malvernmugadzikwa
Make no mistake about it, playing India in a cricket match, even if it fields a second-string team, is always going to be daunting.
Cricket is to India what football is to Zimbabwe — a religion, if not a fetish.
So, when you play against them, you must gird your loins to compete — winning is a bonus.
It would be disingenuous for any cricket fan to say they expected the Chevrons to win the ongoing T20 International series against the world champions.
India’s win yesterday meant that they all but clinched the five-match series.
The only consolation is Zimbabwe’s win in the opening match, which was India’s first defeat this year, a run that stretches over 24 games.
India, like Zimbabwe, is currently undergoing a rebuilding exercise, with players such as Rohit Sharma, Virat Kholi, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami and Ravichandran Ashwin nearing retirement.
But rebuilding for the Asian side is not a big deal, as it always has an inexhaustible pool of talented cricketers eagerly waiting in the wings.
While Zimbabwe’s developmental system is not as wide as it was during the period that preceded the golden era of young, talented black players who left a mark on the international stage, it is still modest and efficient enough to produce decent talent.
The new crop of players, such as Dion Myers, Brian Bennet, Wessly Madhevere, Clive Madande and Jonathan Campbell, represent the future of Zimbabwe cricket.
However, the performance against India — where the Chevrons can lift fans’ spirits by conjuring up a sensational and stirring performance in one game and put up a wretched display in the next — has been emblematic of their overall performance over the years.
Who can forget that stunning upset when Zimbabwe defeated Australia by 13 runs at the 1983 World Cup, where captain Duncan Fletcher’s unbeaten 69 and career-best bowling figures of four for 42 played made all the difference?
Or the historic victory over Australia in their country on September 3, 2022, including the great run at the 2022 T20 World Cup in Down Under?
Similarly, at the 1992 World Cup, Zimbabwe famously triumphed over England by nine runs.
The win against Pakistan by an innings and 64 runs in a Test match in 1995 was also memorable.
There have been low points as well, like the gutting nine-wicket loss to Sri Lanka in 2001, where the match ended with a whopping 274 balls remaining.
What should be worrying for fans is the fact that the low points have been more than the high points, while the team has also been consistent in their inconsistency.
Most often, the Chevrons have found themselves on the losing side not because they do not have talented players, but because of fielding errors such as dropped catches and unreliable and inconsistent top-order batters, who hopelessly wither under pressure.
It is high time for the Chevrons technical team to work on the psychological side of the game to ensure concentration and alertness, particularly in high-pressure games.
This is often the difference between winning and losing.
Recent news that two players — Blessed Mutize and Brighton Chipungu — had been suspended by Zimbabwe Cricket for testing positive for weed is cause for concern.
In December, two other players — all-rounders Madhevere and Brandon Mavuta — were also suspended after testing positive for a banned recreational drug.
This might be symptomatic of a growing cancer that needs to be dealt with before it metastasises.
After the furore over the Brendon Taylor doping scandal involving cocaine, this might be the time to act to ensure discipline in the so-called gentleman’s game.
Every time the Chevrons entre the field of play, they should be in top shape to ensure peak performance.
So, the new Chevrons coach, Justin Sammons, has his work cut out.
We still have ample time to prepare for the Under-19 cricket World Cup in 2026, which we will co-host with Namibia, as well as the men’s 50-over Cricket World Cup that we will also host together with South Africa.
It is time we psyche and prime our athletes to win.
Until next time.
Peace!
Yours Sincerely,
Bra Shakes.
Online Reporter