National team captain Brendan Taylor is expecting a backlash from the touring Bangladesh cricket team in the Coca-Cola Challenge five one-day-international (ODI) series starting with the first one at Harare Sports Club tomorrow.
With tongues still wagging about the historic Test win against Bangladesh among the fans, it’s back to serious business for the players again as they shift attention to the limited overs series.
“We are expecting them to come out fighting in the ODI series. They rely so much on spin and we expect to face 30 overs of spin, but we are ready we have worked hard and we know what we have to do,” said Taylor.
“We want to keep the momentum going, we know we have got the winning formula we just need to execute on the day and we will be taking each game as it comes.”
Spinner Prosper Utseya is expected to make it into the 11-man team that walks out tomorrow as is batsman Foster Mutizwa who has been included in the 15-man squad for this series.
Taylor added: “Our batsmen handled pace well (but) we know there will be more spin from their side this time on and I think our batsmen play spin quite well when playing at home. The guys have improved since the beginning of the year they are looking forward to doing well in this series.”
Among other players that have been included in this squad who were not in the Test squad are fast bowler Tendai Chatara who however faces a fitness race with a knee problem.There is no place however for opening batsman Tino Mawoyo with Malcolm Waller making it in. Graeme Cremer remains sidelined after undergoing a knee operation, but Brian Vitori is in line for an ODI debut after being selected.
Squad Brendan Taylor, Tatenda Taibu, Hamilton Masakadza, Vusa Sibanda, Elton Chigumbura, Christopher Mpofu, Brian Vitori, Kyle Jarvis, Craig Ervine, Foster Mutizwa, Regis Chakabva, Tendai Chatara, Malcolm Waller, Keegan Meth and Prosper Utseya
