Online Reporter
Tinashe Kusema-Zimpapers Sports Hub
CHEVRONS gaffer, Justin Sammons, has urged his players to block out any noise ahead of the start of their three ODI battles against Bangladesh at Queens in Bulawayo today.
The hosts won the Test and ODI series at Harare Sports Club.
The eight-wicket loss was a disappointment for Sammons.
Bangladesh won the final ODI match by eight wickets.
“We didn’t play our best cricket. I think we scrapped our way to 200,” said Sammons.
“We had a fight to get to that point.
“Yes, Wessly (Madhevere) played beautifully and Brad (Evans) was again very impactful with the bat at the end.
“However, I expected more.
“Probably would have liked to be in and around that 240 mark, which would have been a great score.
“Now, we will take the positives from the 2-1 win in the ODIs and move on.”
He added: “Moving forward, we must try to keep the foot on the throat and finish them off when we are in good positions.
“That is something that we have got to improve upon in the T20s.”
Zimbabwe have named their 15-man squad for the Bangladesh T20 series, keeping the core group from the World Cup.
Sikandar Raza will lead the team, which also includes the returning Ryan Burl, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Dion Myers, Tashinga Musekiwa and Milton Shumba, who did not take part in the ODIs.
“Everybody is in really good spirits and looking forward to the shorter format.
“It’s a different series now, Bangladesh are a good side and might have gained a bit of self-belief from winning the last ODI.
“Ideally, I would have liked to have finished them 3-0 but it’s all part of cricket.
“They are a good side, a world-class side, and we will treat them as such.
“They will have a point to prove in a way. I don’t think they are too worried about what happened at the World Cup now.
“It’s about looking forward,” he said.
On the targets going into the T20 matches, Sammons added:
“We want to win the series. We want to win every game but it’s about taking it one game at a time.
“And, that’s the focus right now.”
Powerhouse India are next online but Sammons says focus should be on the Tigers.
“The focus is not on the Indian series just yet,” said Sammons.
“Right now, all our focus and energy is on our game on Wednesday (today).
“After Wednesday, our focus will be on the game on Friday.
“We can’t look too far ahead, because cricket, just like in life, is all about staying in the present.”
He added:
“We tell our players to stay in the present and, obviously, we need to do that as a coaching staff as well.
“We need to keep paying attention to what’s coming our way in the next game.”
