Zim cricket’s injury scare

series that starts next week but the camp has been hit by injury scares to three key players.
The technical team yesterday revealed that opening batsman Tino Mawoyo, all-rounder Keegan Meth and spinner Graeme Cremer are battling for fitness, with only one week remaining before the first game of the season.
Zimbabwe will host South Africa and Australia ‘A’ sides in a tri-nations series at Harare Sports Club next week.
Mawoyo has a swollen ankle and although he is still walking in crutches, he told the Herald yesterday that he is now ‘feeling a lot better and should be fine by next week.’
Cremer is also sweating for fitness with a long-standing knee injury he suffered in the Logan Cup competition early this year while Meth is also being monitored after he withdrew from a two-day game last Friday due to injury.
Coaches Alan Butcher and his assistant Stephen Mangongo yesterday said the physiotherapists are working on the players’ fitness ahead of the important assignments.
“Meth only bowled two overs last week and he withdrew from the game because of pain.
“He has been placed in rehabilitation and the physiotherapists say they are getting better.
“Tino has a swollen ankle and is also recovering well,” said Mangongo.
Meth and Mawoyo could not considered for the four-day practice match that kicked off at the Harare Sports Club yesterday.
Mangongo said he was impressed by the form of the players.
“The intensity has been excellent and I am happy some of our key players like Hamilton Masakadza and Brendan Taylor are getting it right. Masakadza scored unbeaten 130 runs and he batted the whole day last week while Taylor had 83 runs.
“It’s good that our core players are showing this form and are able to stay at the crease for long periods. We need that form and hopefully our confidence levels will improve too,” said Mangongo.
Butcher said he was also taken aback by the injury setbacks although he was confident that they will recover soon.
“Tino sprained his ankle and we were hoping that this would be a three-week job but sometimes these things take a little bit longer,” said Butcher. He also praised his charges for the improvements made in the last six weeks in camp.
“I am pleased with the way the players have responded to the training programme.
“Of course, there was some grumbling here and there at first but with the passage of time they all got used to it.”The mood in the camp right now is very good. There has been a very great improvement in their physical fitness and technical awareness.

“With a few exceptions, the players are all looking physically fit and strong and are playing lots of cricket among themselves.
“We have been working hard on both the bowling and batting departments for the last six weeks and it looks good. The guys are bowling a bit quicker in the nets.
“But we cannot be able to judge the progress made so far unless we play other opposition. The proof will be in the pudding when we start playing more against other sides.
“South Africa and Australia have named strong sides and it’s going to be some tough cricket.
“But it’s good for us ahead of our first Test match in six years,” said Butcher.
Zimbabwe will play Australia in the first match of the series next Wednesday.