Will Zimbabwe play four seamers?

tomorrow.
It is rather sad to note that for some considerable period of time, teams touring hardly play more than one warm-up match before engaging the opposition in the series.
Some years ago teams could play as many as three or four first-class matches, which would give the entire squad ample time to get used to conditions and, more importantly, the coaching staff as well as on tour selector could also have a good look at the players, which would quite naturally make selection easier.

But the demands of international cricket, as well as the advent of Twenty20 Cricket, have brought all of that to an abrupt end.
Looking back at the three-day warm-up match, there were a number of refreshing performances from some of the players.
Shingi Masakadza was very consistent in both innings, Tatenda Taibu and the ever-improving Malcolm Waller gave good accounts of themselves with the bat with a fourth wicket stand of 119 and Regis Chakabva once again showed his value at number seven with an innings of class and maturity.

He started off slowly and then took the attack to the New Zealand XI as he struck 12 fours and two sixes in his unbeaten 87.
However, there are still genuine worries about Elton Chigumbura who is still clearly struggling for form as he was out first ball in his second innings and figures of none for 42, off just seven overs, show that he is still lacking confidence with the ball.
The pitch in Napier is normally a batsmen’s delight and very similar to the Queens Sports Club wicket in Bulawayo and in recent times, most Test matches have ended in draws.

But the summer in Napier has been a lousy one by all accounts.
So much that New Zealand are considering playing four seamers, which will mean that Daniel Vettori would possibly bat as high as number six in order to accommodate the four seamers, wouldn’t bother the champion all-rounder one little bit.
If this is to be the case, it will be interesting to see what combination Zimbabwe will decide to field.

Will they to take a bold step and play four seamers? If so, who will play the roll of the fourth seamer?
Will they decide to stick to the more experienced Chigumbura despite his lack of form?

Or will they opt to use the medium pace of Keegan Meth who will no doubt trouble the New Zealand top order with his ability to swing the ball both ways.
Or are New Zealand simply playing a few mind games and will still prepare a wicket more conducive to batting?

Another interesting observation was that New Zealand played a number of their Test players, including the captain Ross Taylor, in the warm-up match and Zimbabwe will take a great deal of heart as they finished the game with many positives, which also included a handy first innings lead of 57.