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Innocent Kurira, Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE Cricket fast bowler Brad Evans admits a tough challenge lies ahead when they face Australia in three ODI matches but is confident they will put up a good fight against one of the top cricket playing nations in the world.
The Chevrons left for Australia yesterday following the completion of yet another three match ODI series against India. Zimbabwe lost the series 0-3.
“Going into Australia, we know it’s going to be a challenge. We just have to give it our best. We are going there with our heads held up high.
“Although these guys are superstars, they are also human. We have to realise we are actually at par with these guys in terms of skill but they tend to have more guys contributing in their team. That shows how important playing as a team is.
“You can’t have two guys winning you games. Everyone needs to contribute. The day everyone contributes is the day we will start winning regardless of the opponents,” said Evans.
“Obviously we know Australian wickets are seamer friendly. The wickets will expose our depth of fast bowling.
“It is going to be a challenge because we are playing against some world class players just like we have here against India but honestly it’s the best thing for our cricket at the moment to be able to play these big players.
“At this level you have to be at your best all the time whether you are bowling, batting or fielding,” he added.
The series is part of the ICC Super League ODI competition, which takes place over two years and aims to raise the stakes of bilateral 50-over games.
In its first edition, the Super League will help decide which teams qualify for the men’s 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup in India.
The 13 Super League teams comprise 12 ICC Full Members and the Netherlands, which qualified by winning the 2015-17 ICC World Cricket League Championship.
Under the Super League, teams will play eight three-match series each, four at home and four away.
Each team gets 10 points for a win, five for a draw/no result/abandonment and nothing for a loss.
Teams that fail to qualify directly will still get a second shot through a qualifier.
World Cup hosts India and the top seven teams from the Super League will automatically qualify, while the bottom five will play a qualifying tournament, which will feature the best teams from the lower rungs of the competition.
Before they face Zimbabwe, Australia will also face New Zealand.
Australia ODI squad:
Aaron Finch (c), Sean Abbott, Ashton Agar, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, David Warner, Adam Zampa
Schedule for New Zealand:
August 28: Riverway Stadium, Townsville
August 31: Riverway Stadium, Townsville
September 3: Riverway Stadium, Townsville
Schedule for Zimbabwe:
September 6: Cazaly Stadium, Cairns
September 8: Cazaly Stadium, Cairns
September 11: Cazaly Stadium, Cairns — @innocentskizoe
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