out of the Test match as he had already committed to franchise cricket in the United Arab Emirates before the tour schedule was confirmed.
Sadly, Williams has not fully recovered from his injury and will miss out on the three-match One Day International (ODI) series.
“Willo (Williams) is an integral part of the squad, and resting him for the series does leave us with a few gaps in our batting and bowling departments,” said Ervine.
“Fortunately, Wellington Masakadza is in the squad, and he covers a few of those roles quite nicely. “He (Masakadza) is very versatile with the ball, and Raza returning and Tony Manyonga coming in does give a little more fire-power down the batting order,” he said.
Zimbabwe will have to bring their A-game and pray to the cricket gods, as history and the numbers don’t necessarily paint a pleasant picture for the Chevrons.
Much like in the Test arena, Zimbabwe’s numbers in the ODI format don’t make for pleasant reading.
Since March 2020, when Zimbabwe toured Bangladesh, the Chevrons have gone on to play 15 ODI series.
Zimbabwe has played six away, hosted nine, and from the 15, the Chevrons have only managed to win two. The victories came against Bangladesh in August 2022 before waiting for another seven months to record a victory against the Netherlands. Both wins were at home.
In the 15 ODI series Zimbabwe have played in the last five years, the Chevrons have won only 10 matches, which translates to a 22 percent win ratio. In the course of the same five-year period, five matches had no results, contributing 11 percent.
Zimbabwe have lost 30 matches of the 45, which translates to a 67 percent loss ratio.
Zimbabwe and Ireland have met a total of 22 times, with Ireland enjoying a better winning rate with 10 wins against Zimbabwe’s eight wins. Three matches ended in no results, with a single match ending in a tie.
Of the Chevrons’ eight wins, six have been on home soil, while Ireland has managed to bag five wins in Zimbabwe’s backyard.
The numbers and recent Test victory have left Ireland skipper Paul Stirling rather optimistic. The 34-year-old skipper even brushed off the Test win and revealed that Ireland’s next goal is another series win.
“It was good to get the win, and we are delighted, but the last couple of days have been mostly about putting that (Test win) behind and focusing on a different format,” said Stirling. “We had a couple of light sessions in the nets yesterday, and our minds are now focused on ODI games,” he said. On the threat posed by the returning Raza and Ervine, Stirling added, “We obviously expect Zimbabwe to bring their best side, and we certainly will never take them for granted, particularly at home.
“They are a very good side at home; they know Harare Sports Club conditions well, and we are not taking any of the games lightly.
“Hopefully, we are going to put our best foot forward and possibly win the series,” he said.
