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Paul Munyuki Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE cricket coach Steve Mangongo says he is excited by the way his boys are preparing for the tour of Bangladesh using the hot conditions of the Lowveld. The national team has been in Triangle since Friday, conditions that Mangongo feels will help his boys get a feel of the Bangladeshi conditions. “Everything has been good so far and one main reason we have decided to camp in Triangle is to get used to high temperatures, it is humid and sticky and for the past two days it has been like that,” said Mangongo.
“It’s good for the boys because these conditions are similar to what they will get in Bangladesh. The Triangle wicket has a low turn, a low bounce and there is a huge similarity to the conditions we are going to face in Bangladesh at the end of next week.”
Zimbabwe will play three Test matches and five One Day Internationals between October 25 and December 1 this year in a basement battle between the two sides.
Among some of the players who have impressed Mangongo are Peter Moor, a right-handed batsman who was part of the 2010 Zimbabwe Under-19 World Cup side in New Zealand, and Herbert Chikomba, a bowler who was with the same youth team.
“It’s exciting because there are a lot of good signs from both the senior and upcoming players,” said Mangongo.
“We have the likes of PJ Moore in batting, he has batted well, senior guys like Hamilton Masakadza and Brendan Taylor (Test captain) have batted more than 40 overs and that is what we expect from them.
“Craig Ervine has also shown a good occupation of the crease and him, batting 21 overs, is good.”
Mangongo has also been impressed with the attitude shown by Tinashe Panyangara, who is making a return after he was suspended in the previous ODI tri-series.
“Panyangara is doing well, (fast-medium) Tendai Chatara is okay, (leg breaker Tafadzwa) Kamungozi has been fine and we also have the likes of (former Zimbabwe Under-19 bowler Hebert) Chikomba. “With the suspension of (Prosper) Utseya, we have good options to cover him in the spin department because we have the likes of John Nyumbu, Natsai Mushangwe, Kamungozi, (Malcolm) Waller and Chikomba.
“Of course, Utseya is a big player and would have added value to the side,but when one door closes another one opens.
“It could be a chance for the younger players to show what they can do and that also includes Wellington Masakadza.”
Wellington is the younger brother of Hamilton and Shingi Masakadza.
Online Reporter