admin
Eddie Chikamhi
Senior Sports Reporters
ZIMBABWE’S Chevrons are set to hoist the African flag higher at the ICC T20 Cricket World Cup this morning when they face familiar opponents Ireland at the Bellerive Oval in Hobart, Australia.
The match starts at 10am Zimbabwean time.
This is actually a late evening clash (7pm in Australia) but there is a nine-hour time difference between Zimbabwe and Tasmania, where the Chevrons are based for the opening games.
The team yesterday had two training sessions, in the morning and then in the evening to familiarise with playing under the lights, as they put together the final touches under the watch of head coach Dave Houghton and his technical team.
“We have had some really good practice in Melbourne and here in Hobart even though we lost our second warm up game to rain we have had some good work indoors and outdoors.
“We finish off our training schedule tonight (last night) with a really good run-around under these beautiful lights here in Hobart. So, everyone is itching to go, we can’t wait to get started,” said Houghton.
The Chevrons troop onto the pitch with the much-needed inspiration, just a day after the global cricket fraternity was left spellbound by the brave performance from another Southern African nation Namibia.
The Eagles stunned Asian champions Sri Lanka by 55 runs in the first match of the tournament yesterday and the historic win won them many admirers across the globe, including the legendary Sachin Tendulkar.
But, unlike Namibia who were the underdogs, Zimbabwe do not carry such a tag against Ireland. Houghton has often emphasised this from the time the Chevrons were involved in the qualifiers. Zimbabwe are ranked 11th and Ireland are just one run down on the ICC T20I rankings.
Despite also having to face two-time T20 world champions West Indies in the same group, Houghton is targeting a clean sweep during the first-round matches.
The former Zimbabwe international yesterday acknowledged the tone set by Namibia but stressed he wanted his Chevrons to maintain focus and fight their own battles.
“It was great for Namibia, fantastic for them. They have taken a big scalp in the first round. The way I see us; I see us as the big scalp.
“So, for me my expectation is that we play well enough to win all three games. It was great to see Namibia do what they did but it doesn’t affect us.
“We have a tough job starting tomorrow (today); Ireland is a tough team. West Indies again on Wednesday is a tough team but my expectation is that we win all the three games,” said Houghton.
Zimbabwe’s players also congratulated their neighbours. The Chevrons will also be looking to also kick off their campaign on a winning note.
Zimbabwe’s strength has been their bowling. The return of Blessing Muzarabani and Tendai Chatara from injuries was a huge boost. Houghton has so many options upfront with Richard Ngarava and Brad Evans also available for selection.
“You want to go to the World Cup with you best squad. I think over the last three months one of the great things that we have done is to increase the size of our pool.
“We could pick from another five or six guys and be happy with the team we brought here. But for this World Cup we have got everybody fit and raring to go and it’s good to have some of the experienced hands back in the team.”
Zimbabwe, however, need to get it right with their top order batting to get the big scores. There is a renewed sense of confidence in the Zimbabwe team which coincided with the return of Houghton to lead the side at the jamboree. Both the batters and bowlers have been playing their cricket with more ambition.
Zimbabwe have won seven of their last eight T20I games under Houghton, in the last three months. The sudden turn of fortunes, which also saw them winning an ODI for the first time in Australia and pushing bigwigs India to the limits in the ICC Super League, has charmed the former Zimbabwe skipper.
“The last two-three months in particular, nothing builds team spirit more than winning. We have had quite a lot of success in the last three months. So, we have got very good spirit.
“As I said, my hardest job today was actually calming down the guys and just getting those anxieties and those nerves out of the way and to start to think about the professionalism that they need in the next 10 or so days,” said Houghton.
Zimbabwe and Ireland have fought close battles in the last eighty years. Ireland have dominated the T20I meetings, winning five while the Chevrons won three of the matches at different fora.
If Zimbabwe are going to finish in the top two of their group and qualify for the Super 12 stage, then they need to get off to a fast start against a talented Ireland team that will be keen to do the same.
One of the experienced players in the Irish team, Paul Stirling, who played 114 T20Is for Ireland and scoring over 3000 runs, told the Cricket Ireland media that they are looking forward to repeating the 2014 ODI World Cup upset, when they beat Zimbabwe by five runs in Hobart.
“Hobart holds fond memories for those of us in the squad who played at the 2015 World Cup,” said Stirling.
“The win against Zimbabwe has gone down in Irish cricket history as one of those legendary wins and I know it inspired many kids back home to take up the sport – which is one thing we want to achieve as a squad.
“We’re now getting down to the pointy end, and now just looking forward to getting the competitive action underway.”
Teams:
Zimbabwe: Craig Ervine (c), Ryan Burl, Regis Chakabva, Tendai Chatara, Bradley Evans, Luke Jongwe, Clive Madande, Wessly Madhevere, Wellington Masakadza, Tony Munyonga, Blessing Muzarabani, Richard Ngarava, Sikandar Raza, Milton Shumba, Sean Williams.
Ireland: Andrew Balbirnie (captain), Paul Stirling (vice-captain), Mark Adair, Curtis Campher, Gareth Delany, George Dockrell, Stephen Doheny, Fionn Hand, Graham Hume, Josh Little, Barry McCarthy, Conor Olphert, Simi Singh, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker.
Online Reporter